Flash Cards

what is social status

The position an individual occupies in a social group. Determines how others interact with them and comes with expected behaviors. EX: Student, teacher.

what is Ahcieved Status

A status earned through personal effort or accomplishments. Based on choices and actions. EX: athlete, doctor.

what is ascribed status

A status assigned at birht or outside your control, not based on effort. EX: gender, family background.

what is a role?

The expected behavior tied to a sepcific status. Society sets expectations for how someone should act. EX: Teacher→instruct, grade. Student→attend, study.

what does the Winnie the Pooh example show?

Characters demonstrate different social statues and roles. Each charcacter behaves according to their identity in the group. Helps to visualize how status shapes interactions.

What is Goffmans Dramaturgical Theory?

Social life is like a theater performance/movie. People act out roles depending on the situation.

What are the key elements of dramturgical theory

Setting, parts, props, scrips, front stage, back stage.
parts=statuses people occupy
Scripts=expected behaviors
Front stage= when poeple are watching
Back stage=how somoene acts truly

What is “self” according to Goffman

A collection of roles and identities. Not Fixed, changes on the situation. Built through interaction wiht others.

why is the “self” considred fragile?

Can be disrupted easily(mistakes, embarrasment), constant pressure to meet expectations, and always at risk of social failure.

How does modern society affect “self”

Creates a tension between personal identity and social expectations. Individuals must constantly adjust behavior.

What is impression management?

THe process of controlling how others perceive you. Involves showing certain traits and hiding others. Used to meet audience expectations.

What is Goffman Restruant Example?

Demonstates role performance in real life, must know your role(customer vs. worker).

What is front stage vs back state in the restraunt?

Front stage: public areas (customer interaction)
Back stage: kitchen (no audience)

Why do behaivors change quickly between front and back stage.

Acting a role is mentally exhausting, people need to release stress back stage, and leads to venting or different behavior.

Why do some workplaces have high turnover?

No clear separation between front and backstage, constant role performance causes burnout.

what is role conflict

Occurs when one person holds mulitple roles with incompatible expectaions. EX: student vs employee responsibilities.

How can institiutions ensure people maintain roles and responsibilities

Increase accountability, test only lecture material and icnrease weight of in-class work.

What are total institutions

Places that control all aspects of life separate individuals from society. EX: prisons and mental hospitals.

What is resocialization

Process of changing a persons identity, done by controlling environment and expereinces.

what are the two stages of total institutions

1: erode identity, remove individuality
2: build new identity, reinforce new behaviors.

How does military training demonstrate resocilazation

Erode: hair cuts, uniforms, loss of personal items
Build: discicpline, obedience, and group identity.

what is the core idea of symbolic interaction

Social interaction is based on meaning.

What is meaning in social interaction

What people find improtant or fulfilling. EX: family, success, hobbies.

What is meaning culturally dependent

Different cultures value different things, meaning changes based on situation, people, and outcomes.

what is the problem with meaning in sociology

Cannot be measured easily and makes prediction and control difficult.

What is Homans exchange thoery

Social interaction=exchange of rewards and punishments, focuses on measurable behavior.

what shapes behavior in exchange theory

Past experiences and learned responses based on outcomes.

What is intergenerational Reciprocity?

“support bank” concept, helping others increases likelihood of being helped later.

what is social organziaton

Structure that shapes social interactons, interaction is not random.

what do sociologist study about organziation?

How interaction is strucuter and the effects of different organizational forms.

What did simmel argue about group size.

Group size determines interactionW

hat is dyad

two-person group, fragile, and end if one leaves.

what is triad

Three-person group, more stable, and allows alliances and tie-breakers.

What is a social network

a set of individuals connected by relationships. EX: family, friends, and authoriity

What are networks important.

Influence behavior and spread ideas and actions.

what is social contagion

Spread of behaviors through networks, more time→more adoption.

what defines a traiditonal society/

low division of labor, strong personal relationships, and simple structuer.

what are primary groups

Small, close relationships, face to face interaction.

what is mechanical solidarity

unity from shared expereinces, people are similar.

What defines a modern society?

high divsion of labor, and complex institutions.

What are secondary groups.

Large, impersonal groups, focus on task.

what is organic solidarity

unity through interdependence and people rely on each other. W

What tension exist in modern society.

Economic efficiency vs moral values.

What is webers view of modern society

Focus on rationality and efficiceny.

what is bureaucracy

Organized system based on rules and regulations

what are the 4 characteristics of bureaucracy

Specialization, hierarchy, rules, and technical competence.

what is the benefit and problem of bureaucracy

benefit society. The problem is disenchantment(loss of meaning)

what is happening to hispice care

Becoming bureaucratic and profit-driven, for profit care rated worse.

what is globalization

interaction across time and space, driven by technology.

what is deviance

behavior that violates norms.

why is deviance functioanl

reinforces norms, and prevents anomie(alienation)

What is social control

methods to regulate behavior

what are types of social control

internal: learned values
external: rewards/punishments.

what is labeling theory

Labels shape identity and behavior

primary vs secondary deviance

primary: inital act
Secondary: identity formed after labeling.

What is ethnomethodology

study of how people create meaning

what is breaching

Breaking social norms to study reactions.

What are accounts

Explanations used to restore normal interaction.

What are manners vs morals

Manners= behaviors(norms)
Morals= beliefs(values)

What is positive deviance

Using successful outliers to solve problems.
Steps
define problem

identify outliers

find strategies

apply

evaluate

what is deviant subculture

group where deviance is normal, behavior defines identity.