Chapter 4 Social Interaction in Everyday Life

1. Chapter 4 Social Interaction in Everyday Life

2. Social Interaction • Social interaction is the process by which people act and react in relation to others. • Human beings rely on social structure to make sense of everyday life • Social structure guides human behavior rather than rigidly determining it.

3. Status • Status is a social position that an individual occupies. Most important however is your status set. • Status set consists of all the statuses a person holds at a given time • For example, I am a teacher; I am also a: • Husband • Father

4. Types of Status • Ascribed status is a social position one receives at birth or involuntarily assumes later in life • The Queen of England is an ascribed status • Achieved status is a social position that someone assumes voluntarily and that reflects personal ability and effort • Becoming President of the US is an achieved status • Often, these two types work together; what we are ascribed often helps us achieve other statuses

5. Types of Status • A master status is a status that has special importance for social identity, often shaping a person’s entire life. • A master status is one that overrides all other statuses.

6. Roles • A role consists of behavior expected of someone who holds a particular status. • Role set refers to a number of roles attached to a single status. • For example, the role of mother has several role sets attached to it. Mothers are: • Doctors • Chauffeurs • Appointment keepers • House keepers

7. Role Conflict and Role Strain • Role conflictrefers to conflict among roles corresponding to two or more different statuses. • For example, a police officer that goes home to find their child using drugs. Conflict is being a parent vs. police officer • Role strain refers to incompatibility among roles corresponding to a single status • For example, a teacher that tries to balance concern for students with administrative tasks. Strain is managing the two areas that benefit both the student and administration.

8. Social Construction of Reality • This is the process by which individuals creatively shape reality through social interaction with others. • What people commonly call “street smarts” really amounts to constructing reality. • Ethnomethodology is the study of how people make sense of their social encounters

9. Dramaturgical Analysis: Erving Goffman • This examines social interactions as if individuals were actors on stage • Consists of the “front stage” and “back stage” • Front stage is part of your performance you want people to see • Similar to cleaning your house before company comes over • Back stage is part of your performance you want to hide from others • Similar to when you don’t have a chance to clean house before company comes over

10. The Presentation of Self • Also associated with Goffman, this is the effort of an individual to create specific impressions in the minds of others • Impression management is very important and includes things like dress, props, and manner of acting. • For example, when you go to the doctor, think about what you expect to happen (greeted by staff, doctor enters room wearing white coat, etc.). • The presentation of self is the central focus of the dramaturgical analysis

11. Interaction in Everyday Life: Nonverbal Communication • Nonverbal communication is an important part of the presentation of self • Communication using body movements, gestures, and facial expressions. • Most of it is culture-specific. • Close attention to nonverbal communication is often an effective way of telling whether or not someone is telling the truth. • Body language can contradict verbal communication. • Pay attention to four elements of performance: words, voice, body language, and facial expression.

12. Interaction in Everyday Life: Using Humor • Humor provides a way to express an opinion without being serious; using humor relieves tension in uncomfortable situations. • Humor is a great icebreaker and allows some sensitive topics to be discussed in a non-threatening way. • For everyone, humor deals with topics that lend themselves to double meanings or controversy. • The dynamics of humor: “getting it.” To “get” humor, the audience must understand the two realities involved well enough to appreciate their differences.