Chapter 9: Social Interaction Flashcards by Sophie Lamontagne

Define status.

Positions in society that are used to classify individuals

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What are the three types of statuses?

Ascribed
Achieved
Master

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What is an ascribed status?

One that is given involuntarily, based on race, ethnicity, gender, family, background, etc.

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What is an achieved status?

Gained as a result of one’s efforts or choices (ex: being a doctor)

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What is a master status?

The status by which a person is most identified; is pervasive in that person’s life

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Define the role of a status.

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

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What is role performance?

Carrying out of behaviors associated with a given role

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Differentiate role conflict and role strain.

Role conflict: difficulty in satisfying the requirements or expectations of multiple roles
Role strain: difficulty in satisfying multiple requirements of the same role

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What is role exit?

The dropping of one identity for another

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What is a peer group?

One that is defined by association of self-selected equals around similar interests, ages, and statuses (friendship and feelings of belonging)

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What is a family group?

Not self-selected but determined by birth, adoption, and marriage. Joins members of various ages, sexes, and generations through emotional ties

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Differentiate in-groups and out-groups.

In-groups: groups to which an individual belongs

Out-groups: groups to which an individual competes or is in opposition

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What are reference groups?

Groups that establish the terms by which individuals evaluate themselves (ex: premed in relation to all medical school applicants)

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What are primary groups?

Interactions are direct, with close bonds providing warm, personal and intimate relationships; last a long period of time

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What are secondary groups?

Interactions are superficial, few emotional bonds, form and dissolve without any special significance; short period of time (ex: students working together on a project)

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The German sociologist Ferdinant Tonnies distinguished two major types of groups in his Gemeinschaft und Gesellschaft theory. What are the two main groups?

Community and society

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According to the German theory, what is a community group?

Refers to groups unified by feelings of togetherness due to shared beliefs, ancestry or geography (ex: families and neighborhoods)

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According to the German theory, what is a society group?

Refers to groups that are formed because of mutual self-interests working together toward the same goal (ex: companies and countries)

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What is the interaction process analysis technique? What was it revised to?

Technique for observing, classifying, and measuring interactions within small groups
System for multiple level observation of groups (SYMLOG)

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According to the SYMLOG, what are the three fundamental dimensions of interaction?

Dominance vs. submission
Friendliness vs. unfriendliness
Instrumentally controlled vs. emotionally expressive

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What is group conformity? What is it related to?

Individuals are compliant with the group’s goals, even when the group’s goals may be in direct contrast to the individual’s goal
Groupthink

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Define network.

Observable pattern of social relationships among individuals or groups

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Differentiate immediate and distant networks.

Immediate network: dense with strong ties (friends)

Distant network: looser and built by weak ties (acquaintances)

Define organizations.

Entities that are set up to achieve specific goals and are characterized by having a structure and a culture

How do organizations differ from groups?

- Organizations continue despite the departure of an individual member - Organizations have expressed goals - Organizations have enforcement procedures that seek to control the activity of members - Organizations are characterized by the hierarchical allotment of formal roles or duties to members

Where is the basic organization of society found in?

In its characteristic institution

What is the current characteristic institution?

Bureaucracy

Define bureaucracy.

Rational system of political organization, administration, discipline, and control

Are bureaucracy more efficient than other organizations?

No, they are less efficient and are slower to change

What does the iron law of oligarchy state?

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

What is McDonaldization?

Used to refer a shift in focus toward efficiency, predictability, calculability, and control in societies

Define self-presentation.

The process of displaying oneself to society through culturally accepted behaviors

What is impression management also called?

Self-presentation

Who established the basic model of emotional expression?

Charles Darwin

What does the social construction model assume in terms of emotion?

- Assumes that there is no biological basis for emotions | - Emotions are based on experiences and the situational context alone

What does the basic model assume in terms of emotion?

There are universal emotions, along with corresponding expressions, which can be understood across cultures

Define display rules.

Unspoken rules that govern the expression of emotion

Define a cultural syndrome.

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

Define impression management.

Refers to our attempts to influence how others perceive us, which is done through the regulation or controlling of information in social interactions

When describing impression management, theorists describe three "selves". What are they?

- Authentic self: describes who the person actually is (positive and negative) - Ideal self: refers to who we would like to be under optimal circumstances - Tactical self: refers to who we market ourselves to be when we adhere to others' expectations of us

What is self-disclosure?

- Impression management strategy | - Giving information about oneself to establish an identity

What is managing appearances?

- Impression management strategy | - Using props, appearances, emotional expression, or associations with others to create a positive iage

What is ingratiation?

- Impression management strategy | - Using flattery or conforming to expectations to win someone over

What is aligning actions?

- Impression management strategy | - Making questionable behavior acceptable through excuses

What is alter-casting?

- Impression management strategy | - Imposing an identity onto another person

How does Erving Goffman describe impression management?

Through dramaturgical approach

In Goffman's dramaturgical approach, what is the status and what is the role?

Status: performance Role: script

In Goffman's dramaturgical approach, what is the front stage?

Where the actor is in front of the audience, and performs according to the setting, role, and script in order to conform to the image he wants others to see

In Goffman's dramaturgical approach, what is the back stage?

Where the actor is not being observed by an audience, and he is free to act in ways that may not be congruent with his desired public image, without having to worry about ruining his performance

Define communication.

The ability to convey information by speech, writing, signals, or behavior.

Define verbal communication.

The transmission of information via the use of words, whether spoken, written, or signed

Define nonverbal communication.

Refers to how people communicate, intentionally, or unintentionally, without words (pauses, tone of voice, facial expressions, gestures, body language)

Are tactile languages (Braille) and sign language examples of verbal or nonverbal communication?

Verbal communication

What is animal communication?

The behavior of one animal that affects the behavior of another

Do animals use body language or facial expressions more?

Facial expressions

Are facial expressions or body language more highly conserved between species?

Facial expressions

Name some examples of how animals communicate.

- Body language - Rudimentary facial expressions - Visual displays - Scents - Vocalization