Ch. 9: Social Interaction

Question 1

defn, cause, result: social interaction

Answer 1

defn: the basis of social life, helps humans reach their full potential

cause: preexisting commonalities btwn individuals and shared understanding or experiences

result: culture develops

Question 2

defn: social statuses

Answer 2

perceived positions in society that are used to classify individuals

Question 3

what are the 3 types of social statuses? describe them.

Answer 3

1. ascribed
2. achieved
3. master

ASCRIBED = given involuntarily (usually at birth), based on race, ethnicity, sex, family background, etc.

ACHIEVED = gained as a result of one’s efforts or choices

MASTER = status by which one is most identified; pervasive in that person’s life (most important status they hold, affects all aspects of their life)

Question 4

defn: roles

Answer 4

associated with each status

sets of beliefs, values, attitudes, and norms that define expectations for those who hold the status

Question 5

defn: role peformance

Answer 5

carrying out of behaviors associated with a given role

Question 6

defn: role partner

Answer 6

the person with whom one is interacting

affects behaviors and expectations

Question 7

defn: role set

Answer 7

the various roles associated with a status

Question 8

defn: role conflict vs. role strain vs. role exit

Answer 8

ROLE CONFLICT = difficulty in satisfying the requirements or expectations of multiple roles

ROLE STRAIN = difficulty in satisfying multiple requirements of the same role

ROLE EXIT = dropping of one identity for another

Question 9

defn + types + char: group/social groups

Answer 9

2+ people who share any number of similar characteristics as well as a sense of unity

dyad: 2 people, triad: 3 people

as group size increases, the group trades intimacy for stability

common shared characteristics: values, interests, ethnicity, social background, family ties, politics

Question 10

defn: in-group vs. out-group vs. reference group

Answer 10

IN-GROUP: a social group with which a person experiences a sense of belonging or identifies as a member

OUT-GROUP: a social group with which an individual does not identify

REFERENCE GROUP = groups that individuals use as a standard for evaluating themselves

Question 11

defn: group conflict

Answer 11

when out-groups compete with or oppose in-groups

Question 12

defn: peer group vs. family group

Answer 12

PEER GROUP = consists of self-selected equals assoc. by similar interests, ages, statuses (provide friendship, belonging)

FAMILY GROUP = not self-selected, determined by birth, adoption, marriage

Question 13

defn: primary group vs. secondary group

Answer 13

PRIMARY GROUP = direct interactions, close bonds providing warm, personal, and intimate relationships; last a long time period (core friend circle, family, team members)

SECONDARY GROUP = impersonal, business-like interactions, few emotional bonds, goal of accomplishing a specific purpose; short time period (form and dissolve without special significance to those inovled)

Question 14

defn: Gemeinschaft vs. Gesellschaft

Answer 14

GEMEINSCHAFT = community = groups unified by feelings of togetherness due to shared beliefs, ancestry, or geography (families, neighborhoods)

GESELLSCHAFT = society = less personal groups formed out of mutual self-interests working together toward the same goal (companies, countries)

Question 15

defn: SYMLOG

Answer 15

system for multiple level observation of groups

based on the belief that there are three fundamental dimensions of interaction

1. dominance vs. submission
2. friendliness vs. unfriendliness
3. instrumentally controlled vs. emotionally expressive

Question 16

defn: group conformity

Answer 16

a group holds power over its members, creating group pressure that can ultimately shape members’ behaviors

individuals are compliant with group goals, even when they are in contrast with the individual’s goals

relates to groupthink

Question 17

defn: network

Answer 17

the observable pattern of social relationships among individuals or groups

determined by mapping interactions btwn individual units

Question 18

defn: network redundancy

Answer 18

overlapping connections with the same individual

Question 19

defn: immediate network vs. distant network

Answer 19

immediate: dense with strong ties
distant: loose with weaker ties

Question 20

defn: organization

Answer 20

complex secondary groups that are set up to achieve specific goals and are characterized by having a structure and a culture

Question 21

defn: formal organization

Answer 21

developed during the Industrial Revolution as a way to maximize efficiency

formal: explicit goals that guide members and activities; enforcement procedures that seek to control the members’ activities; hierarchical allotment of formal roles or duties to members

Question 22

defn: characteristic institution

Answer 22

where the basic organization of society is found (i.e. kin, clan, bureaucracy, etc.)

Question 23

defn =: bureaucracy

Answer 23

a rational system of political organization, administration, discipline, and control

slow to change, less efficient than other organizations

Question 24

defn: iron law of oligarchy

Answer 24

democratic or bureaucratic systems naturally shift to being ruled by an elite group

Question 25

defn: McDonaldization

Answer 25

a shift in focus toward efficiency, predictability, calculability, and control in societal practices (think McDonald’s)

Question 26

defn: self-presentation

Answer 26

the process of displaying ourselves to society visually and through our actions, often to make sure others see us in the best possible light

Question 27

defn: basic model of emotional expression

Answer 27

Darwin states that emotional expression involves a number of components

1. facial expressions
2. behaviors
3. postures
4. vocal changes
5. physiological changes

and is consistent with his theories on evolution and should be similar across cultures

Question 28

defn: appraisal model

Answer 28

there are biologically predetermined expressions once an emotion is experienced, and there is a cognitive antecedent to emotional expression

Question 29

defn: social construction model

Answer 29

assumes that there is no biological basis for emotions

emotions are based on experiences and the situational context alone

certain emotions can only exist within social encounters

emotions are expressed differently (and play different roles) across cultures

one must be familiar with social norms for a certain emotion to perform the corresp. emotional behaviors in a given social situation

Question 30

defn: display rules

Answer 30

cultural expectations of emotions

govern which emotions can be expressed and to what degree (simulating, qualifying, amplifying, deamplifying, masking, neutralizing)

Question 31

defn: cultural syndrome

Answer 31

a shared set of beliefs, attitudes, norms, values, and behaviors among members of the same culture that are organized around a central theme

influence the rules for expressing or suppressing emotions and the way emotions are experienced

Question 32

defn: impression management

Answer 32

our attempts to influence how others perceive us by regulating or controlling information we present about ourselves in social interactions

Question 33

what are the 3 selves involved in impression management? describe them.

Answer 33

AUTHENTIC SELF = who the person actually is, positive and negative attributes

IDEAL SELF = who we would like to be under optimal circumstances

TACTICAL SELF = who we market ourselves to be when we adhere to others’ expectations of us

Question 34

what are the 5 impression management strategies? describe them.

Answer 34

1. SELF-DISCLOSURE = giving info about oneself to establish an identity (disclosing you are premed)
2. MANAGING APPEARANCES = using props, appearance, emotional expression, or associations with others to create a positive image (wearing a white coat, keeping calm while dealing with a hard patient, mentioning associations with important researchers during an interview)
3. INGRATIATION = using flattery or conforming to expectations to win someone over
4. ALIGNING ACTIONS = making questionable behavior acceptable through excuses
5. ALTER-CASTING = imposing an identity onto another person (as a good MCAT student, you should)

Question 35

defn and parts: dramaturgical approach

Answer 35

using the metaphor of a theatrical performance to describe how individuals create images of themselves in various situations

front-stage self: the persona a person presents to an audience (a person adapts this depending on the social situation similar to how an actor performs according to the setting, role, and script of the play)

back stage self: the persona adopted when not in a social situation and there is no concern about upholding the performance of a desired public image (when an actor is back stage, they are hidden from the audience and can act in ways not congruent with the character in the play)

Question 36

defn: the Me and the I

Answer 36

Me: the part of self developed through interaction with others (comes from considering the generalized other based on a person’s established perceptions of societal expectations)

I: the individual’s own impulses (also shaped by their interpretation of society’s expectations)

THE ME SHAPES THE I

Question 37

what qualifies as verbal communication (4)? what qualifies as nonverbal communication (6)?

Answer 37

Verbal:
1. spoken language
2. written language (print and electronic)
3. sign languages
4. tactile languages (Braille)

Nonverbal:
1. facial expressions
2. body language (posture)
3. gestures
4. tone of voice (prosody)
5. eye contact
6. amount of personal space

Question 38

defn: animal communcation

Answer 38

any behavior of one animal that affects the behavior of another

Question 39

what are the 5 methods of animal communicaton?

Answer 39

1. body language
2. facial expressions
3. visual displays
4. scents
5. vocalizations