Part II – The Individual and the Society Chapter 5: Social Interaction and Everyday Life Lecture #6

“Nature” “Biological organism” “Given” + “Nurture” “Culture” “Achieved” ∥ Human beings

“Society creates us?” What is society? What is Culture? How is culture learned? How does culture form individual? ↓ Is human being simply a “socialized” animal? Freedom of thoughts and actions

“Society is created by us?” The influence of human action and behavior on society and culture? Social Interactions (Chapter 5) Conformity/Deviance (Chapter 6)

The Study of Social Interaction Social interaction “the process by which we act and react to those around us”

The Study of Social Interaction Why do we have to study social interaction? 1. Our understandings or definitions of what is occurring around us – whether they are correct or not – guide our subsequent actions and behaviors.

The Study of Social Interaction Why do we have to study social interaction? 2. Our day-to-day routines, with their almost constant interactions with others, give structure and form to what to do; we can learn a great deal about ourselves as social beings, and about social life itself.

The Study of Social Interaction Why do we have to study social interaction? 3. Social interaction shed light on larger institutions and systems

The Study of Social Interaction Social interaction -“Focused” interaction “Direct attendance to what others say or do” -“Unfocused” interaction Mutual awareness of one another’s presence Indirect communication “Encounters”

The Study of Social Interaction “Micro” Sociology -Symbolic interactionism Interaction occurred between human beings through symbols and the interpretation of meanings “Understanding” “Interpretation”

Various forms of Social Interaction - Verbal communication “talk,” “conversation,” “casual verbal exchange” Communication by using language

Various forms of Social Interaction Non-verbal communication -Body language -Gestures -Facial expression etc.

Various forms of Social Interaction Are they “nature” or “nurture”? “Shared understanding” “background experiences” “Unstated cultural assumptions” Gap in definitions of situations Unintentional consequences

The Study of Social Interaction Erving Goffman The “Dramaturgical Approach”

The Study of Social Interaction Erving Goffman’s “Dramaturgical Approach” Forming Impressions of Others Social group memberships -Age -Sex -Race etc. Individual Attributes -Physical appearance -Clothing and Body Adornment Verbal and Non-verbal Expression

The Study of Social Interaction Erving Goffman’s “Dramaturgical Approach” “Impression management” Much social interaction depends on how we wish to impress those who may be watching us. “Front stage (region)” / “Backstage (region)” Adopting roles “Presentation of Self”

The Study of Social Interaction Erving Goffman’s “Dramaturgical Approach” Social life is considered as played out by “actors” on a stage, who are assigned different “roles.” -Social roles -Social positions (statuses); Status set “ascribed” and “achieved”

Erving Goffman Asylums