Sociology 2

Gender differences are also found in the meanings men and wome attach to

1] eye contact, [2] smiling, and [3] touching during interactions.

behavior and interaction are undertaken according to sets of particular guidelines. These are

A context Social indicators Purpose(s)

Dramaturgy

Erving Goffman developed an approach to explaining social interaction as if people interacting were performing on a stage. Goffman argued that social interactions is like a drama, with the individuals being either actors or audience. During interactions, individuals present themselves in ways intended to create specific impressions in the minds of others. Hence, during interactions, individuals often put their best foot forward by displaying only culturally desirable attributes. How individuals present themselves depends on the context in which interaction takes place. The overall aim of the presentation of self is to control interactions.

Interaction also involves

Idealization: a process in which individuals construct their behavior/performance in ways intended to convince others (the audience) that their behavior reflects ideal cultural standards and not selfish motives. Embarrassment and tact Embarrassment happens when performance fails The audience often reacts tactfully to avoid/lessen embarrassment (for everyone)

Characteristics of Statuses

Statuses exist independent of the specific individuals who occupy them. They are either achieved or ascribed. Individuals usually occupy multiple statuses sequentially or simultaneously. These are referred to as the STATUS SET. Individuals gain or lose statuses over their life course. Statuses vary by culture (Recall lecture: explain this in your own words) Often, one of the statuses an individual occupies becomes a MASTER STATUS. DEFINITION: a master status is ONE of the multiple statuses an individual occupies that is exceptionally important in shaping the individual's life and patterning his/her social behavior. A master status will change many times in the course of an individual's life. A master status may have a negative influence on an individual's abilities to fulfil the roles of other statuses the individual wishes to occupy culture. This is particularly true in the case of master statuses which are difficult to change (Recall lecture: explain this in your own words

Individuals do NOT interact with one another as anonymous beings (remember examples from class lecture).

The come together (interact) in a context of specific environments, for specific purposes.

Garfinkle

Through experiments in which participants were instructed to breach conventional rules and to behave in anti-traditional/anti-conventional manners during interactions with others, Garfinkle found out that people generally define the world (situations) in a vague, ambiguous manner, leaving out a lot of specific details.

Humor potentially serves

To diffuse tension (humor is a safety valve/tact) As a put-down To question conventional or shared understandings

Social Construction of Reality.

While interacting with others, individuals utilize elements of social structure and definitions of the context to simultaneously create and recreate images (and beliefs) of others.

Presentation of self (performance) sometimes involves a degree of lying. For this reason, psychologist Paul Ekman suggested that while interacting, people should pay close attention to 4 elements of performance to determine the degree of deception:

Words (a simple slip of the tongue) Voice (tone, speed of speech - quick=anger; slow=sadness; in appropriate pauses between words and nonwords = discomfort) Body language (nervous movements) Facial expressions (hard to control and often reveal true intentions

Roles

culturally defined behaviors that are associated with and expected of particular statuses. A status may include a number of roles (ROLE SET). Each one of these roles will be appropriate to a specific social context. Roles vary by culture. In every society, actual role performance is determined largely by individual capabilities. Not every role in a role set is enacted all the time. An individual role behavior depends on the statuses of the other people with whom he/she interacts. ROLE CONFLICT occurs when enacting the role of one status violates the role of another status. Enacting roles of a SINGLE status could cause stress (ROLE STRAIN). Critical reflection, doubt about abilities, unwillingness to perform a role and attrition (old age, role rotation) cause ROLE EXIT.

Human behavior and social interaction are not

random

Social Interaction

social interaction is a process by which individuals act toward and react to others. According to this definition, interaction involves at least two people taking each other into account. Interaction involves behavior

Statuses

statuses are socially defined positions that people occupy in a group or society and in terms of which they interact with one another.

There are 3 elements, which taken together, define the context of interaction. These are

the physical setting or place social setting activities surrounding the interaction - preceding it, happening simultaneously with it, and coming after it.

Sociologists who study social interaction argue that

without it personality and cognitive development will not be possible.