Sociology Exam 2: Social Interaction, Deviance, and Subcultures

Roles

The expected behavior patterns associated with a particular social position.

Status/Social Position

The social standing or rank of an individual within a society.

Impression Management

The process by which individuals attempt to control the impressions others form of them.

Erving Goffman

A sociologist known for his work on the presentation of self in everyday life and the concept of dramaturgical analysis.

Civil Inattention

The practice of individuals in public spaces to acknowledge each other minimally to maintain social order.

Nonverbal Communication

The transmission of messages or signals without the use of words, including gestures, facial expressions, and body language.

Paul Ekman and Charles Darwin

Researchers known for their work on emotions and facial expressions, particularly the universality of emotional expressions.

Face, Gestures, and Emotion

The study of how facial expressions and gestures convey emotions and social signals.

Response Cries

Involuntary exclamations individuals make in response to events, reflecting emotional reactions.

Focused and Unfocused Interaction

Focused interaction occurs when individuals engage directly with one another, while unfocused interaction involves individuals in proximity who are not directly engaging.

Encounter

A face-to-face interaction between individuals.

Social Life and the Ordering of Space and Time

The ways in which social interactions are structured by spatial and temporal arrangements.

Time-Space

The concept that combines time and space to understand social interactions and organization.

Regionalization

The division of social space into distinct regions that influence social interactions.

Back Region

The area where individuals can relax and behave informally, away from the public eye.

Front Region

The area where individuals perform and present themselves to others in a socially acceptable manner.

Clock Time

The measurement of time based on the clock, influencing social interactions and organization.

Theories of Social Interaction

Frameworks that explain how individuals engage and communicate with one another in society.

Agency

The capacity of individuals to act independently and make their own choices.

Edward T. Hall

A cultural anthropologist known for his work on personal space and proxemics.

Personal Space

The physical distance individuals maintain between themselves and others in social interactions.

Harold Garfinkel

A sociologist known for founding ethnomethodology, the study of how people make sense of their everyday lives.

Ethnomethodology

The study of the methods individuals use to make sense of their social world.

Breaching

A disruption of normal social interaction to reveal the underlying rules of social behavior.

Accounts

Explanations provided for breaches in social norms that help restore meaning and normalcy.

Interactional Vandalism

Disruptive behavior that violates social norms in interactions, often to challenge social order.

Conversation Analysis

The study of the structure and organization of talk in interaction.

The Digital Age

A period characterized by the rise of digital technology and its impact on social interactions.

Compulsion of Proximity

The phenomenon where individuals feel compelled to be physically close to others due to social or technological factors.

Networks

Structures made up of individuals or organizations that are connected by relationships.

The Internet as a Social Network

The concept of the internet serving as a platform for social interactions and connections.

Social Group

A collection of individuals who interact and share a sense of belonging.

Social Aggregate

A collection of individuals who happen to be in the same place at the same time but do not interact.

Social Category

A classification of individuals based on shared characteristics or attributes.

Primary Groups

Small, close-knit groups characterized by intimate, face-to-face interactions.

Secondary Groups

Larger, more impersonal groups that are task-oriented and goal-directed.

Conformity

The act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms.

Obedience to Authority

The act of following orders or directives from an authority figure, as studied in Milgram's research.

Organization

A structured group of individuals working together to achieve specific goals.

Formal Organization

An organization with a defined structure, rules, and procedures.

In Group vs. Out Group

In-groups are social groups to which individuals feel they belong, while out-groups are those to which they do not belong.

Reference Groups

Groups that individuals use as a standard for evaluating themselves and their own behavior.

The Effect of Size

The influence that the size of a group has on its dynamics and interactions.

Dyads

Groups consisting of two individuals, characterized by close relationships.

Triads

Groups consisting of three individuals, which can introduce complexity in relationships.

Larger Groups

Groups with more than three members, which can lead to different dynamics and interactions.

Theories of Organization

Frameworks that explain how organizations function and are structured.

Bureaucracy

A formal organizational structure characterized by a clear hierarchy and set rules.

Weber's Ideal Type

A conceptual model that defines the characteristics of an ideal bureaucracy.

Clear Cut Hierarchy of Authority

A structured ranking within an organization that defines roles and responsibilities.

Written Rules Govern Conduct

The principle that formal organizations operate according to established guidelines.

Officials Work Full-Time and are Salaried

The expectation that individuals in bureaucratic positions are employed full-time and receive compensation.

Separation of Officials and Personal Lives

The distinction between the professional roles of officials and their personal lives.

No Ownership of Operational Materials

The principle that members of a bureaucracy do not own the resources they use in their work.

Formal and Informal Interactions within Bureaucracy

The ways in which individuals communicate and interact within a bureaucratic structure, both officially and unofficially.

The Control of Time and Space

The ways organizations manage and regulate the temporal and spatial aspects of social interactions.

Surveillance

The monitoring of behavior and activities, often used to maintain control within organizations.

Timetables

Schedules that dictate the timing of activities and interactions within organizations.

The McDonaldization of Society

A term coined by George Ritzer to describe the process by which principles of fast-food restaurants dominate other sectors of society.

Personal Taste

Individual preferences that influence choices and behaviors in social contexts.

Obesity

A medical condition characterized by excessive body fat, often influenced by social and environmental factors.

Role of Democracy amidst Bureaucracy

The challenges and implications of democratic principles operating within bureaucratic structures.

Iron Law of Oligarchy

The theory that organizations inevitably develop oligarchic tendencies, concentrating power in a small group.

Information and Communication Technology

Technological tools that facilitate communication and information sharing in social contexts.

Deviance

Behavior that violates social norms and expectations.

Deviant Subculture

A group that has norms and values that differ significantly from mainstream society, such as the Heavens Gate cult.

Norms and Sanctions

Norms are rules or expectations for behavior, while sanctions are the consequences for adhering to or violating those norms.

Laws

Formalized norms that are enforced by the state.

Norm

A standard or rule that governs behavior within a group or society.

Sanctions

Consequences applied to individuals for violating norms, which can be positive or negative.

Functional Theory

A perspective that views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote stability.

Durkheim and Merton

Sociologists known for their contributions to understanding deviance and its functions in society.

Anomie

A state of normlessness or breakdown of social norms, often leading to feelings of disconnection.

Relative Deprivation

The perception that one is worse off relative to others, which can lead to feelings of discontent.

Subcultural Explanations

Theories that suggest deviance is learned through interaction within subcultures that promote deviant behavior.

Interactionist Theory

A perspective that focuses on the meanings and interpretations individuals assign to their social interactions.

Learned Deviance

The concept that deviant behavior is acquired through socialization and interaction with others.

Differential Association

A theory that suggests deviance is learned through interactions with others who engage in deviant behavior.

Labeling Theory

A theory that posits that deviance is a consequence of being labeled as deviant by society.

Lemert

A sociologist known for his work on labeling theory and the distinction between primary and secondary deviance.

Primary Deviance

Initial acts of deviant behavior that do not result in the individual being labeled as deviant.

Secondary Deviance

Deviance that occurs as a result of society's reaction to the initial deviant behavior.

Labeling and College Drinking Statistics

Labeling theory explains that being labeled as a 'drinker' can influence college students' drinking behaviors.

Disrupting Labels

Strategies to challenge and reduce the impact of negative labels on identity.

Detachment

A strategy to minimize the impact of alcohol on identity by reframing the experience.

Symbolic Interaction

A sociological perspective that emphasizes the importance of symbols and meanings in human interaction.

Breaching in Ethnomethodology

The practice of disrupting social norms to study the implicit rules governing social interactions.

Subcultures of Deviance

Groups that normalize deviant behavior as part of their identity and social structure.

Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin

Sociologists known for their work on subcultures and the social conditions that foster deviance.

Fraternity Drinking Stories

Research analyzing how some fraternities encourage deviant behaviors, such as excessive drinking.

Durkheim and Suicide

Durkheim's study of suicide as a social phenomenon influenced by social integration and regulation.

Factors Predicting Neurology

Various biological, psychological, and sociological factors that influence neurological conditions.

Integration and Social Networks

The role of social connections in influencing mental health and well-being.

Access to Means

The availability of resources and opportunities that can impact individual choices and behaviors.

Music Subcultures and Suicide

The relationship between cultural themes in music genres and their association with suicide rates.

Steven Stack

A suicidologist who studied the cultural themes in music related to suicide.

Cultural Themes of Country Music

Common motifs in country music that are associated with suicide, including firearms, lost loves, and financial strain.

Firearms

A common theme in country music that relates to violence and suicide.

Lost Loves

A recurring theme in country music that often reflects emotional pain and can be associated with suicidal thoughts.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Substance use that is often depicted in music and linked to themes of despair and suicide.