Sociology - ch 6 social interaction

eighth aspect of the dramaturgical model (8/10)

"the gestures which we call empty are perhaps the fullest of all"

symbolic interaction

-focuses on everyday life and the meanings people make of the social world -microsociological approach

what are the 3 theories to social interaction?

1. social construction - reality is socially constructed 2. dramaturgical model 3. ethnomethodology

SUMMARY OF CHAPTER 6

1. social structure provides guidelines for behavior, making everyday life understandable and predictable 2. a major component of social structure is STATUS, a person's position in society. within an entire status set, a master status has special significance for a person's identity. 3. ascribed statuses are involuntary, whereas achieved statuses are earned. in practice, most statuses are BOTH ascribed and achieved. 4. the "social construction of reality" refers to the idea that we build the social world through our interactions with others. 5. the THOMAS THEOREM states, "situations defined as real become real in their consequences" 6. ethnomethodology reveals people's assumptions about and understanding or their social world. 7. dramaturgical analysis views everyday life as a theatrical performance, nothing that people try to create - particular impressions in the minds of others 8. everyday behavior carries the ever-present danger of embarrassment, or "loss of face". people are sensitive in order to prevent others' from being embarrassed

first aspect of the dramaturgical model (1/10)

Erving Goffman

fourth aspect of the dramaturgical model (4/10)

With any play, you have a script (which we learn from culture)

second aspect of social construction theory (2/5)

a gynecological exam - good example of social constructionism because people work hard to construct the interaction as a medical procedure as opposed to anything sexual

first aspect of social construction theory (1/5)

culture is both enabling and constraining - gives people purpose and tells us how to live; but also tells us what not to do. The reality of our lives, in modern society, is very fragile

sixth aspect of the dramaturgical model (6/10)

how we speak, act, and move is geared toward establishing our "ritual competence" ex: students writing things down or tripping on a sidewalk

THE BIG IDEA

in modern society, our life choices SHOULD be determined by our achieved statuses, not our ascribed statuses. even ascribed statuses are in a sense achieved: it's not enough to be born a male, you have to act like one too

third aspect of ethnomethodology (3/3)

social interaction - reproduces social structure

second aspect of ethnomethodology (2/3)

social structure (patterned set of interactions) - sets limits on our behavior

second aspect of the dramaturgical model (2/10)

the study of social interaction in terms of theatrical performance -seek to control how we appear to others through the use of props, settings, body language, language, and social roles

third aspect of the dramaturgical model (3/10)

this is called "impression management" or presentation of self"

fifth aspect of the dramaturgical model (5/10)

we are actors playing a part; in a sense, faking all the time

tenth aspect of the dramaturgical model (10/10)

we don't acknowledge it

fifth aspect of the social construction theory (5/5)

Clifford Geertz - "we live our lives suspended in webs of meaning that we ourselves have woven" 1. a web restricts us, culture - constrains or restricts us and limits our perception and thinking 2. but a web also holds us up - culture gives us meaning and direction and therefore enables us to accomplish things 3. so our sense of meaning and order is precarious and unstable because strands of our web can be cut : "you're fired!" or "I'm leaving you!" - we have very few strands in our webs. can relate this to our low degree of social integration

first aspect of ethnomethodology (1/3)

Harold Garfinkle - 1. people's methods of making sense of every day life. we rely on "background assumptions" to make sense of the world 2. "how are you?" just asked to "be polite" 3. ex: facing the wrong way in the elevator

fourth aspect of social construction theory (4/5)

Hugh "Bud" Mehan - 1. combines social construction and conflict theory through his corollary to the thomas theorem 2. corollary to the thomas theorem - "all people define situations as real, but when powerful people define situations as real, then they are real in their consequences for everyone involved." 3. ex: psychologists vs. parents, in terms of who defines the child

seventh aspect of the dramaturgical model (7/10)

The Presentation of Self and Everyday Life - is related to acting

third aspect of social construction theory (3/5)

W.I. Thomas - thomas theorem: "men define situations as real, and they are real in their consequences

ninth aspect of the dramaturgical model (9/10)

what happens to a guy when he makes a pass at a woman? -he does it in a way that he does not invite serious rejection -a woman will accept in a way that allows her to change her mind -both playing roles establishing RITUAL COMPETENCE