Intro to Sociology (Ch.4)

Nature vs. Nurture

The ongoing discussion of the respective roles of genetics and socialization in determining individual behaviors and traits.

Socialization

The process of learning and internalizing the values, beliefs, and norms of our social group, by which we become functioning members of society.

Feral children

In myths and rare real-world cases, children who have had little human contact and may have lived in social isolation from a young age.

Self

The individual's conscious, reflexive experience of a personal identity separate and distinct from others.

Id, Ego, Superego

According to Freud, the three interrelated parts that make up the mind: the id consists of basic inborn drives that are the source of instinctive psychic energy; the ego is the realistic aspect of the mind that balances the forces of the id and the superego; the superego has two components (the conscience and the ego-ideal) and represents the internalized demands of society.

Id

Composed of biological drives, is the source of instinctive, psychic energy.

Ego

The part that deals with the real world. It operates on the basis of reason and helps to mediate and integrate the demands of both the id and the superego. Ex; 'Okay, this time the other guy got the job, but if I keep trying, I'm bound to get that promotion eventually.'

Superego

Composed of two components: The conscience and the ego-ideal. The conscience serves to keep us from engaging in socially undesirable behavior, and the ego-ideal upholds our vision of who we believe we should ideally be.

Psychosexual stages of development

Four distinct stages of the development of the self between birth and adulthood, according to Freud; personality quirks are a result of being fixated, or stuck, at any stage.

Looking-glass self (CC)

The notion that the self develops through our perception of others' evaluations and appraisals of us.

Preparatory (MD)

The first stage in Mead's theory of the development of self, wherein children mimic or imitate others.

Play stage (MD)

The second stage in Mead's theory of the development of self, wherein children pretend to play the role of the particular or significant other.

Particular or Significant other (MD)

The perspectives and expectations of a particular role that a child learns and internalizes.

Game stage (MD)

The third stage in Mead's theory of the development of self, wherein children play organized games and take on the perspective of the generalized other.

Generalized other (MD)

The perspectives and expectations of a network of others (or of society in general) that children learn and then take into account when shaping their own behavior.

Dual nature of the self (MD)

The idea that we experience the self as both subject and object, the 'I' and the 'me'.

Thomas theorem

Classic formulation of the way individuals determine reality, whereby 'if people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences.' Ex; race, gender.

Definition of the situation

An agreement with others about 'what is going on' in a given circumstance; this consensus allows us to coordinate our actions with others and realize goals.

Expression of behavior

Small actions such as an eye roll or head nod that serve as an interactional tool to help project our definition of the situation to others.

Expression given

Expressions that are intentional and usually verbal, such as utterances.

Expressions given off

Observable expressions that can be either intended or unintended and are usually nonverbal.

Impression management

The effort to control the impressions we make on others so that they form a desired view of us and the situation; the use of self-presentation and performance tactics.

Dramaturgy

An approach pioneered by Erving Goffman in which social life is analyzed in terms of its similarities to theatrical performance.

Front

In the dramaturgical perspective, the setting or scene of performances that helps establish the definition of the situation.

Region

The context in which the performance takes place, including location, décor, and props (the setting).

Personal front

The performance tactics we use to present ourselves to others, including appearance, costume, and manner.

Backstage

The places where we rehearse and prepare for our performances.

Frontstage

The places where we deliver our performances to an audience of others.

Social construction

The process by which a concept or practice is created and maintained by participants who collectively agree that it exists.

Cooling the mark out

Behaviors that help others save face or avoid embarrassment, often referred to as civility or tact. (Ex; not letting your friend embarrass themselves).

Copresence

Face-to-face interaction or being in the presence of others.

Agents of socialization

Social groups, institutions, and individuals that provide structured situations in which socialization takes place. (Ex; family, schools, peers, and the media).

Order of the agents of socialization

Family, schools, peers, and the media.

Hidden curriculum

Values or behaviors that students learn indirectly over the course of their schooling.

Resocialization

The process of replacing previously learned norms and values with new ones as part of a transition in life. (Ex; prison, cults).

Total institutions

Institutions in which individuals are cut off from the rest of society so that they can be controlled and regulated for the purpose of systematically stripping away previous roles and identities in order to create new ones.

Status

A position in a social hierarchy that carries a particular set of expectations.

Ascribed status

A status that is inborn; usually difficult or impossible to change. (Ex; gender, race).

Embodied status

A status generated by physical characteristics.(Ex; being tall, stocky, skinny).

Achieved status

A status earned through individual effort or imposed by others. (Ex; reputation or position/title).

Master status

A status that is always relevant and affects all other statuses we possess. (The first thing someone notices about you).

Stereotyping

Judging others based on preconceived generalizations about groups or categories of people.

Role conflict

Experienced when we occupy two or more roles with contradictory expectations. (Ex; Mother with a sick child and demanding job).

Role strain

Experienced when there are contradictory expectations within one role.

Role exit

The process of leaving a role that we will no longer occupy.

Role-taking emotions

Emotions such as sympathy, embarrassment, or shame that require that we assume the perspective of another person or group and respond accordingly.

Feeling rules

Norms regarding the expression and display of emotions; expectations about the acceptable or desirable feelings in a given situation.

Emotional labor

The process of evoking, suppressing, or otherwise managing feelings to create a publicly observable display of emotion. (Ex; flight attendants always smiling).

Agency

The ability of the individual to act freely and independently.