Social Interactions Flashcards
Statuses
Positions in society that are used to classify individuals.
Ascribed status
One that is given involuntarily due to factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, and family background.
Achieved status
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. This status is typically the most important status the individual holds and affects all aspects of that person’s life.
Role
Set 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
Person with whom one is interacting (i.e. patients, nurses, patient’s relatives, other doctors, etc.)
Role set
The various roles associated with a status.
Role conflict
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
Consists of two or more people who share similar characteristics and a sense of unity.
Peer group
One that is defined by association of self-selected equals around similar interests, ages and statuses. The provider an opportunity for friendship and feelings of belonging.
Family group
Is not self-selected but determined by birth, adoption, and marriage.
In-groups
Groups which an individual belongs
Our group
Which an individual competes or is in opposition.
Reference groups
Groups that establish the terms by which individuals evaluate themselves: to determine how strong of a medical school applicant you are, you’ll reference yourself with a group of other applicants.
Primary group
The interactions are direct, with close bonds providing warm, personal and intimate relationships to members.
Secondary group
Interactions are superficial, with few emotional bonds. Lasts short period of time compared with primary groups and form without any special significance.
Gemeinschaft und Gesellschaft (community and society)
Ferdinand tönnies distinguished two major groups, community (family and neighborhood) and society (companies and countries).
Interaction process analysis
A technique for observing, classifying, and measuring the interactions within small groups.
System for multiple level observation of groups (SYMLOG)
Based on the belief that there are three fundamental dimensions of interaction:
1) Dominance vs. submission
2) Friendliness vs. unfriendliness
3) Instrumentally controlled vs. emotionally expressive
Group conformity
Individuals are complaint with the group’s goals, even when the group’s goals may be in direct contrast to the individual’s goal. (Trying to fit in)
Groupthink
Related to group conformity, and occurs when members begin to focus solely on idea generated within the group, while ignoring outside ideas. Leads to groups not exploring all sides of an issue and may limit the group’s options or views.
Network
Used to describe the observable pattern of social relationships among individuals or groups. Patterns of relationship can be determined by mapping the interactions between individual units.
Immediate networks
Are dense with strong ties. Mate be composed of friends
Distant networks
Are looser and built by weaker ties. May include acquaintances.
Organizations
Are entities that are set up to achieve specific goals and are characterized by having a structure and a culture. (Schools, companies, music groups, sports teams, political organizations, etc.) They are different from groups by 3 aspects:
1) organizations continue despite the departure of an individual member.
2) organizations have expressed goals, usually in a written format and guide the members and their activities.
3) organizations are characterized by the hierarchical allotment of formal roles or duties to members.
Characteristic institution
The basic organization of society is found in its characteristic institution. (Kin, clan or sib) and now bureaucracy.
Bureaucracy
A rational system of political organization, administration, discipline, and control. It has 6 characteristics:
1) paid, non elected officials on a fixed salary
2) officials are provided rights and privileges as a result of making their career out of holding office
3) regular salary increases, seniority rights, and promotions upon passing exams or milestones
4) officials who enter the organization by holding an advanced degree or training
5) responsibilities, obligations, privileges, and work procedures rigidly defined by the organization
6) responsibility for meeting the demands of one’s position
Iron law of oligarchy
States that democratic or bureaucratic systems naturally shift to being rule by an elite group.
Mcdolandization
Commonly used to refer to a shift in focus toward efficiency, predictability, calculability, and control in these societies.
Self-presentation (or impressions management)
Process of displaying oneself to society through culturally accepted behaviors.
Basic model of emotional expression
Establish by Charles Darwin, states that emotional expression involves a number of components: facial expressions, behaviors, postures, vocal changes, and physiological changes.
Appraisal model
There are biologically predetermined expressions once an emotion is experienced, but that there is a cognitive antecedent to emotional expression.
Social construction model
Assumes that there is no biological basis for emotions, but are based on experiences and the situational context alone.
Display rules
Cultural expectations of emotions
Cultural syndrome
A shared set of beliefs, attitudes, norms, values and behaviors among members of the same culture that are organized around a central theme. Example:
United States’s happiness is viewed as infinite, attainable, and internally experienced (individualistic cultural syndrome).
Japan’s happiness is Avery rational emotion and generally applied to collective experiences more than to individual successes or experiences (collectivistic cultural syndrome)
Impressions management
Refers to our attempts to influence how others perceive us.
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.
Front stage self
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 other to see.
Backstage self
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.
Communication
Ability to convey information by speech, writing, signals or behaviors.
Self-disclosure
Giving information about oneself to establish an identity. (Saying you’re a pre med student)
Managing appearances
Using props, appearance, emotional expression, or associations with others to create a positive image.
Ingratiation
Using flattery or conforming to expectations to win someone over. (Blindly agreeing to someone else’s opinion, complimenting a friend before asking for a favor)
Aligning actions
Making questionable behavior acceptable through excuses. (Justifications for missing deadlines, blaming a bad grade on too little sleep).
Alter-casting
Imposing an identity into another person. (A good person would…)
