interaction

Question 1

Sociologists argue that society is socially constructed. Explain what this means.

Answer 1

aspects of society are social constructs.
A social construct doesn’t exist in objective reality but is created socially via interaction. Many sociologists argue that all

Example: Money; paper slips or numbers stored in computer databases don’t have objective value. Money is valuable
because we have collectively decided to value it through interaction.

Question 2

Explain the relationship between culture, social structure, & interaction.

Answer 2

Interaction is the process that connects and allows culture and social structure to impact human behavior. Each of the 3 elements is important; none are more important than the others.

Question 3

How does culture provide us with ‘scripts’? Give an example

Answer 3

We learn the role that is attached to a certain structural position. Thus, when tasked with behaving properly, we can turn to the ‘script that our culture provides for someone in our position.

Example: If you work as a waiter/waitress, you have a script of lines ready to use, such as:
“What can I get you to drink?”
“Are vou ready to order?”
“How is the food?”
“Can I get the check?”

Question 4

What is interaction according to symbolic interactionists (think symbols and their use)?

Answer 4

The continual transmission of symbolic gestures

-Does interaction require verbal communication?

No, it can be done with without words

Question 5

How does our ability to role-take’ facilitate (make easier/smoother) interaction?

Answer 5

Through role-taking, we can anticipate others’ behavior and adjust our behavior accordingly.

Example: Compare your conversations in person vs. on the phone. Conversations are more difficult on the
phone because you lack significant behavioral cues that help you role-take.

Question 6

What does Mead mean by ‘the looking-glass self?

Answer 6

You learn who you are by the way that other people treat you. All the symbolic information directed at you informs your definition of self. Thus, the self emerges socially via interaction, not from within.

Question 7

What is ‘mind’ according to Mead?

Answer 7

The ability to rehearse and practice for future interactions.

Question 8

Explain Goffman’s Dramaturgy using the theater analogy. How is our reality socially constructed, according to Goffman

Answer 8

All life is a play. Social structure provides the stage, and culture tells us how to play our parts. We actively construct our realities through interaction by trying to play the part that society expects from us.

Front Stage: the social arena in which we constantly engage in impression management to play our “part.” We constantly try to behave in a way to elicit the “right” responses from others.

Back Stage: We can be truer to our “real” selves away from the social arena. Less worried about giving off the “right” impressions. Less constrained by society’s expectations.

Question 9

• What is impression management?

Answer 9

The process by which we try to control the impressions that others develop of us. We try to attach certain symbols to ourselves so that others see us as we want.

Question 10

Explain how impression management, symbols, and role-taking impact our behavior on a first date.

Answer 10

Before you go on a first date, we mentally rehearse how the date will play out. We try to prepare ourselves to give off the impression we think our date would like. During the day we constantly engage in impression management by attaching symbols to ourselves that we that we think will impact the impression that are dates develop of us.

Question 11

Why are first impressions so important? (all else equal, why is our first impression more important than a second impression?)

Answer 11

The second impression is due to the lines of a first impression. First impressions influence all future impressions.

Question 12

According to scientific standard of evidence, do polygraph test accurately detect lying?

Answer 12

No, polygraph test accurately detect certain biological changes such as heart rate, blood pressure, and skin conductance. These biological changes can occur for many reasons, not just because someone is lying.

Question 13

Can fMRI detect lying?

Answer 13

Nope, there is no universal pattern of brain behavior that signifies lying.

Question 14

Why are ex-cons better at lying (lower physiological response) than non-criminals?

Answer 14

Practice makes perfect. They have more experience lying, so their behaviors vary less when they lie.

Question 15

How has increased media use impacted iGen both positively and negatively, according to lecture?

Answer 15

iGen - individuals born after 1995

Positives - physically safer due to lower likelihood of leaving home, lower rates of alcohol abuse and drunk driving

Negatives - mental health, rise in depression and depressive symptoms

Question 16

Part1: How do the negative effects of increased media use vary by Gender?

Part 2: How does impression management & self-presentation relate to these negative effects? (See #4)

Answer 16

Women are impacted more than men for 4 reasons:

1. Women use social media more often than men
2. FOMO - fear of missing out
3. Women are more likely to experience cyberbullying
4. Impression management: our society places stringent expectations on how women are supposed to look, magnified by the unrealistic way people appear virtually.