SOCIOLOGY (SOCIAL INTERACTIONS/SOCIAL & MASS MEDIA)

status set

refers to all the statuses a person holds at a given time

ascribed status

social position a person receives at birth or takes on involuntarily later in life

achieved status

refers to a social position a person takes on voluntarily that reflects personal ability and effort.

master status

is a status that has special importance for social identity, often shaping a person's entire life. (EX: Physical Disability)

role

and behavior expected of someone with a particular status.

role set

to identify a number of roles attached to a single status.

role conflict

as conflict among the roles connected to two or more statuses.

role strain

strain social position a person receives at birth or takes on involuntarily later in life

social construction of reality

the process by which people creatively shape reality through social interaction.

Thomas Theorem

a bit of wisdom named after W. I. Thomas and Dorothy Thomas (1928): Situations that are defined as real are real in their consequences.

For example, a teacher who believes a certain student to be intellectually gifted may well encourage exceptional academic performance.

ethnomethodology

the study of how people use background assumptions to make sense out of life

The concept of social media refers to

media that allows people to communicate with one another, to share information, and to form communities based on shared interests and goals

dramaturgical analysis

the study of social interaction in terms of theatrical performance.

presentation of self

a person's efforts to create specific impressions in the minds of others.

example of performance

doctor; language, tools, clothing

nonverbal communication

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

Demeanor

the way we act and carry ourselves—is a clue to social power.

personal space

refers to the surrounding area over which a person makes some claim to privacy

. Tact

is helping someone recover or "save face."

Goffman's research shows

that although behavior is spontaneous in some respects, it is more patterned than we like to think

6 basic emotions

anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise

Through social interaction

we construct the reality we experience.

Both culture and social class shape the reality people construct.

For example, a "short walk" for a New Yorker is a few city blocks, but for a rural farmer in Latin America, it could be a few miles.

Performances are...

Performances are both conscious (intentional action) and unconscious (nonverbal communication).

Performances include costume (the way we dress), props (objects we carry), and demeanor (tone of voice and the way we carry ourselves).

Gender & performances

affects performances because men typically have greater social power than women. Gender differences involve demeanor, use of space, and smiling, staring, and touching.

Idealization of performances

means we try to convince others that our actions reflect ideal culture rather than selfish motives.

Embarrassment is the

"loss of face" in a performance. People use tact to help others "save face."

Emotions: The Social Construction of Feeling

The same basic emotions are biologically programmed into all human beings, but culture guides what triggers emotions, how people display emotions, and how people value emotions. In everyday life, the presentation of self involves managing inner emotions as well as outward behavior.

Language: The Social Construction of Gender

Gender is an important element of everyday interaction. Language defines women and men as different types of people, reflecting the fact that society attaches greater power and value to what is viewed as masculine.

Reality Play: The Social Construction of Humor

Humor results from the difference between conventional and unconventional definitions of a situation. Because humor is a part of culture, people around the world find different situations funny.

Media

Media refers channels of communication.

Mass media

refers to the means for transmitting information from a single source to a vast

media literacy

the capacity to be a critical consumer of mass and social media.

social media

a refers to media that allows people to communicate with one another, to share information, and to form communities based on shared interests and goals.

- Through most of human history, people engaged primarily in face-to-face interaction.

- The era of mass media began about the year 1800 as newspapers increased circulation, followed by the spread of radio and television in the twentieth century and the expansion of the internet in recent decades.

- Mass media transmits information in one direction; today's social media supports interactive communication.

who claimed media not only transmit information but also shape the message.

Marshall McLuhan

effect of social media on relationships

- Social media supports relationships over great distances.

- People who use social media have larger social networks, and many report this technology enhances the quality of their relationships.

- Social media can increase parental control over children's lives.

- About 30 percent of U.S. adults report using social dating sites.

- Marriages that begin online are five times more likely to end in divorce during the first three years than marriages that begin in more traditional ways.

effects of social media on individuals

- Social media encourages individuals to present themselves in ideal terms.

- How others respond to our online presentations shapes our self-image and level of self-esteem.

- Research links use of social media to higher rates of anxiety and depression, lower empathy, encouragement of conformity, reduced attention span, and the risk of addiction.

The Historical Evolution of Mass Media and Social Media

- Newspapers first appeared in Europe in the seventeenth century; after 1800, circulations increased dramatically, making papers a true mass medium.

- Radio (beginning in the 1920s) and television stations (becoming widespread in the 1950s) became more popular than newspapers and shaped public awareness of society and the world.

- Cable and satellite radio and television provide extensive and diverse programming.

- The development of the internet in the later decades of the last century set the stage for development of social media.

The Effect of Social Media on Society

- Especially for young people, much of today's popular culture is based on content found on the internet.

- Social media now plays a major part in socialization and also in transmitting messages about race, class, and gender.

- Research links the use of social media to a shallow culture that highlights superficial issues such as beauty and popularity.

- Computer technology supports the service work done by a majority of U.S. workers.

- Social media has increasing importance for political campaigns.

tructural-functional theory links social media

socialization, advancement of a uniform culture, integration of people into communities, social control, entertainment and stability, and social change.

Symbolic-interaction theory

how social media plays a central part in the social construction of reality.

Marxist social-conflict theory

highlights how social media supports the capitalist economic system.

Feminist theory

highlights ways in which the mass media creates and perpetuates gender inequality.

The Politics of Social Media

- Social media have contributed to political polarization in the United States.

- Criticism of social media is stronger among conservatives than progressives.

- Overall, workers and corporate leaders of big tech provide considerably more support to Democrats than to Republicans.

media consolidation

The trend toward a few large corporations owning most of the media outlets in the country.

digital divide

A worldwide gap giving advantage to those with access to technology

media literacy

the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media in a variety of forms