Psychology and Sociology: Chapter 9 Flashcards
Social statuses
positions in society that are used to classify individuals
Ascribed status
given involuntarily (usually at birth), due to such factors as race, ethnicity, gender, and family background
Achieved status
status that is gained as a result of one’s efforts or choices, such as being a doctor
Master status
status by which a person is most identified
Roles
sets of beliefs, values, attitudes, and norms that define expectations for those who hold the status
Role performance
the carrying out of behaviors associated with a given role
Role partner
the person with whom one is interacting
Role set
the various roles associated with a status
Role conflict
the difficulty in satisfying the requirements or expectations of multiple roles
Role strain
the difficulty in satisfying multiple requirements of the same role
Role exit
the dropping of one identity for another
Group (social group)
-consists of two or more people who share any number of similar characteristics as well as a sense of unity
In-group
social group with which a person experiences a sense of belonging or identifies as a member
Out-group
refers to a social group with which an individual does not identify
Group conflict
out-groups can sometimes compete with or oppose in-groups
Peer group
group that consists of self-selected equals associated by similar interests, ages, or statuses
Family group
determined by birth, adoption, and marriage
Reference group
groups that individuals use as a standard for evaluating themselves
Primary group
interactions between members of the group are direct, with close bonds providing warm, personal, and intimate relationships to members
Secondary group
the interactions are impersonal and businesslike, with few emotional bonds and with the goal of accomplishing a specific task
Ferdinand Tonnies Theory
-Gemeinschaft und Gesellschaft (Community and society)
-Gemeinschaft (Community): refers to groups unified by feelings of togetherness due to shared beliefs, ancestry, or geography
-Gesellschaft (society): refers to less personal groups that are formed out of mutual self-interests working together toward the same goal
Group conformity
individuals are compliant with the group’s goals, even when the group’s goals may be in direct contrast to the individual’s goal
Networks
Used to describe the observable pattern of social relationships among individuals or groups
Immediate networks
dense with strong ties
Distant networks
looser and contain weaker ties
Organizations
Complex secondary groups that are set up to achieve specific goals and are characterized by having a structure and a culture
Characteristic Institution
in prehistoric times this included kin, clan, or sib; in modern times this includes bureaucracy
Bureaucracy
rational system of political organization, administration, discipline, and control
6 Characteristics of a bureaucracy
-paid
-nonelected officials on a fixed salary
-Officials who are provided rights and privileges as a result of making their careers out of holding office
-Regular salary increases, seniority rights, and promotions upon passing exams or milestones
-Officials who enter the organization by holding an advanced degree or training
-Responsibilities, obligations, privileges, and work procedures rigidly defined by the organization
-Responsibility for meeting the demands of one’s position
Iron law of oligarchy
states that democratic or bureaucratic systems naturally shift to being ruled by an elite group
McDonaldization
refers to a shift in focus toward efficiency, predictability, calculability, and control in societal practices
Self-presentation
the process of displaying ourselves to society both visually and through our actions, often to make sure others see us in the best possible light
Appraisal model
accepts that there are biologically predetermined expressions once an emotion is experienced, but that there is a cognitive antecedent to emotional expression
Social construction model of emotion
-Assumes that there is no biological basis for emotions
-Emotions are based on experiences and the situational context alone
-Suggests that certain emotions can only exist within social encounters and that emotions are expressed differently- and thus play different roles- across cultures
Display rules (social construction model)
cultural expectations of emotions
Cultural syndrome (social construction model)
-shared set of beliefs, attitudes, norms, values, and behaviors among members of the same culture that are organized around a central theme
-Influence the rules for expressing or suppressing emotions and can influence the ways emotions are experienced
Impression management
-Refers to our attempts to influence how others perceive us
-This is done by regulating or controlling information we present about ourselves in social interactions
Authentic self
describes who the person actually is, including both positive and negative attributes
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
Dramaturgical approach
-uses the metaphor of a theatrical performance to describe how individuals create images of themselves in various situations
-Front stage self: the persona they present to an audience
-Back stage self: the persona adopted when not in a social situation and there is no concern about upholding the performance of a desired public image
George Herbet Mead Theory of Me and I
-Me: the part of self that is developed through interaction with society
-The development of the Me comes from considering the generalized other, which is based on a person’s established perceptions of the expectations of society
-I: the individual’s own impulses
-A person’s impulses are shaped by their interpretations of society’s expectations
-The Me shapes the I
