The self and interaction Chapter 5

Social Interaction http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQMB5teKf7M &NR=1 Free hugs

How do we create reality in our face-to-face interactions?

SOCIAL INTERACTION http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0BB gVCAxg0 String experiment

SOCIAL STRUCTURE: A GUIDE TO EVERYDAY LIVING SOCIAL INTERACTION Process by which people act and react in relation to others STATUS A social position STATUS SET All statuses a person holds

Ascribed and Achieved Status Ascribed Status Social position received at birth or taken involuntarily later in life Achieved Status Social position taken voluntarily Ascribed statuses influence Achieved statuses

Ascribed Status—Born Rich

Ascribed Status--Gender

Ascribed Status--Gender

Achieved Status

Master Status Special importance for social identity Negative or positive Gender Athlete Nerd Criminal

Role Behavior expected of someone who holds a particular status Person holds a status Who we are Person performs a role What we do

Performing a Role

Role Set Roles attached to a single status

Role Set: Student Status

Role Conflict and Role Strain Conflict among roles connected to two or more statuses (student, job, athlete) Role Strain Tension among roles connected to single status (student)

Role Conflict Statuses Conflicts Student Athlete Job Time Importance Enjoyment Expectations

Role Strain: Student Status Tension among roles connected to a single status

Process by which people disengage from important social roles Role Exit Process by which people disengage from important social roles Becoming an “ex” Graduating Retirement Widow Divorce

Status Set and Role Sets A status set includes all the statuses a person holds at a given time. The status set defines “who we are” in society. The many roles linked to each status define “what we do.”

Social Construction of Reality The process by which people creatively shape reality through social interaction Social interaction is: Complex Involves Negotiation Builds reality Perception of events based on interests and intentions

The Thomas Theorem “Situations that are defined as real are real in their consequences.”

Defining Situations

Defining situations

Defining Situations

Defining Situations

Defining Situations

The way people make sense of everyday life Ethnomethodology Study of: The way people make sense of everyday life Behavior based on assumptions “Breaching experiments”

Breaching Experiments Taking items from others’ shopping carts Standing very, very close Tipping a person who opens a door for you Eating with fingers in fancy restaurant

Reality Building: Class and Culture How we act & what we see depends on: Our interests Social class Gender Race/ethnicity Culture

Reality Building What do you see?

DRAMATURGICAL ANALYSIS: THE PRESENTATION OF SELF Study of: Social interaction as a theatrical performance Erving Goffman (1922-1982) People perform on a stage

Efforts to create specific impressions in others’ minds Presentation of Self Efforts to create specific impressions in others’ minds Also called Impression Management

Presentation of Self (Impression Management)

Performances Reveal information Consciously & Unconsciously: Dress (costume) Objects we carry (props) Tone of voice and way we carry ourselves (demeanor) Performances influenced by context (the set)

Nonverbal Communication “Body Language” Communication using: Body movements Gestures Facial expressions

Body Language

Body Language & Deception Contradictions in verbal & nonverbal meaning Nonverbal communication hard to control Clues to deception Recognizing dishonest performances is difficult http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGQf9O61cww Key to detecting lies --View whole performance --Look for inconsistencies

Learning body language--Funny Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9YTxff3pHU&feature =more_related Learning body language--Funny

STARING, SMILING, AND TOUCHING Women hold eye contact more than men do Men stare Claiming social dominance Smiling Trying to please Submission Women smile more than men do

Eye Contact

Staring Random Staring http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLBCsWQbwJ0 Tom Brady staring contest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkp03HdkUJs

10/16 Smiling http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR_UYx4vSPs

Embarrassment and Tact Embarrassment: Discomfort after a spoiled performance Embarrassment is an ever-present danger One moment can shatter the intended impression Audience often overlooks flaws in performance

Embarrassment

Tact Helping someone “save face” “Tact is the ability to describe others the way they see themselves.” (Abraham Lincoln) Embarrassment creates discomfort for the actor and everyone else People are reminded of how fragile their own performances are

Process of Socialization The process of learning the: Values Beliefs Norms of our social group Begins in infancy Lasts throughout lifetime We know that culture is passed from one generation to the next through language and communication, and socialization happens in a similar way. We are often told how to act or behave, which is how language facilitates this process.

Development of the Self The self is our personal identity Separate and different from others Who are you? The self is created and modified through social interaction The socialization process In other words, when we get a positive response from other people, we might like the feeling we get and we try to replicate that feeling. This might even help to shape our personality, or our sense of self. Our interactions with other people might shape our own sense of self.

Agents of Socialization Major agents include: Family Schools Peers The mass media Each of these agents of socialization (sometimes referred to as agencies of socialization) has a different impact on us depending on which point in our life we’re at. For instance, the family is very influential on young children, but older children and adults are heavily influences by peers. We’ll talk more about each of these agents of socialization.

Agents of Socialization The family: Single most significant agent of socialization Teaches: Basic values Norms that shape identity The family has a significant influence on children until they go to school. Family is often considered a primary agent of socialization, and school is the secondary agent.

Agents of Socialization Schools Hidden curriculum: Traits such as: Punctuality Neatness Discipline Hard work Competition Obedience Schools are often considered the secondary agent of socialization. This agent sometimes replaces the family as the most important agent, as children are now experiencing socialization from adults and other children outside of the family.

Agents of Socialization Peers Provide different social skills than the family Often become more significant than the family Especially during adolescence Peers are often the most influential agent of socialization for older children and adults. The media is likely the most controversial agent of socialization. We know that children and individuals do learn from the media, but we don’t have a comparable society exactly like that in the U.S. that doesn’t have mass media, so it’s difficult to do a comparison or determine exactly how much impact the media has on us.

The media Has become an important agent of socialization Often overriding the family and other institutions In instilling values and norms

Reality Play: The Social Construction of Humor Humor an important part of everyday life By using humor, we “play with reality”

Humorous Quotes “You can observe a lot by just watching”. -- Yogi Berra "He who laughs last probably didn't get the joke." ---Unknown "Not all chemicals are bad. Without hydrogen or oxygen, for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in beer." ---Dave Berry

The Foundation of Humor Create and contrast two different realities 1. Conventional What people in a specific situation expect 2. Unconventional An unexpected violation of cultural patterns Humor arises from differing definitions of the same situation

The Dynamics of Humor: “Getting It” To “get” humor, must understand the two realities enough to appreciate the difference Enjoyment of a joke increased by pleasure of figuring out the pieces needed to “get it” The joke makes you an “insider” If a joke has to be explained, not very funny You’re an “outsider”

The Topics of Humor Humor is a universal of human culture However, humor rarely travels well

Controversy of humor: Fine line between what is funny and what is “sick” Middle Ages – “humors” from the Latin “humidus” meaning “moist” A balance of bodily fluids that regulated a person’s health Researchers today document the power of humor to reduce stress and improve health “Laughter is the best medicine”

At the extreme, people who always take conventional reality lightly Risk being defined deviant or mentally ill Certain topics are “not funny” Too sensitive for humorous treatment: Religious beliefs Tragic accidents Appalling crimes

A joke about sociologists: How many sociologists does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: None. There is nothing wrong with The light bulb; it’s the system that needs to be changed! What sort of people are likely to get joke? What kind of people probably won’t? What makes this joke funny? Why?

The Functions of Humor Humor is found everywhere--As a safety valve for potentially disruptive emotions Humor provides acceptable way to discuss sensitive topic Without appearing to be serious or offensive Humor used to relieve tension in uncomfortable situations

Humor also used to put down others Humor and Conflict Humor also used to put down others “Put-down” jokes make one category of people feel good at expense of another Real conflict can be masked by humor http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/top-10-yo-mama- jokes/45d62e5de7219b1af9da45d62e5de7219b1af9da- 168729313694?q=the%20dozens%20jokes

Humor: More important than we think Mental escape from world not entirely to our liking Survival: Comedians from historically marginalized groups Sense of humor asserts freedom We are never a prisoner of reality

Theory in Everyday Life The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology, 2nd Edition Copyright © 2010 W.W. Norton & Company