Sociological Perspective of the Self and Social Psychology

A comprehensive vocabulary review of core sociological and psychological concepts concerning the self, social interaction, group dynamics, relationship types, and prejudice.

Sociology

The scientific study of society, focusing on how people relate to each other, interact, and share culture.

Attitude

An evaluation made about a person, idea, object, or event (PIOE), which can be positive (+) or negative (–).

Behavior

The way a person actually acts or conducts themselves, especially toward others; what one does rather than what one feels.

Delocalization of the Self

Karl Mannheim's concept that modernization pulls identity away from one fixed community or tradition.

Necessary Fiction

Friedrich Nietzsche's concept describing the belief in a fixed, unchanging 'true' self—a belief that cannot be proven true, but is needed because people crave certainty in a world of constant change.

Postmodern View / Digital Self

The perspective that identity is no longer primarily shaped by old, stable institutions (church, hometown, lifelong career), but by globalization, media, technology, and consumerism.

Multiphrenia

A condition coined by Kenneth Gergen where exposure through technology to many cultural voices and roles causes the self to become fragmented and multidimensional rather than a single authentic entity.

Protean Self

Robert Jay Lifton's concept of a resilient self that constantly changes shape to fit new circumstances, named after the shape-shifting Greek god Proteus.

Decentered Self

The belief that no fixed self exists at all and that identity is constantly being redefined and changed.

Self-in-Relation

The concept that life is not lived in isolation and that identity only makes sense in relation to other people.

Self as an Artistic Creation

The view that self-identity is a 'reflective project' in which an individual continuously creates, maintains, and revises their own biographical narrative like an ongoing work of art.

Language Stage

The earliest stage in George Herbert Mead's self-development model, where children build their sense of self by responding to and communicating with others through symbols, actions, and sounds.

Play Stage

The stage in George Herbert Mead's self-development model where an individual practices identity by pretending to be someone else and trying on roles apart from themselves.

Game Stage

The stage in George Herbert Mead's self-development model where an individual learns to obey shared rules and cooperate with others to achieve group success.

Social Psychology

The branch of psychology that studies individuals as they interact with others, explaining how thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and behaviors are influenced by social factors and the presence of others.

Interaction

A mutual, reciprocal exchange of communication or action between two or more people or groups, which can be brief and one-time.

Relationship

A particular, continuous way that individuals, groups, or countries talk to, behave toward, or deal with each other over time.

Person Perception

The process of forming impressions and judging someone's likability, intentions, traits, and behavior after seeing or meeting them.

First Impressions

Judgments formed within seconds with little conscious thought, influenced by past experience and based on physical appearance, facial expression, mannerisms, and language.

Social Facilitation

The tendency for an individual to perform differently (often better) when others are present compared to when performing alone.

Social Loafing

The tendency to exert less effort toward reaching a goal when working collectively in a group compared to working alone.

Conformity

Acting or thinking like members of a group by yielding to group pressure, even without a direct request.

Social Roles

A set of connected behaviors, rights, obligations, beliefs, and norms that specify an individual's part or position in society.

Familiarity

The state of being comfortable with another person, which is necessary for a close relationship to develop.

Attraction

Any force or affinity that draws people together, pulling friends or romantic partners toward each other.

Romantic Love

Also called passionate love; a complex state characterized by a mix of fear, anger, desire, joy, and jealousy all at once.

Affectionate Love

Also called compassionate love; a type of love defined by deep, caring affection and the desire to have someone near constantly.

Consummate Love

Robert Sternberg's term for the strongest, fullest type of love, which combines passion, intimacy, and commitment together.

Stereotype

The assumption that all members of a specific group share the same traits or characteristics.

Prejudice

An unfair, biased, or intolerant attitude or opinion directed toward members of a particular group.

Discrimination

The specific unfair behavior or treatment directed against members of a group.

Racism

Unfair behavior or discrimination directed against an individual based on their color or ethnic heritage.

Sexism

Unfair behavior or discrimination directed against an individual based on their gender.