Sociology Notes

Status

• A social position a person holds.
• Status Set: All statuses a person holds at a given time.
• Master Status: Status with special importance for social identity.
• Ascribed Status: Social position received at birth or taken on involuntarily.
• Achieved Status: Social position taken on voluntarily, reflecting personal ability and effort.

Role

• Roles are linked to status and define what we do.
• Role Conflict: Conflict among roles connected to two or more statuses.
• Role Strain: Tension among roles connected to a single status.

The Social Construction of Reality

• Thomas Theorem.
• Dramaturgical Analysis: Erving Goffman.

Nonverbal Communication

• Example: Bulgarian nodding (historical influences).
• Use of Space: Example of Manspreading (expression of masculinity, social conflict).

Embarrassment and Tact

• Embarrassment: Negative emotion from violating social norms.
• Tact: Behavior to help someone avoid embarrassment.

The Social Construction of Emotions

• Paul Ekman: happiness, sadness, anger, fear, disgust, and surprise.
• Culture plays a role in triggers, display rules, and valorization of emotions.

The Social Construction of Humor

• Humor arises from contrast of two different realities.
• Parody: Contrast between serious work and imitation.
• Irony: Contrast between expectation and reality.
• Sarcasm: Contrast between literal and intended meaning.