Society Chapter 4

Myths and Realities Myth: Beauty is only skin deep. People would not consider a person competent just because he or she is good looking. Reality: Unfortunately, attractive persons are expected to be more capable than unattractive ones at most tasks. This may explain the research finding that people considered “good looking” earn more than those viewed as “homely,” even though both groups have similar education and employment experiences (p.77) Myth: Most students identify strongly with their role as students Reality: Most students are not deeply committed to their role because many other roles—as friend, date, leader, or athlete— compete for their time (p.79)

Myths and Realities Myth: In the Middle East, the religions of Jews and Arabs are so different that they have hardly anything in common. Reality: Since the Jews, who founded Judaism and Christianity, and the Arabs, who founded Islam, used to be pastoral people, we can find in each religion the image of a god who looks after his people, in the same way that a shepherd looks after his flock (p. 83)

3 Perspectives Functionalist Conflict Symbolic Interactionist

Functionalist: Society operates like a prison, but with popular consensus This is positive so that people aren’t “out of control” or breaking laws Elements of social control all around us (ie: police, laws, others)

Conflict We are controlled or prisoners of society and it is negative because the powerful place control on the powerless 1% controls, 99% follows against their own choice False consciousness: the belief that justifies their domination by the ruling class to the detriment of their own interests

Symbolic Interactionist Humans interact with each other by actively and creatively interpreting each other’s actions. As creators of society, we exercise considerable freedom when we interact with others. Don’t believe people are imprisoned. We present our “self” in a way to make the other person have a desirable (positive) impression of us.

Social Interaction in Everyday Life Chapter 6

Myths and Realities Myth: To avoid misunderstanding, especially in conversation with foreigners, it is always wise to say directly what’s on our mind, such as saying “yes” to mean “yes.” Reality: Directness in speech may be good for transmitting information, but indirectness is common in many other countries. The Japanese, for example, may say “yes” to mean “no” when asked “Would you agree to do business with us?” This is their way of trying to save others from disappointment or embarrassment (p.127) Myth: All over the world it is natural for people to nod their heads to mean “yes” and shake them to mean “no.” Reality: Body language varies from one culture to another. In the US, we nod our heads to mean “yes” and shake them to mean “no”. But in Bulgaria, head nodding means “no,” and head shaking means “yes” (p. 127-128)

Myths and Reality Myth: Because they speak the same language, men and women can easily understand each other. They are likely to use the same language differently: men for the purpose of giving information; women for expressing feelings. Thus, men tend to misunderstand women by taking literally what women say, and women tend to misunderstand men by reading emotional meanings into what men say (p. 130) Myth: The person we interact with, just like anything else “out there,” is absolutely real. Reality: That person is real only because of being defined by others as such. Thus, people may appear to interact with the same person, but actually they are interacting with their own images of the person. Since this image tends to vary from one person to another, it is not surprising that different people appear to interact differently with the same person (p. 137)

Social Interaction the process by which individuals act toward and react to others. Stereotypes anyone? You are familiar with how strong first impressions are and the way they set the tone for interaction. When you first meet someone, you cannot help but notice certain highly visible and distinctive features, especially the person’s sex, race, age, and clothing. Despite your best intentions, your assumptions about these characteristics shape your first impression—and, in turn, how that person acts toward you.

Kinesics “body language”, the use of body movement as a means of communication (smiling=happy, cheering at a game=excited/enthusiastic)

Proxemics the use of space as a means of communication (hugging=someone we feel comfortable with, shaking hands=introduction)

Genderlects linguistic styles that reflect the different worlds of women and men Example… *Men: checking with wife before making plans - may be seen as “having to ask for permission”. Men may see this as him giving up independence and admitting to his friends that he actually does check with his wife before making plans *Women: checking with husband before making plans – may be seen as reaffirming that she’s involved with someone and concerned with their communication. Women: “We never go out!” Translation: “I feel like going out and spending time with you” Men: Response - “that’s not true, we went out last week!” Translation: “she’s wrong, we do go out!”

Social Construction Social construction of reality: the process by which people create through social interaction a certain idea, feeling, or belief about their environment. Thomas Theorem: ”If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences.” In other words, people are able to turn their socially constructed inner reality (perception, idea, belief, attitude, or feeling) into a socially observable outer reality (behavior, action, or activity). Examples…

Constructing Reality Examples If people believe God exists, God is just as real to them as humans, things, ideas, and other features of their social and physical world. People will act as if God is real by worshiping God. If people believe they will become successful in the future, they will do something to make it real, such as by working hard, which will likely lead to success. This second example suggests two ways in which situations defined as real are real in their consequences: working hard now and achieving success later. This is why the Thomas theorem is sometimes called the self-fulfilling prophecy.

Functionalist Perspective: Supportive Interactions From the functionalist perspective, we can see two types of supportive interactions: exchange and cooperation. Exchange an interaction in which two individuals offer each other something in order to obtain a reward in return. Cooperation: an interaction in which two or more individuals work together to achieve a common goal.

Conflict Perspective Oppositional Interactions Oppositional interaction can be competition or conflict. Competition: an interaction in which two individuals follow mutually accepted rules, each trying to achieve the same goal before the other does. Conflict: an interaction in which two individuals disregard any rules, each trying to achieve the same goal before the other does.

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective Interpreting Interactions Symbolic interactionists believe that we can learn a lot about interaction by analyzing people’s interpretations of each other’s actions. Interpreting Supportive Interaction: “supportive exchanges,” “mutual dealings,” etc. (ie: congratulations at marriage, condolences at funerals, inquiring about another’s health…) To symbolic interactionists, these acts should not be taken at face value because they are not what they appear to be. When people ask us “how are you?” they are not really interested in finding out the condition of our health in the same way that our doctor is. Instead, they might mean “I want to be your friend,” or they are simply trying to be polite, etc.

Continued Interpreting Oppositional Interaction: While supportive interaction usually involves individuals of about the same social status, oppositional interaction is more likely to involve people of different statuses. A higher-status person tends to be disrespectful to the lower- status person. (ie: interaction between a customer and a restaurant employee, interaction between men and women in a sexist society, etc.).

Stand Up!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZZ7k8cMA-4 As you watch the video interact as the audience would. If the speaker gives you a directive…do as your told.