Social Structure and Interaction in Everyday Life Chapter 4 Social Structure and Interaction in Everyday Life

Social Interaction Social Structure Process of acting/responding Foundation for all relationships/groups Social Structure Framework Social practices Limits on behavior

The Macrolevel Perspective Part I: The Macrolevel Perspective

Social Structure Framework SOCIETY Social Institutions Statuses and Roles Traditional Family Religion Education Government Economy Emergent Sports Mass Media Science/Medicine Ascribed Status Race/ethnicity Age Gender Class Achieved Status Occupation Education Income Level Social Groups Primary Groups Family Members Close friends Peers Secondary Groups Schools Churches Corporations

What does this “uniform” communicate? Social Structure Insiders and outsiders Social Marginality Stigma Devalues a person’s social identity Disqualifies that person from full social acceptance What does this “uniform” communicate?

Status: socially defined position Expectations Rights Duties Ascribed Conferred at birth Involuntarily a “senior citizen” Achieved Voluntarily Personal choice, merit of direct effort

Ascribed or Achieved?

Bling! Bling! Master Status Status Symbols Poor or rich Race or ethnicity Homelessness a stigmatized master status Status Symbols Material signs Communicates a person’s specific status

How do these two shopping cart images contrast with one another? What point can then be made about status symbols?

Roles Behavioral expectations associated with a specific status Role expectations  defined by society Role performance  how the role is played

Social Groups consist of two or more people Frequent interaction Common identity Interdependence Primary Group Face-to-face Emotion-based Extended period of time Secondary Group Impersonal, goal-oriented Limited period of time

Social Institutions Traditional Emergent The The FAMILY MASS MEDIA Organized beliefs and rules Meet societies basic social needs Traditional Emergent The FAMILY The MASS MEDIA RELIGION SPORTS EDUCATION SCIENCE & MEDICINE The ECONOMY The MILITARY The GOVERNMENT/ POLITICS

What purpose do social institutions serve? Replacing members Teaching new members Producing, distributing, and consuming goods and services Preserving order Providing and maintaining a sense of purpose

Changes in Social Structure Durkheim Mechanical Solidarity Organic Solidarity Tönnies Gemeinschaft Gesellschaft Economic complexity Urbanization Social Cohesion LOW HIGH LOW HIGH HIGH LOW

The Microlevel Perspective Part II: The Microlevel Perspective

Social Interaction rituals Shared meanings Interpretations and reactions Goffman: civil inattention Awareness without attention Social construction of reality Perception of reality is shaped by the meaning we give to an experience

Definition of the situation We act on reality as we see it Self-fulfilling prophecy

Ethnomethodology (Garfinkel) the study of "common sense” knowledge Well, actually I have a headache, a big, sore pimple on my butt, I lost my job, my wife never wants to have sex with me anymore, I’m getting fat, my cholesterol is through the roof . . . How are you? Fine.

Dramaturgical Analysis (Goffman) Compares social interaction to a theatrical production Players Audience Members Impression Management Presentation of self Give people the most favorable impression of their own image Face-saving behavior Rescue our failed performance Studied nonobservance Front Stage & Back Stage

Nonverbal Communication Visual Cues (gestures) Vocal Features (inflection , volume, pitch) Environmental Factors (use of space, position) May be intentional or unintentional

Facial Expressions Eye Contact Touching Personal Space 0 – 18”: intimate 18” – 4’ : personal 4’ – 12’: social 12’ – 25’: public Cultural Differences? Racial/Ethnic Differences? Gender Differences? Power Relationships?

Questions? Comments?