Sociology Exam 2 (ch 3-6)

role strain

experienced when there are contradictory expectations within one role

role conlfict

experienced when we occupy two or more roles w/ contradictory expectations

crime

if a behavior is considered deviant it means that it violates the values and norms of a group, not that it is inherently wrong

groupthink

in very cohesive groups, the tendency to enforce a high degree of conformity among members, creating a demand for unanimous agreement

feeling rules

norms regarding the expression and display of emotions

mores

norms that carry a greater moral significance and are more closely related to the core values of a cultural group

looking-glass self

1) how we imagine we appear to others 2) how we imagine others thoughts or judgements on how we appear 3) whether or not we change our appearance or behavior based on how we think others view us

deviance

a behavior, trait, belief, or other characteristic that violates a norm and causes a negative reaction

group vs crowd

a collection of 2+ people who share some attribute, identify w/ one another and interact w/ each other; a temporary gathering of people in a public place

in-group vs out-group

a group that one identifies with and feels loyalty towards; a group an individual feels opposition, rivalry, or hostility

reference groups

a group that provides a standard of comparison against which we evaluate ourselves

subculture

a group w/in society that is differentiated by its distinctive values, norms, and lifestyles

counterculture

a group w/in society that openly rejects or actively opposes society's values and norms

folkways

a loosely enforced norm involving common customs, practices, or procedures that ensure smooth social interaction and acceptance

taboos

a norm ingrained so deeply that even thinking about violating it evokes strong feelings of disgust, horror, or revulsion

Bureaucracy

a secondary group designed to perform tasks efficiently; clear hierarchy, specialization, a division of labor, and a set of formal rules

stigma

any physical or social attribute that devalues a person or group's identity and that may exclude those who are devalued from normal social interaction

traditional authority

authority based in custom, birthright, or dive right

legal rational authority

authority based in laws, rules, and procedures, not in the heredity or personality of any individual leader

charismatic authority

authority based on the perception of remarkable personal qualities in a leader

sanctions

positive or negative reactions to the ways that people follow or disobey norms

Coercive vs influential power

power that is backed by the threat of force; power that is supported by persuasion

passing

presenting yourself as a member of a different group than the stigmatized group to which you belong

agents of socialization

social groups, institutions, and individuals that provide structured situations in which socialization takes place

dramaturgy

social life is analyzed in terms of its similarities to theatrical performance

agency

the ability of the individual to act freely and independently

symbolic culture

the ability to learn and transit behavioral traditions from one generation to the next

culture

the entire way of life of a group of people, passed from one generation to the next

preparatory stage

the first stage in Mead's theory of the development of self wherein children mimic or imitate others

social control

the formal and informal mechanisms used to elicit conformity to values and norms and thus promote social cohesion

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

the idea that language structures thought and that ways of looking at the world are embedded in language

nature vs nurture

the ongoing discussion of the respective roles of genetics and socialization in determining individual behaviors and traits

group dynamics

the patterns of interaction between groups and individuals

generalized other

the perspectives and expectations of a network of others that children learn and then take into account when shaping their own behavior

social loafing

the phenomenon in which each individual contributes a little less as more individuals are added to a taste

frontstage

the places where we deliver our performances to an audience of others

backstage

the places where we rehearse and prepare for our performance

cultural leveling

the process by which cultures that were once unique and distinct become increasingly similar

socialization

the process of learning and internalizing the values, beliefs, and norms of our social group

group cohesion

the sense of solidarity or loyalty that individuals feel toward a group to which they belong

role

the set of behaviors expected of someone b/c of their status

front

the setting or scene of performances that helps establish the definition of the situation

McDonaldization

the spread of bureaucratic rationalization and the accompanying increases in efficiency and dehumanization; 4 components, efficiency, predictability, calculability, control

dominant culture

the values, norms, and practices of the group w/in society that is most powerful

gestures

the ways in which we people use their bodies to communicate w/o words; actions that have symbolic meaning

social network

the web of direct and indirect ties connecting an individual to other people who may also affect the individual

game stage

third stage, where children play organized games and take on the perspective of the generalized other

laws

types of norms that are formally codified to provide an explicit statement about what is legal or illegal in society

direct ties

who is directly connected to who in a social group

anomie

alienation and loss of purpose that result from weaker social bonds and an increased pace of change

indirect ties

connected through a third person

social ties

connections between individuals

the effect of social isolation

feral children, children who have had little human contact and may have lived in social isolation from a young age

primary vs secondary group

groups composed of the people who are most important to our self; groups that are larger and less intimate, usually organized around a specific goal

hegemony

leadership or dominance, especially by one country or group

instrumental vs expressive leadership

leadership that is task or goal oriented; leadership concerned w/ maintaining emotional and relational harmony w/ in the group

norms

rules or guidelines regarding what kinds of behavior are acceptable and appropriate within a particular culture

play stage

second stage, children pretend to play the role of the particular or significant other

values

set of shared beliefs that a group of people considers to be desirable

signs

symbols that stand for or convey an idea

language

system of communication using vocal sounds, gestures, or written symbols

emotion work

the management of one's feelings and the expression of those feelings in a way that enhances our relationship

material culture

the objects associated with a cultural group; any physical object to which we give social meaning