Chapter 9: Social Interaction Flashcards
Define status.
Positions in society that are used to classify individuals
What are the three types of statuses?
- Ascribed
- Achieved
- Master
What is an ascribed status?
One that is given involuntarily, based on race, ethnicity, gender, family, background, etc.
What is an achieved status?
Gained as a result of one’s efforts or choices (ex: being a doctor)
What is a master status?
The status by which a person is most identified; is pervasive in that person’s life
Define the role of a status.
Set of beliefs, values, attitudes, and norms that define expectations for those who hold the status
What is role performance?
Carrying out of behaviors associated with a given role
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
What is role exit?
The dropping of one identity for another
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)
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
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
What are reference groups?
Groups that establish the terms by which individuals evaluate themselves (ex: premed in relation to all medical school applicants)
What are primary groups?
Interactions are direct, with close bonds providing warm, personal and intimate relationships; last a long period of time
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)
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
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)
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)
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)
According to the SYMLOG, what are the three fundamental dimensions of interaction?
- Dominance vs. submission
- Friendliness vs. unfriendliness
- Instrumentally controlled vs. emotionally expressive
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
Define network.
Observable pattern of social relationships among individuals or groups