Social Structure and Social Interaction Flashcards
Macrosociology
the study of outside influences on human societies on a wide scale
Microsociology
Small-scale sociological analysis that studies the behavior of people in face-to-face social interactions and small groups to understand what they do, say, and think
Social interaction
The process of reciprocal influence exercised by individuals over one another during social encounters
Social structure
the distinctive, stable arrangement or institutions whereby human beings in a society interact and live together
Social class
People with a similar status in society
Status
A rank or position that someone holds
Status set
A position occupied by a person in a society
Ascribed status
A position in a social group that one is born into or have no control over it
Achieved status
A position in a social group that one earns based on merit or one’s choices
Status symbols
A visible, external symbol of one’s social position, an indicator of economic or social status
Master status
The social position that is the primary identifying characteristic of an individual
Status Inconsistency
A situation where an individual’s social positions have both positive and negative influences on their social status
Role
The behavior expected of an individual who occupies a given social position of status
Group
Two or more people who interact with one another, share similar characteristics, and collectively have a sense of unity
Social institution
The established patterns of beliefs, behaviors and relationships that organize social life
Social Integration
The ways that different groups come together to form a whole in society
Mechanical solidarity
Cohesion within a society based on shared beliefs, lifestyles, and occupations
Division of labor
The separation of tasks in a production process
Organic solidarity
Social cohesion based upon the dependence individuals have on each other in more advanced societies
Gemeinschaft
A spontaneously arising organic social relationship characterized by strong reciprocal bonds of sentiment and kinship with common tradition
Gessellschaft
Social relations based on impersonal ties, as duty to a society or organization
Body language
nonverbal communication by means of facial expressions, eye behavior, gestures, posture, and the like
Dramaturgy
A sociological perspective on identity that employs a theatrical metaphor to explore issues of formation and refornation
Impression management
the attempt to manipulate the thoughts of others
Front stages
That part of the individuals’s performance which regularly functions in a general and fixed fashion we define the situation for those who observe the performance
Back stages
Actions that people engage in when no audience is present
Role performance
How a person expresses his or her role
Role conflict
A conflict between or among the roles corresponding to or more statuses fulfilled by one individual
Role strain
The stress when, for any number of reasons, an individual cannot meet the demands of their social roles
Enthomethodology
They study of how social order is produced in and through processes of social interaction
Background assumption
Deeply rooted, shared understanding or basic rules of how the world operates and how people are expected to act
Social construction of reality
People shape their experiences through social interaction
