Exam 5: Society,Social Structure,and Interaction

Joe is a student,a father,a son,a husband,a Baptist,and a Scout leader.All of these socially defined positions constitute a:

Women are less likely to maintain prolonged eye contact during conversations,but are more likely to stare at other people (especially men) in order to challenge them and assert their own status.

A __________ is a socially defined position in a group or society characterized by certain expectations,rights,and duties; it exists independently of the specific people occupying them.

Compare role distancing and role exit as components of social structure.

Social structure provides us with the ability to develop a self-concept as we learn attitudes,values,and behaviors of the people around us.When these attitudes and values are part of a predictable structure,it is easier for us to develop a positive self-concept.This exemplifies which theoretical perspective?

Social institutions are transformed in __________ societies.The family Diminishes in significance as the economy,education,and political Institutions grow in size and complexity.

Sociologist Harold Garfinkel developed dramaturgy-the study of the commonsense knowledge that people use to understand the situations in which they find themselves.

Wearing a wedding ring,owning a Rolls-Royce,or a homeless person carrying a bulging shopping bag are all examples of:

The __________ theorists do not believe that social institutions work for the common good of everyone in society and are more likely to focus on inequalities that exist in society.

Statuses are distinguished by the manner in which we acquire them.A(n) __________ status is a social position conferred at birth or received involuntarily later in life,based on attributes over which the individual has little or no control,such as race/ethnicity,age,and gender.

Social structure is essential for the survival for society and for the well-being of individuals because it provides a social web of familial support and social relationships that connects each of us to the larger society.What group has lost this vital link?

State the definition for social institution and name the major institutions found in contemporary society.

__________ are relatively egalitarian.Since it is impossible to accumulate a surplus of food,there are few resources upon which individuals or groups can build a power base.

Define nonverbal communication and explain how these concepts relate to our interactions with others.

According to Durkheim,social interaction in preindustrial societies is characterized by face-to-face,intimate,and primary group relationships.This type of interaction is referred to as:

Emile Durkheim argues that homelessness is a "social class phenomenon,the direct result of a steady,across-the-board lowering of the standard of living of the working class and lower class."

Role __________ occurs when people consciously foster the impression of a lack of commitment or attachment to a particular role and merely go through the motions of role performance.

We act on reality as we see it.Sociologists describe this process as the definition of the situation,meaning that we analyze a social context in which we find ourselves,determine what is in our best interest,and adjust our attitudes and actions accordingly.This can result in a self-fulfilling prophecy (a false belief or prediction that produces behavior that makes the originally false belief come true).

A __________ is a highly structured group formed for the purpose of completing certain tasks or achieving specific goals.

In a series of __________,sociologist Harold Garfinkel assigned different activities to his students to see how breaking the unspoken rules of behavior created confusion.