Exam 1 Flashcards
Looking Glass Self
The self that emerges as a consequence of seeing ourselves as we think other people see us
Theory of Mind
The recognition that other minds exist, followed by the realization that we can try to imagine others’ mental states
Social Psychology
The study of the interface between the individual and society; “the mind is social” and “society is mental”
Confidentiality
A promise that the researcher will not release personal information that can be connected to the research subject, including the fact of their participation
Laboratory Experiments
A research method that involves a test of a hypothesis under carefully controlled conditions
Dependent Variables
A variable that is hypothesized to be influenced by the independent variable; expected to show effect
Independent Variables
A variable that is hypothesized to influence the dependent variable; causes an effect
In-depth Interview
A research method that involves an intimate conversation between the researcher and a research subject
Correlational Claims
Assertions that changes in an independent variable correspond to changes in a dependent variable, but not in a way that can be proven causal
Causal Claims
Assertions that an independent variable is directly and specifically responsible for producing a change in a dependent variable
Control Group
The group in a laboratory experiment that does not undergo the experience that researchers believe might influence the dependent variable
Coding
A process in which segments of text are identified as belonging to relevant categories
Durkheim and The Self
The self is a social fact; we are real because social facts are real
Mead; the I and the Me
One is the object of thought (self we see in the mirror), one is the subject of thought (self feeling pride and embaressment)
Mirror Neurons
Neurons that allows us to feel other people’s emotions as if they were our own
The Generalized Other
Imagined others of a specific social group
Self-fulfilling prophecy
A phenomenon in which what people believe is true becomes true, even if it wasn’t originally true
Self-narrative
A story we tell about the origin and likely future of our selves
Social Facts
Products of human interaction with persuasive or coercive power that exist externally to any individual; handshakes
Self-Concept
Our understanding of who we are based on our personality traits, physical characteristics, ancestry, and biographies
Socialization
The lifelong learning process by which we become members of our cultures
Agents of Socialization
Channels of influence through which we become socialized
Re-socialization
The unlearning of old beliefs, values, and norms in favor of new ones
Social Construct
An influential and shared interpretation of reality that will vary across time and space
Social Construction
The process by which we layer objects with ideas, fold concepts into one another, and build connections between them
Interpersonal Socialization
Active efforts by others to help us become culturally competent members of our cultures
Social Learning
The transmission of knowledge and practices from one individual to another via observation, instruction, or reward and punishment
Culture
Differences in groups’ shared ideas, as well as the objects, practices, and bodies that reflect those ideas
Cultural Beliefs
Ideas about what is true and false
Cultural Values
Notions as to what’s right or wrong
Cultural Practices
The habits, routines, and rituals that people frequently perform specific to their culture
Cultural Norms
Shared expectations for behavior
Cultural Competence
Able to understand and navigate our cultures with ease
Cultural Relativism
The practice of noting the differences between cultures without passing judgment
Ethnocentrism
The practice of assuming that one’s own culture is superior to the cultures of others
Homophily
Our tendency to connect with others who are similar to us
Culture Shock
Compromise of cultural competence; not knowing what’s going on or how to communicate
Social Network Analysis
A research method that involves the mapping of social ties and exchanges between them
Subcultures
Subgroups within societies that have distinct cultural ideas, objects, practices, and bodies
Social Identity Theory
People categorize themselves into different social categories to build their own social identity
Social Identities
An individual’s knowledge or belonging to certain social groups, together with some emotional and valuational significance of that group membership
“Doing Identity”
The concept of who we believe ourselves to be (e.g. Culture, gender, age)
Steps in the process of social identity construction
Invent, Divide, Stereotype, Perform, Rank
Distinction
Social force whereby people use various strategies to differentiate and distance themselves from others in society and to assign themselves greater value in the process
Sex
Reference to physical traits related to sexual reproduction
Ethnicity
Identities based on collective memories of a shared history and distinctive culture
Race
Socially meaningful set of artificial distinctions falsely based on superficial and imagined biological differences
Gender
Ideas, traits, interests, and skills that associate with being biologically male or female
The Gender Binary
Idea that people come in two and only two types, males who are masculine and females who are feminine
Sexual Minorities
People who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or otherwise non-heterosexual
Intersectionality
Recognition that our lives are shaped by multiple interacting identities, coined by Kimberle Crenshaw
Stereotype
Clusters of ideas attached by social convention to people with specific social identities
Stigma
The social phenomenon or process whereby individuals that are taken to be different in some way are rejected by the greater society in which they live based on that difference
Symbolic Interactionism
The view of social behavior that emphasizes linguistic or gestural communication and its subjective understanding, especially the role of language in the formation of the child as a social being
Symbolic Interaction
Develops from practical considerations and alludes to humans’ particular use of shared language to create common symbols and meanings, for use in both intra- and interpersonal communication
Impression Management
The attempt to manipulate the thoughts of others, controlling or influencing another person’s perception
“Choosing a Face”
Concept linked to the dignity and prestige that a person has in terms of their social relationships
Mores
Moral standards that determine right and wrong, can change depending on the culture, group, or society, and are the basis of some laws
Norms
The perceived informal, mostly unwritten, rules that define acceptable and appropriate actions within a given group or community, thus guiding human behavior
Folkways
Specific social norms that define and guide behaviors (what is considered rude or not).
Taboo
A social group’s ban, prohibition, or avoidance of something based on the group’s sense that it is excessively repulsive, offensive, sacred, or allowed only for certain people. Such prohibitions are present in virtually all societies
Policies
Protocols or the procedure to implement laws
Law
The set of standards to sovern the people and their behavior
Social Sanctions
A social reaction of approval or disapproval in response to someone’s actions
Account
Verbal statements made by one social actor to another to explain behavior that are unanticipated or deviant
Dramaturgy
Perspective on identity that employs a theatrical metaphor o explore issues of identity formation and reformation
Front Stage
The behavior a person performs in front of an audience
Backstage
Refers to the behaviors people engage in when they are no longer in the public view
Status Advantaged Identities
Individuals who hold or control more resources than others
Status Disadvantaged Identities
Individuals who hold or control fewer resources than others
Marked Identities
An identity that is labeled and is considered more or less extreme than normal
Interpersonal Discrimination
Occurs when a person’s conscious or subconscious racial bias influences their interactions and perceptions of other people
Field Experiments
A research method that uses some controlled elements of traditional lab experiments, but takes place in natural, real world settings
Discrimination
Unfair or prejudicial treatment of people and groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, age, or sexual orientation
Ethnomethodology
A method of sociology analysis that examines how individuals use everyday conversation and gestures to construct a common sense view of the world
