soc exam 2 review

agents of socialization

• the family is the most important agent of socialization in the US, especially for children

• ex: family, friends, teachers, etc.

anticipatory socialization

refers to the processes of socialization in which a person rehearses for future positions, occupations, and social relationships

cooley’s looking glass self

emphasizes that the self is the product of our social interactions (broader view of double consciousness)

• critical aspect: the self results from an individual’s “imagination” of how others view that person, so we can develop incorrect perceptions

degradation ceremony

an aspect of the socialization process within some total institutions, in which ppl are subjected to humiliating rituals

dramaturgical approach

a view of social interaction, popularized by Erving Goffman, in which people are seen as theatrical performers

face-work

refers to the efforts ppl make to maintain the proper image and avoid public embarrassment

(ex: clearly evident when having to deliver bad news)

gender role

refers to expectations regarding the proper behavior, attitudes, and activities of women and men

generalized other

a term used by Mead to refer to the attitudes, viewpoints, and expectations of society as a whole that a child takes into account their behavior

resocializaiton

refers to the process of discarding former behavior patterns and accepting new ones as part of a transition in one’s life

• particularly effective when it occurs within a total institution

rite of passage

a ritual marking the symbolic transition from one social position to another

role taking

the process of mentally assuming the perspective of another and responding from that imagined viewpoint

self

a distinct identity that sets us apart from others

• based on the work of George Mead

• continues to develop and change throughout our lives

mead’s stages of the self

• the prepatory stage - children merely imitate the ppl around them (self not present yet)

• the play stage - children pretend to be other ppl (self is developing)

• the game stage - children consider the roles of two or more others simultaneously (self is present)

socialization

the lifelong process in which people learn the attitudes, values, and behaviors appropriate for members of a particular culture

• also shapes our self images

total institution

refers to an institution that regulates all aspects of a person’s life under a single authority, coined by Goffman

(ex: prison, the military, mental hospital, convent, etc.)

achieved status

a social position that a person attains largely through their own efforts

alienation

a condition of estrangement or dissociation from the surrounding society (Karl Marx)

ascribed status

assigned to a person by society without regard for the person’s unique talents or characteristics

• generally assigned at birth (ex: gender, race, age)

• conflict theorists are interested

• can’t really change it

Bureaucratization

the process by which a group, organization, or social movement becomes increasingly bureaucratic

Bureaucracy

a component of formal organization that uses rules and hierarchical ranking to achieve efficiency

group

any number of people with similar norms, values, and expectations who interact with one another on a regular basis

ideal type

a construct or model for evaluating specific cases

in-group

any group or category to which people feel they belong

• “we” or “us”, view themselves as superior

*master status

a staus that dominates other statuses and thereby determines a person’s general position in society

• Everett Hughes (1945)

out-group

a group or category to which ppl feel they do not belong

• “they” or “them”

primary group

refers to a small group characterized by intimate, face to face association and cooperation

(ex: family members living in one house, sorority sisters, gang, etc.)

reference group

any group that individuals use as a standad for evaluating themselves and their own behavior

• 2 basic purposes: (1) setting and enforcing standards of conduct and (2) serving a standard against which ppl can measure themselves and others

role conflict

occurs when incompatible expectations arise from two or more social positions held by the same person

• another type of role conflict occurs when people move into occupations that are not common among ppl with their ascribed status (ex: male nurse)

role strain

the difficulty that arises when the same social position imposes conflicting demands and expectations

secondary group

refers to a formal, impersonal group in which there is little social intimacy or mutual understanding

(ex: workplace, college classes, etc)

social institution

an organized pattern of beliefs and behavior centered on basic social needs

social role

a set of expectations for people who occupy a given social position or status

• with each distinctive social status, whether ascribed or achieved, come particular role expectations

• significant component of social structure, they contribute to a society’s stability (functionalist perspective)

social structure

refers to the way in which a society is organized into predictable relationships

• we can break down any social structure into 5 elements: statuses, social roles, groups, social networks, and social institutions

status

refers to any of the full range socially defined positions within a large group or society

• you can have more than one status at one time

culture lag

a period of maladjustment when the nonmaterial culture is still struggling to adapt to new material conditions

Conflict perspective on mass and social media

the media reflects and even exacerbates many of the divisions in our society (dominant ideology)

dominant ideology

a set of cultural beliefs and practices that helps to maintain powerful social, economic, and political interests

feminist perspective on mass and social media

share the view of conflict theorists, the mass media stereotypes and misrepresent social reality and influences how we look at men and women

functionalist perspective on mass and social media

media socializes us, enforces social norms, confer status, and promotes consumption

functions of mass and social media

gatekeeping

the process by which a relatively small number of ppl in the media industry control what material eventually reaches the audience

hyper-local media

reporting that’s highly local and typically internet based

hyperconsumerism

term coined by Jean Baudrillard, refers to the practice of buying more than we need or want, and often more than we can afford; a preoccupation of postmodern consumers

• the media promotes this behavior pattern

influencer

a social media user who has established credibility in a specific industry, such as fashion or toys

mass media

print and electronic means of communication that carry messages to widespread audiences

• 3 main concerns: fairness, violent messages, and beauty standards

social media

websites and online applications that enable people to create and share content or to participate in social networking