unit 8 - lecture notes

Question 1

What is the central debate of sociology?

Answer 1

Agency versus structure

Question 2

What is the argument of agency in regards to sociology?

Answer 2

People are free agents and able to choose their actions and interactions.

Question 3

What is the argument of structure in regards to sociology?

Answer 3

People are constrained by social structure which removes the individual of their own agency.

Question 4

What’s important to remember in regards to defining a situation?

Answer 4

The definition of any situation is only an interpretation. Your response is the consequence of your interpretation.

Question 5

The definition of any given situation is not constructed but it is instead?

Answer 5

The definition of any situation is selected from previous situations.

Question 6

What happens when your own definition of the situation is incorrect?

Answer 6

When social order is not continuous it must be negotiated; this includes bargaining or attempting to coordinate your activity in some way.

Question 7

What kind of study was conducted by Glaser and Strauss in the 1960s?

Answer 7

Is a study exploring different awareness contexts.
ex. What I know about you and what I think you know about me.

Question 8

How was the awareness context study conducted by Glaser and Strauss? What was discovered?

Answer 8

The study happened within the context of the complex interaction of a terminally ill patient and the nurses and doctors that attend to the patient.

Four different kinds of awareness contexts were observed:
1. Open
2. Closed
3. Suspicious
4. Pretence

Question 9

Explain the four different kinds of awareness contexts as observed by Glaser and Strauss.

Answer 9

1. Open - Each person knows the other’s identity.
2. Closed - The nurse knows the patient is dying, but the patient does not know.
3. Suspicious - One person suspects the true identity of the other or suspects the other’s view of their own identity.
4. Pretence - Both parties know the patient is dying but pretend it’s not true.

Question 10

What were the two conclusions made from the awareness context study conducted by Glaser and Strauss?

Answer 10

1. Four different kinds of awareness contexts were observed.
2. The awareness context of the situation is highly formative of the interaction itself.

Question 11

Why does social order exist?

Answer 11

Social order exists because people
1. constantly construct it,
2. are constrained by it,
3. perform it,
4. and reproduce it.

Question 12

What is the purpose of a social role in any situation?

Answer 12

In any situation, the social role, will provide normative expectations on how we behave and everyone else should behave.

Question 13

In relation to social roles and identities, what is the macro structural approach?

Answer 13

It emphasizes structure and is passive; a top-down approach.

Question 14

What are 7 types of social rules and identities within a macrostructural approach?

Answer 14

1. Status
2. Role
3. Status set and role set
4. Master status
5. Role strain
6. Role conflict
7. Role exit

Question 15

In relation to the macrostructural approach of social roles and identities, what is the relevance of status?

Answer 15

Status is the basic building block of society and social structure; it is who you are, not what you do.

Question 16

In relation to the macrostructural approach of social roles and identities, what is the relevance of role?

Answer 16

Role includes both scripts and claims and can be described as either ascribed roles or achieved roles.

Question 17

In relation to the macrostructural approach of social roles and identities, what is the relevance of a status set and a role set?

Answer 17

Every status position held in society has its own role ascribed to it.

Question 18

In relation to the macrostructural approach of social roles and identities, how is a master status assigned?

Answer 18

It can be:
1. Ascribed
2. Achieved
3. Fixed
4. Fluid

Question 19

In relation to the macrostructural approach of social roles and identities, how does role strain occur?

Answer 19

There can be three causes:
1. Role performance does NOT match expectation.
2. Too many expectations in a skill set.
3. Evaluation criteria is unclear.

Question 20

When understanding the purpose of a status and role, how can it best be explained?

Answer 20

An individual holds a status, they perform a role.

Question 21

In relation to social roles and identities, what is the microstructural approach?

Answer 21

It emphasizes agency; it is an active, bottom up approach. Argues that people construct their own reality, that roles are negotiated.

Question 22

Social interaction consists of what?

Answer 22

1. discourse
2. appearance
3. behaviour
4. manner

Question 23

In relation to social rules and identities within a microstructural approach, what are 4 notable concepts? Briefly explain.

Answer 23

1. Role taking- happens unconsciously; more cognitive and empathetic.
2. Altercasting- self fulfilling prophecy; forcing people to act or think a certain way.
3. role making
4. Self identity- the self is a social product; and outgrowth of interaction with other people.

Question 24

What are 7 forms of communication?

Answer 24

1. Impression management
2. Disclaimers
3. Accounts
4. Motive Talk
5. Teamwork
6. Facial Expression
7. Emotion Work

Question 25

Regarding forms of communication, impression management can best be understood how?

Answer 25

1. Impressions given are controlled and deliberate v. uncontrolled and done unwittingly.
2. Front stage v. Backstage

Question 26

Regarding forms of communication, what purpose do disclaimers serve?

Answer 26

Disclaimers convey that the individual is not willing to modify their behavior so instead they will give a plead at the beginning to attempt to get permission.

Question 27

Regarding forms of communication, what are the two basic sub categories of accounts?

Answer 27

1. Excuse
2. Justification

Question 28

Regarding forms of communication, How can motive talk be understood?

Answer 28

Motive talk inputs a motive to the actor without necessarily identifying the motivation.

Question 29

Regarding forms of communication, what is the difference between motivation and a motive?

Answer 29

• Motivation is a stimulus that caused an individual to say or do something.
• Motive is the explanation for the action after the fact.

Question 30

Regarding forms of communication, emotion work was first spoken about by whom? What are aspects of emotion work?

Answer 30

• First spoken out about by Arlie Hochschild.
• Emotion work includes “feeling rules” as well as “feeling work.”

Question 31

In relation to emotion work, what are two aspects that are part of feeling work?

Answer 31

1. Superficial impression management
2. Deep manipulation of her own feelings to eliminate the “discrepancy”.

Question 32

In relation to interaction and communication, what are two forms of interactions?

Answer 32

1. Territorial
2. Non-verbal communication

Question 33

What are the two types of territoriality?

Answer 33

1. defining types of territories
2. managing personal space

Question 34

In relation to territoriality, what are three different types of territories?

Answer 34

1. Public
2. Interactional
3. Home

Question 35

In relation to territoriality, what are the three ways an individual can manage personal space?

Answer 35

1. Occupying personal space
   - the dominate person has the most space.
2. Controlling personal space
3. Encroachment

Question 36

In relation to personal space, describe three types of encroachment.

Answer 36

1. Violation - unwarranted use of another’s territory.
2. Invasion - attempt to take over another’s territory.
3. Contamination - defiling another’s territory.

Question 37

What are some examples of nonverbal communication?

Answer 37

• gestures
• pitch of voice
• posture
• body language
• eye contact