lesson 4 + textbook

self, society, socialization

definition of ‘norms’

established rules/standards that governs our conduct in the social situations which we participate

• almost all social behaviour involves standards which we are expected to conform to

characteristics of norms

• different types: rules, etiquette, taboos

• social expectations: define appropriate actions within specific contexts

• can be beneficial/efficient: makes interaction automatic as it reduces the need to make conscious decisions

• legal connection: some norms are laws

definition of ‘roles’ and the different perspectives of roles

socially defined attributes + behvaioural expectations associated w/ a social position

• structuralist perspective

• interactionalist perspective

structuralist perspective of roles

prescribed patters of behavior expected of a person in a given situation by virtue of their position in an interaction

what is ‘role expectations’ and what perspective is it associated with

structuralist perspective

• a group’s or society’s definition of how a specific role ‘ought’ to be played

what is the interactionalist perspective on roles and what concept is involved

• focus on examining the dynamic, lived performance of roles

  • how ppl actually enact their roles, perceive them, assign meaning to them and manage conflict

• role enactment

what is role enactment

the active, ongoing performance of social roles

what are the 4 roles to role enactment

1. identification of the role with ‘self’

• recognize who you are, and what role you hold in a situation

2. behave in a manner appropriate to this identification

• we choose the way to behave in a situation

3. use the behavior of others as cues: adapting actions on social context and cues (being at someone’s house and they say grace before eating)

4. evaluation of our performance: evaluate and learn for future interactions

• often subconscious

what is socialization

learning process which people develop selfhood and acquire the knowledge, skills, and motivations required for participation in social life

• process of linking the individual to society

• universal process

• learning norms/expectations to learn how to socialize

• never ending process

what are the 2 stages of socialization

primary and secondary

primary socialization and the additional concepts

begins at birth — developing a sense of self in the process of social experience

• beginning the connection between the self and social world

charles cooley looking-glass self: a person’s sense of self develops out of their perceptions of how others see us

gender socialization: learning how to align w/ masculine and feminine expectations based on societal binaries

secondary socialization — 2 types

anticipatory: knowledge and skills are learned for future roles

• learning at university for your career

• takes place in advance of playing the role

resocialization: when a role/situation requires someone to replace established patterns w/ new ones to meet new demands

• voluntary (military)

• involuntary (prison)

biological science vs social science on socialization

bio: human behavior as “nature”

• says we’re instinctive and some people born as criminals, women born as more caring, etc

social: human behaviorism: behavior is learned

• behavior rooted in nurture

what are the agents of socialization

1. family: first setting of socialization — greatest impact on atittudes and behavior

• social identity (parents pass social identity: race, class)

• social class affects opportunitirs + personality

2. school: enlarges social environment — includes new ppl

• 1st experience w/ bureaucracy and impersonal evaluation

3. peer group: members share same interests, social position, and age

• peak influence

• anticipatory socialization: ppl adapt behaviors to get in groups

4. media: we consume and share information, communicate, join communities, and it has a massive sway in behaviors

what is master status

status that holds overriding importance for social identity often shaping a persons life + defining their relationships

• a job: signals social background, education, income

• Illness/stigma: when peers treat the sick person through a lens of their illness, or fear of infection

role strain vs role conflict

Strain: tensions/incompatible expectations within a SINGLE STATUS

• uni prof wanting to be close w/ students but must maintain distance for fair grading

conflict: incompatible expectations across 2 OR MORE STATUSES

• balancing the statuses of being an employee working evening shifts vs. parent with child’s school recital

Erving goffman’s ‘dramaturgical performance’ : status and role’s part

study of social interaction through a theatrical lens — seeing human behaviors as actors

status: the specifc part/character someone is in a play

role: the actual dialogue/script — expectations