1. Social Behavior

2. What is Social Psychology? Some Definitions
Social Psychology: Scientific study of how individuals behave, think, and feel in social situations; how people act in the presence (actual or implied) of others
Culture: Ongoing pattern of life that is passed from one generation to another

3. Social Roles
Social Role: Patterns of behavior expected of people in various social positions (e.g. daughter, mother, teacher, President
Ascribed Role: Assigned to a person or not under personal control
Achieved Role: Attained voluntarily by special effort: Teacher, mayor, President
Role Conflict: When two or more roles make conflicting demands on behavior

4. Status A social position that a person holds Status set
All the statuses held at one time
Dance partner
Boss
Friend
Harley club member
Sports participant
Business manager
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

5. Type of Status
Ascribed: Involuntary positions
Achieved: Voluntary positions
Often the two types work together. What we’re ascribed often helps us achieve other statuses.
Master status: Has special importance for social identity, often shaping a person’s entire life.
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

6. Status
Make a list of 10 statuses in your life. Determine whether they are achieved or ascribed
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

7. The behavior expected of someone who holds a particular status
Role
The behavior expected of someone who holds a particular status
Role set
A number of roles attached to a single status
Example: status of mother
Disciplinarian
Sports authority
Dietitian
Dr. Mom
Pretty mom
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

8. Role Conflict and Role Strain
Involves two or more statuses
Example: Conflict between role expectations of a police officer who catches her own son using drugs at home–mother and police officer
Role strain
Involves a single status
Example: Manager who tries to balance concern for workers with task requirements–office manager
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

9. Role Exit Role exit: Becoming an “ex” The process of becoming an “ex”
Disengaging from social roles can be very traumatic without proper preparation.
The process of becoming an “ex”
Doubts form about ability to continue with a certain role.
Examination of new roles leads to a turning point at which time one decides to pursue a new direction.
Learning new expectations associated with new role.
Past role might influence new self.
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

10. Figure 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.”
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

11. Roles
Give one example of role conflict and one example of role strain in your own life.
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

12. Groups
Group Structure: Network of roles, communication, pathways, and power in a group
Group Cohesiveness: Degree of attraction among group members or their commitment to remaining in the group
Cohesive groups work better together
Status: Level of social power and importance
Norm: Accepted, but usually unspoken, standard of appropriate behavior

13. More on Groups In-Group: Group with which an individual identifies
Out-Group: Group with which an individual doesn’t identify