1. Social Interaction In Everyday Life
The process by which people act and react in relation to others
Sociology 2112

2. Social Interaction The symbolic interaction paradigm
Humans rely on social structure to make sense out of everyday situations.
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

3. Status A social position that a person holds Status set
All the statuses held at one time
Dance partner
Boss
Friend
Harley club member
Sports participant
Businessman
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

4. Type of Status Ascribed: Involuntary positions
Achieved: Voluntary positions
Often the two types work together. What we’re ascribed often helps us achieve other statuses.
Master status: Has special importance for social identity, often shaping a person’s entire life.
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

5. The behavior expected of someone who holds a particular status
Role
The behavior expected of someone who holds a particular status
Role set
A number of roles attached to a single status
Example: status of mother
Disciplinarian
Sports authority
Dietitian
Dr. Mom
Pretty mom
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

6. Role Conflict and Role Strain
Involves two or more statuses
Example: Conflict between role expectations of a police officer who catches her own son using drugs at home–mother and police officer
Role strain
Involves a single status
Example: Manager who tries to balance concern for workers with task requirements–office manager
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

7. Role Exit Role exit: Becoming an “ex” The process of becoming an “ex”
Disengaging from social roles can be very traumatic without proper preparation.
The process of becoming an “ex”
Doubts form about ability to continue with a certain role.
Examination of new roles leads to a turning point at which time one decides to pursue a new direction.
Learning new expectations associated with new role.
Past role might influence new self.
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

8. The Social Construction of Reality
The process by which people creatively shape reality through social interaction.
“Street smarts”
The Thomas theorem
Situations that are defined as real are real in their consequences
Ethnomethodology
The study of the way people make sense of their everyday surroundings
Explores the process of making sense of social encounters
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

9. Reality Building: Class and Culture
How we act or what we see in our surroundings depends on our interests.
Social background also affects what we see.
People build reality from the surrounding culture.
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

10. Goffman’s Dramaturgical Analysis
Examining social interaction in terms of theatrical performances
Presentation of self or impression management
Efforts to create specific impressions in the minds of others.
Role performance includes
Stage setting
Use of props: costume, tone of voice, gesture
Example: Going to the doctor and playing the expected patient role.
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

11. Nonverbal Communication Communication using body movements, gestures, and facial expressions rather than speech
Words
Voice
Body language
Facial expressions
Deameanor
Personal space
Goffman and idealization: We try to convince others that what we do reflects ideal cultural standards rather than selfish motives.
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

12. Gender and Performances
Gender is a central element in personal performances.
Demeanor
The way we act and carry ourselves
Use of space
Power plays a key role.
Staring, smiling, touching
Eye contact encourages interaction.
Smiling: Trying to please or submission?
Touching: Intimacy and caring
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

13. Idealization We construct performances to idealize our intentions.
Professionals typically idealize their motives for entering their chosen careers.
We all use idealization to some degree.
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

14. Embarrassment and Tact
Embarrassment: Discomfort following a spoiled performance.
Goffman: Embarrassment is "losing face."
Tact is helping someone "save face."
An audience often overlooks flaws in a performance, allowing the actor to avoid embarrassment.
Goffman: Although behavior is often spontaneous, it is more patterned than we think.
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

15. Emotions: The Social Construction of Feeling
The biological side of emotions
Ekman: Some emotional responses are “wired” into humans.
The cultural side of emotions
Ekman: Culture defines what triggers an emotion.
Emotions on the job
Hochschild: The typical company tries to regulate not only its employees’ behavior, but also their emotions.
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

16. Gender and Language Power and Value Female pronouns and ownership
Language communicates not only surface reality, but also deeper levels of meaning.
Power and Value
Female pronouns and ownership
Women often adopt the husband’s surname.
Traditionally feminine terms are more likely to change to negative meanings than masculine terms.
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

17. Humor Humor is unconventional. It’s a violation of cultural norms.
Humor is tied to a common culture and doesn’t translate easily.
“Not getting it” means a person doesn’t understand a joke’s conventional and unconventional realities.
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

18. Humor
Humor acts as a safety valve by expressing opinions on a sensitive topic.
Humor and conflict
“Put down” with jokes about race, sex, gender, and the disabled
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

19. Civil inattention
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis
Copyright  2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.