Symbolic Interactionism Flashcards

Question

The Two Kinds of "others"

Answer 1

The significant other - In sociology, refers to a parent, teacher, friend, or spouse - All of those types of people can be important in terms of the preparatory stage as they are significant in young children’s lives The generalized other - The view of an entire community or social group - The ability to see things through the generalized other is essential to the self - Children learn to develop the generalized other during the game stage

Answer 2

I = individual, subjective part of the self Me = social, objective part of the self - All social experience involves interaction between “I” and “Me” - The “I” initiates action and the “Me” takes the role of the generalized other --> The “I” is regulated/ controlled by the “Me”

Answer 3

- Canadian/American sociologist - Born 1922 - Older sister is Frances Bay

Answer 4

- Sociology undergrad at UofT - Went to U of Chicago for graduate studies

Answer 5

- Pursued academic career in the United States - Worked as a professor at the U of California Berkeley and at the U of Pennsylvania - Publication: Presentation of Self in Everyday Life (1959) - Publication: Stigma (1963)

Answer 6

- Continued to write and publish into 1960-1970s - Became ill early 1980s - Died 1982, age 60 - Daughter (Alice) became sociologist

Answer 7

sees social life as a series of dramatic performances that are similar to performances on a theatre stage - In everyday life people give performances - In these performances people present a certain view of themself

Answer 8

- The Role - The Stage - Impression Management - The Self

Answer 9

Role = the conduct expected of a person occupying a given position - This conduct is determined by a society’s norms and values - Society provides the script which the social actor follows to carry out the role Role Performance = the social actors actual conduct when playing a role - Social actor may stick to the script and simply do what the role requires - Social actor may sometimes display glimpses of their real self in their performance Role Distance = the effort of a social actor to separate themself from a role - Social actor may not fully embrace a given role (for many reasons) - Therefore may give a performance that steps outside the expected conduct of the role

Answer 10

Front Stage = area where the social actor performs a role for an audience The setting = the physical scene where the social actor gives a performance for an audience The Personal Front = the props and the behaviour that the audience associates with actor in that setting Appearance = those items that reveal the social actor’s status to the audience Manner = tells audience what sort of role the social actor will play (signified by props but further identified through the behaviour) Back Stage = adjacent to the front stage, but cut off from it; area where the social actor can step out of the role and not be seen by the audience

Answer 11

an attempt by inds to influence views that others have of them - Behaviour that goes on in front stage and back stage draw attention to this concept - In Front Stage: people attempt to generate a favourable impression when interacting with strangers and acquaintances - In Back Stage: people do not attempt to generate a favourable impression, they are interacting with people who know them

Answer 12

Presentation of self in everyday life: involves interaction between social actor and audience - Social actor gives performance that presents a favourable self - Audience interprets performance and may or may not accept the self that is presented

Answer 13

1. The social actor takes measures to help ensure a smooth performance (eg. prepares in advance, tries to select a receptive audience, tries to avoid making mistakes) 2. The audience sometimes has a stake in a successful performance, may assist social actor (eg. displaying great interest in performance, not noticing mistakes)

Answer 14

1. Goffman offered a problematic view of people: depicted people in a cynical way - Saw people as conniving and selfish, and were simply manipulating each other through impression management 2. Goffman gave insufficient attention to structure - Emphasized agency (personal will and intent) in social interaction; ignored structure (how class, status, and power affect social interaction)

Answer 15

a mark or sign of disgrace - Goffman was interested in the gap that exists between what a person “ought” to be (virtual social identity) vs what a person is (actual social identity) - We are constantly given messages about what we ought to be (what is normal) --> That may not be who we actually are - Anyone who has a gap between their virtual social identity and what they actually are experiences stigma (bcuz they are not “normal”)

Answer 16

known to the audience members, or assumed to be known to the audience members - someone who is a convicted criminal, someone who is completely blind - Someone with discredited stigma: dramaturgical interaction focuses on dealing with fact that their actual social identity is known to audience members

Answer 17

unknown to the audience members, or not perceivable to the audience members - a homosexual in the closet, a person who has a partial hearing loss - Someone with discreditable stigma: dramaturgical interaction focuses on dealing with information so that their actual social identity remains unknown to the audience members

Answer 18

Highly relatable theory: due to everyone experiencing stigma - Eg. religion, “race,” sexual orientation, disability - Can be (un)known to audience members