Sociology Intro: Norms; Poverty; Groups; Social Class Agents of Socialization: Family and Love Bystander

Sociology The scientific study of society and human behavior. People’s social experiences – the groups to which they belong and their particular experiences within these groups – underlie their behavior. Social factors that act on the individual.

Groups Within Society Small groups act as a buffer between the individual and the larger society. It’s human nature for people to want to join groups. Helps us feel less overwhelmed and prevents a sense of not belonging. Often they reinforce society’s major values.

Primary Groups Close, intimate, face-to-face relationships. Ex. Provides feelings of self-esteem, belonging, appreciation, and sometimes love. Their values and attitude become fused in our identity. Thus it is often difficult for us to separate ourselves from our primary group. Example of dysfunctional primary group…… (goes against society)

Secondary Groups  Larger, relatively temporary, more anonymous, formal, and impersonal.  Groups are based on some common interest or activity Ex…  Secondary groups tend to break down into primary groups because secondary groups fail to satisfy our deep human need for intimate association. Thus the new primary group “buffer” is now between us and the demands of the secondary group.

Agents of Socialization (the society within each of us) People and groups that influence who we are. Much of our socialization is intended to turn us into conforming members of society. Are we truly “free” or does “society within you” drive you? The process of socialization begins at birth and continues throughout our lives.

Agents of Socialization – People and groups that influence who we are. Family  Social Class Religion Day Care School  hidden curriculum Peer Groups Sports Workplace Television/Media Gender Expectations

Social Norms – what society deems as “normal” and expected behavior – unwritten “rules.”  Norms change…  Who decides what’s “normal”?  Can be good or bad – Group cohesion vs….?  Ex. Group Norms Cultural Norms Gender/Sexual Norms How do we positively sanction people? Norm Violation - How do we negatively sanction people who go against norms? Deviance/Imprisonment Degradation Ceremonies

SOCIAL STATUS - PRESTIGE Jobs at the top share 4 elements: #1They PAY more! #2They require more EDUCATION #3They entail more abstract THOUGHT #4They offer greater autonomy (independence) *Worksheet – poverty myths and social class consciousness Primetime movie

Love

Culture influences choice of a partner.

Society and culture influences our mate selection not our heart! The few differences between males and females indicate the relatively small effects of gender on mate preferences.

General Trait Ranking by Country United StatesIran Nigeria China South Africa 1. LOVE Neatness Neatness HealthMaturity 2. Maturity Disposition Intelligence Maturity Dependable 3. Dependable Maturity Maturity Desire for home Disposition 4. Disposition LOVE Good health Chastity Good health 5. Intelligence Desire for home..home Dependable Intelligence 6. Health Ambition LOVE LOVE LOVE

Triangular Theory of LOVE Intimacy PassionCommitment Robert Sternberg believes that most of us strive for complete love - a balanced combination of all three.

 Infatuation (“love at first sight”)  Hollywood love  Romantic love  Companionate love

Bystander

Bystander Effect (or bystander apathy) The effect whereby the presence of others inhibits helping.

PLURALISTIC IGNORANCE PLURALISTIC IGNORANCE Confronted with a sudden, dangerous situation, a person looks quickly to see what others are doing. In reality everybody is looking at everybody else who are doing the same thing so they think they’re the only ones confused and they don’t react. “poker face” Confronted with a sudden, dangerous situation, a person looks quickly to see what others are doing. In reality everybody is looking at everybody else who are doing the same thing so they think they’re the only ones confused and they don’t react. “poker face”

AUDIENCE INHIBITION (or Social Blunder) People are too embarrassed to help in a public setting - they don’t want to look foolish if they’re wrong.

If other people are around in an emergency we believe that somebody else will do it (call police, help etc.). It’s easier to place the responsibility on others

Deindividuation in crowds Refers to the increased tendency for subjects to behave irrationally or perform antisocial behaviors when there is less chance of being personally identified. You can be someone else when you’re “lost in the crowd.” Refers to the increased tendency for subjects to behave irrationally or perform antisocial behaviors when there is less chance of being personally identified. You can be someone else when you’re “lost in the crowd.” Ex. Ex.

Solomon Asch’s line experiment on Conformity – Group Pressure to Conform

40 year-old male violinist who is a suspected drug dealer 34 year-old male architect who is a homosexual 26 year-old lawyer The lawyer’s 26 year-old wife who has just gotten out of a mental institution – they both want to go in together or stay out together 75 year-old priest 34 year-old retired prostitute who was so successful that she’s been living off her annuities for 5 years 20 year-old Black militant 23 year-old female graduate student who speaks publicly on the virtues of chastity 28 year-old male physicist who will only come into the shelter if he can bring his gun with him 30 year-old female MD who is an avowed bigot 12 year-old girl who has a low IQ