Social Negotiation in Action Sanctions Social Negotiation in Action

Negotiation and Sanction Sanctions rewards or punishments for actions Rewards are positive sanctions Punishments are negative sanctions As we interact we receive feedback from those who we interact with Negative sanctions discourage behavior Positive sanctions encourage behavior

Positive and Negative Sanctions Negative sanctions make us feel excluded. Positive Sanctions make us feel good

Negotiation Whether we call it reinforcement or negotiation the process of reacting to the behavior of others either positively or negatively has effects The outcome of each interaction Reinforces existing behavior Renegotiates existing behavior Rejects behavior, thus discouraging it Results in changes which reflect new circumstances, beliefs or understandings

Conserving Culture Both positive and negative sanctions preserve existing behavior Through rewards and punishments Cultural norms, values and ideas are preserved when we are receive positive or negative feedback for our actions

Expected response The most common sanction is one that hardly feels like a sanction at all… We get the expected response for our behavior. This is a positive sanction No one says “Hey! Great Job!!!” to us when we get up in the morning and get dressed. It is simply expected and we expect no special response… The lack of negative sanction is a positive sanction We might get negative sanctions if we don’t wake up for school or work

Changing norms and values Change occurs through the negotiation process in which the expected reward or punishment might be altered by mutual agreement. Michel Foucault wrote that social change could be achieved by persisting in behaviors even though we get negative sanctions until others accepted the behavior. In other words he advised people to make change by ignoring negative sanctions

Social Control Norms and Sanctions Provide social control Exist within social institutions Are learned behavior Are part of socialization Can be changed Conserve existing culture Are found in all cultures Are essential to social order

Levels of Control Just as norms can be formal and informal, sanctions can be formal and informal. Formal norms… written, usually rational Formal sanctions… written, usually rational Example: Run a stop sign; get a ticket Informal norms… traditional, agreed on can be rational or non rational (perhaps irrational as well) Informal sanctions… traditional, agreed on can be rational, non-rational and even irrational Cheat on your partner; people gossip about you

Things to know Sanctions are both negative and positive We may be less aware of the positive sanctions, because they are more expected Absence of a positive sanction is a negative sanction, no matter how mild While we may not think about actions that will bring us positive sanctions (these feel normal) we do consider negative sanctions and try to avoid them Negative sanctions are uncomfortable to experience