Chapter 5 Symbolic interactionism Flashcards
Impression management
The verbal and nonverbal practices we employ in attempt to present an acceptable image of ourselves to others.
3 premises of Symbolic Interaction
- We act toward those things on the basis of meanings
Ex. Church we have the understanding we must be quiet. - Meanings arise out of social interaction with others
Ex. Library, after interaction with others like the librarian we understand to be quiet - Those meanings are altered through interpretative process and self reflection
Ex. We think about why we must be quiet and give it meaning personally.
Impression management and its connection to George Herbert Mead
Goffman’s impression management relates to Mead’s work of the “self”. Which consists of the “I” and “me” attitudes of others which we assume.
•The self becomes an object which is created, modified and sustained through our interaction with others.
•The self is split.
Ex. Interview. We split ourselves into Mead’s “I” and “me” managing our impression
William I. Thomas concept of “situation”
Is selected from preexisting definition.
Explain Mead’s “self” made of “I” and “me”
Me is the organized set of attitudes of others which one assumes.
• me= social self is the internalized attitudes of generalized others that takes conferred by others
•The self is objective and created, modified and sustained by interactions with others.
Ex. People view me as strong. Therefore, i must act strong when in the presence of others.
Front (Goffman)
The intentionality or unintentionally given performance by an individual toward others. What an individual shows to others
Ex. While in front of a potential partner. One does not curse and maintains oneself as clean and neat.
Backstage (Goffman)
The performance normally unobserved by and restricted from members of the audience.
Ex. After no longer being in the presence of a potential partner. We may be less neat and relaxed.
Character (Goffman)
The self understood as a product of interaction; a dramatic effect or image fabricated in concert with others during an encounter.
Ex. An employee dislikes another coworker. However, at work they must be mindful of each other.
Performer (Goffman)
The self understood as derived from an individual’s unique psychobiology. The core of an individual’s personality that lies behind and manages his performance.
Second shift (Ariel Hochschild)
Sociology of the male profession.
•Hochschild studied both male and female experiences through stories
-aim was to explore how people feel and not just how they think.
•sociology of emotions
Emotion work (Hochschild)
Efforts to alter or manage the intensity or type of feelings that one is experiencing
•arise when we “do emotions”, is voluntary.
Ex. After stressful work day, we attempt to be happy at a birthday party.
Emotion labor (Hochschild)
When one’s deep acting (self-induced effort to produce a real feeling) or emotion is sold for a wage
Ex. When I am feeling sick. I still go to work and put on a smile and pretend to be fine.
Self (Goffman)
A managed impression composed of the character and performer.
Ex. Person A is acting as Person C. It’s the same person acting.
Significant gestures (Blumer)
Words and actions whose meanings are shared by all of those involved in a social act.
Ex.
Meaning (Blumer)
A response to a gesture developed within the social act.
