Sociology 2/17/15

What is Role Conflict?

A situation in which incompatible role demands are placed on a person by two or more statuses. When this occurs we feel pulled in different directions. The best thing to do is to minimize roles to minimize conflict.

What is presentation of self?

An individual's efforts to create specific impressions in the minds of others.

Definition of Roles

Behavior associated with someone who holds a particular status. A set of behaviors, set of expectations, and thoughts a person is expected to follow in a given position.

What is Erving Goffman known for doing?

He came up with the study of social interaction in terms of a theatrical presentation. It includes how we dress (costumes), what kind of objects we have (props), and our tone of voice/gestures.

What is nonverbal communication?

Involves using body movements, gestures, and facial expressions rather than speech.

Definition of Status Symbol

Material signs that inform others of a person's specific status.

What is Role Strain?

Occurs when incompatible demands and conflicting expectations are built into the same status. Role strain only involves one status unlike role conflict.

What is Role Exit?

Occurs when people disengage from social roles that have been central to their identity.

What is Role Ambiguity?

Occurs when the expectations of a new role are unclear. Roles are ambiguous to the extent that social relationships are not mechanical. (We have choices)

What is impression management?

Process by which people control how others perceive them (manipulation).

4 Kinds of Roles

Role Ambiguity, Role Conflict, Role Strain, and Role Exit

What is Backstage Region of Interaction?

The area where the player is not required to preform a specific role because it is out of view of a given audience. You are not being judged in this region.

What is Front Stage Region of Interaction?

The area where the player performs a specific role before an audience. When you are in this region you are being judged.

Definition of Master Status

The most important status a person occupies and has a special importance for social identity often shaping a person's entire life. Usually associated with a job or name.

What is face saving behavior?

The strategies we use to rescue our performance when we falter or experience what's cause loss of face or credibility. We try to overcome this loss of credibility.

Definition of Identity

Who we see ourselves as, he name we call ourselves and the name we usually announce to others in our actions (gender, income, class position). These traits make up individual and give them a way of viewing and adapting to the world.

What is are some examples of deception?

shifty eyes, whispers, anxieties, fidgety, inconsistencies, body language