1. Chapter 4 Social Interaction

2. Chapter Outline What is Social Interaction? The Sociology of Emotions Modes of Social Interaction Micro, Meso, Macro and Global Structures

3. Elements of Social Interaction Status means recognized positions occupied by interacting people. Social interaction requires roles or sets of expected behaviors. Social interaction requires norms or generally accepted ways of doing things.

4. Role Set and Status Set

5. Polling Question Most of the time you can be sure that other people want the best for you. A. Strongly agree B. Agree somewhat C. Unsure D. Disagree somewhat E. Strongly disagree

6. Role Conflict

7. Role Strain

8. Emotions and Social Interaction Emotions are less spontaneous and uncontrollable than we commonly believe. Your status in an interaction and in larger society affects how much you laugh and what you laugh at. People manage their emotions in personal life and at work according to “feeling rules” that reflect cultural standards and the demands of organizations.

9. Laughter and Humor When people of different statuses interact, people with higher status get more laughs. People with lower status laugh more. Laughter in everyday life is often a signal of dominance or subservience.

10. How We Get Emotional

11. Emotion Management We have expectations about: –What we should feel. –How much we should feel. –How long we should feel it. –With whom we should share our feelings.

12. Grief in Historical Perspective In Europe as late as 1600, life expectancy was only 35 years. Many infants died at birth. People invested less emotionally in their children than we do. As health conditions and the infant mortality rate improved, emotional investment in children increased.

13. Modes of Social Interaction Exchange theory - involves trade in attention and other resources. Rational choice theory - try to maximize benefits and minimize costs. Dramaturgical analysis- social interaction is role-playing.

14. Polling Question People who are better off should help friends who are less well off. A. Strongly agree B. Agree somewhat C. Unsure D. Disagree somewhat E. Strongly disagree

15. Ethnomethodology The study of how people make sense of what others do and say by adhering to preexisting norms. Everyday interactions could not take place without pre-existing shared norms and understandings.

16. Nonverbal Communication Facial expressions Gestures Body language Status cues

17. Power and Social Interaction: 4 points 1. Competitive exchange of valued resources: –People communicate to get something out of the interaction. –If they prevent others from getting much out of the interaction, communication will break down. –This is exchange and rational choice theory.

18. Power and Social Interaction: 4 points 2. We mold values, norms, roles, and statuses to suit us as we interact with others. –We engage in impression management so others see us in the best possible light. –This is a major argument of dramaturgical analysis.

19. Power and Social Interaction: 4 points 3. Norms exist before interaction takes place. –Sustained interaction would be impossible without shared understandings. –This is the core argument of ethnomethodology.

20. Power and Social Interaction: 4 points 4. Nonverbal communication greatly facilitates social interaction. –These include: facial expressions, hand gestures, body language, and status cues.

21. Theories of Social Interaction TheoryFocus of Attention Exchange theory Exchange of valued resources Rational choice theory Maximization of gains and minimization of losses

22. Theories of Social Interaction TheoryFocus of Attention Symbolic interactionism Interpretation, negotiation, and modification of norms, rules, and statuses Dramaturgical analysis Impression management

23. Theories of Social Interaction Theory Focus of Attention Ethnomethodology Influence of preexisting norms Conflict theory Influence of status hierarchies

24. Big Structures, Small Processes

25. Modes of Interaction Mode of Interaction Level of Inequality Emotion DominationHighFear CompetitionMediumEnvy Cooperation LowTrust

26. Quick Quiz

27. 1. Role strain occurs when: a. people communicate face-to-face, acting and reacting in relation to other people b. a cluster of roles are attached to a single status c. a single individual occupies an entire ensemble of statuses d. incompatible role demands are placed on a person in a single status e. none of these choices

28. Answer: d Role strain occurs when incompatible role demands are placed on a person in a single status.

29. 2. According to sociologists, the reason women laugh more than men do in everyday conversation is: a. when dealing with men, women have more to laugh at b. people with lower status laugh more c. speakers laugh more than listeners d. all of these choices e. none of these choices

30. Answer: b According to sociologists, the reason women laugh more than men do in everyday conversation is people with lower status laugh more.

31. 3. Rational choice theory focuses on: a.the resources that are exchanged in the course of social interaction b.the way interacting parties weigh the costs and benefits of interaction c.impression management d.the way pre-existing norms shape social interaction e.the influence of status hierarchies on social interaction

32. Answer: b Rational choice theory focuses on the way interacting parties weigh the costs and benefits of interaction.

33. 4. Dramaturgical analysis focuses on: a. the resources that are exchanged in the course of social interaction b. the way interacting parties weigh the costs and benefits of interaction c. impression management d. the way pre-existing norms shape social interaction e. the influence of status hierarchies on social interaction

34. Answer: c Dramaturgical analysis focuses on impression management.

35. 5. Ethnomethodologists stress that everyday interactions could not take place if people were not willing to deviate from shared norms and understandings. a. True b. False

36. Answer: b Ethnomethodologists do not stress that everyday interactions could not take place if people were not willing to deviate from shared norms and understandings.