1. Ch. 6 Social Interaction

2. WHAT IS SOCIAL STRUCTURE?  the stable pattern of social relationships that exists within a particular group of society  Based on cultural beliefs and norms regarding roles and status

3. ROLES, STATUS, AND EXPECTATIONS  Status refers to a socially defined position in a group or society characterized by certain expectations, rights and duties.  Roles refer to "expected" patterns of behavior, obligations, and privileges attached to a particular social status.  Associated with each role (or social position) are many expectations concerning how a person should behave

4. Ascribed Status Vs. Achieved Status  Ascribed statuses are involuntary. One is born with ascribed status such as race or sex.  Achieved status, on the other hand, is earned. It is based on merit.

5. Master Status  The Rosenhan Study: Being Sane in Insane Places The Rosenhan Study: Being Sane in Insane Places highlights the power of roles. Rosenhan and his graduate students entered mental hospitals as " schizophrenics" who were hearing voices. None of the doctors or staff suspected they were "frauds" and treated them like patients. Rosenhan study shows that when an individual is "labeled" or defined as occupying a certain role by society, altering the perceptions of others is very difficult

6. Role Distancing, Conflict, Strain and Exit  Unlike a stage play, however, we do not define roles. We negotiate social roles.  Role distancing: the act of separating oneself from the role  Role Conflict: when roles that have to be played that contradict other important roles.  Role Strain: when incompatible demands are built into a single status  Role Exit: disengage from social roles that have been central to identity such as through retirement or divorce

7. THE POWER OF ROLES: THE ZIMBARDO STUDY  The Zimbardo study (1971) (also called the Stanford Prison Study) considers the behaviour of mature, stable, intelligent, middle-class college students who were asked to play roles as either prison guards or inmates. The Zimbardo study  The students became so immersed in their roles that the study had to be called off early

8. Symbolic Interactionist (micro- level) View  Basic principles: Action is based on meaning Meaning is created through interaction and is continually modified and interpreted. Social structure is a negotiated order Arises out of face-to-face interactions of people who are operating from both a shared sense of reality (culture and socialization) as well as an individual and group oriented biography Produces particular definitions and interpretations Culture forms the foundation of social structure

9. The Social Construction of Reality  The process by which our perception of reality is shaped largely by the subjective meaning that we give to an experience.  Thomas Theorem: “Definition of the situation“ (W. I. Thomas): we analyze the social context, determine what is in our best interest, and adjust our attitudes and actions accordingly.

10. The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy  A self-fulfilling prophecy refers to a false assumption of what is going on that happens to come true simply because it was predicted

11. Ethnomethodology  The study of commonsense knowledge  How do individuals make sense of social situations and act on their knowledge?  What are the tacit rules used by members of a culture?  Detailed studies of interactions  Breaching experiments (Garfinkel) To uncover hidden norms

12. Dramaturgical Analysis (Erving Goffman)  Dramaturgy uses dramatic metaphors - front stage, back stage, actors - to describe and analyze everyday life and human behaviour  "how we act out our roles on the stage of life"  Impression management: a script that individuals use to guide and control behaviour and actions so as to present a certain favourable impression to the people they interact with  Front stage: the part of the individual's performance that others regularly see  Back stage: hidden from the audience, where we practice techniques of impression management

13. Non-Verbal Communication  Much of our interaction governed by non-verbal communication (no speech)  Can be intentional or unintentional - gestures, facial expressions, posture, etc.

14. Non-Verbal Communication  One study found 93% of communication determined by non- verbal cues  Further study showed that the impact of a performance determined by Words used 7% Voice quality 38% Non-verbal behaviour 55%

15. Examples of Body Language NONVERBAL BEHAVIOR INTERPRETATION Sitting, legs apartOpen, relaxed Arms crossed on chestDefensiveness Touching, slightly rubbing noseDoubt or lying Head resting in hand, eyes downBoredom Hands behind head, legs crossed Confidence /superiority Open palmSincerity, openness Steepling fingersAuthoritative Patting/fondling hairLack of self- confidence Looking down and awayDisbelief

16. How to tell when someone is…  Bluffing Gestures are inconsistent with speech  Angry Change in tone of voice, mannerisms (ie pacing, tapping fingers) even while smiling  Lying Hiding mouth, touching nose, breaking off eye contact, blinking rapidly

17. Matching and Mirroring  When two people on the “same wavelength” will start to mimic each other’s expressions, gestures  Indicates rapport

18. Eye Contact  Good eye contact indicates rapport  But too much eye contact feels intrusive, intimate  Gaze too long can be seen as hostility Note: sunglasses, over the shoulder gaze, fluttering eyes are techniques used to break contact and avoid exposure

19. Significance of props and seating  Extending hand using pen, glasses, etc. makes personal space larger and shows confidence or power  “Preening” – patting hair, adjusting clothing is an attempt at endearment but can indicate nervousness  Holding coffee cup tightly with both hands is a defense mechanism to close body off  Taking seat at head of table shows control  Leaning back, arms behind head = superiority  Closed body position = disapproval, defensiveness, lack of interest

20. Personal Space  The immediate area claimed by a person as private.  There are cultural differences  Contact (less personal space) vs. non-contact cultures (more space).  Can create discomfort or conflict

21. Gender Differences  Men typically take over more space  Space = power  Males will shift weight from one foot to other to create space or define territory Or rock on balls of feet to look taller and show power or confidence  Females will mirror to create “lateral bridges”