Question 1

Give two reasons why the metaphor of drama helps to explain Goffman's understanding of social life.

Accepted Answer

The metaphor of drama helps to explain Goffman's understanding of social life for two main reasons.

First, Goffman believed that individuals in social interactions are constantly performing and presenting themselves to others, much like actors on a stage. Just as actors use costumes, props, and gestures to convey a certain image to the audience, individuals in social situations use body language, facial expressions, and verbal cues to convey a particular identity or impression to those around them. This idea of "impression management" is central to Goffman's understanding of social life and is reflected in the metaphor of drama.

Second, the metaphor of drama also highlights the idea that social interactions are highly structured and scripted, with individuals following certain "rules" or "scripts" for how to behave in different situations. Just as actors follow a script and adhere to certain conventions of performance, individuals in social interactions adhere to social norms, expectations, and roles in order to navigate and make sense of their interactions with others. This concept of social life as a scripted performance is central to Goffman's work and is effectively captured by the metaphor of drama.

Question 2

The "Me" is:

Accepted Answer

A)  The same as the self 
B)  The individual acting subject 
C)  The individual's internalized attitudes of others toward him/her 
D)  A selfish individual 
A)  The same as the self 
B)  The individual acting subject 
C)  The individual's internalized attitudes of others toward him/her 
D)  A selfish individual C

Question 3

In social interaction, meaning is established as a result of:

Accepted Answer

A)  Shared interpretations of symbols, gestures, and language 
B)  Symbols whose meanings inhere in the symbol itself 
C)  Guessing what a particular individual's gestures mean 
D)  None of the above 
A)  Shared interpretations of symbols, gestures, and language 
B)  Symbols whose meanings inhere in the symbol itself 
C)  Guessing what a particular individual's gestures mean 
D)  None of the above A

Question 4

The "I" is:

Accepted Answer

A)  The same as the self 
B)  The individual acting subject 
C)  The individual's internalized attitudes of others 
D)  A self-oriented individual 
A)  The same as the self 
B)  The individual acting subject 
C)  The individual's internalized attitudes of others 
D)  A self-oriented individual

Question 5

When Kate Middleton, the daughter of English middle-class parents who have no royal blood or ancestry, stepped out for the first time on the day of her wedding with Prince William (April 29, 2011), dressed in a simple but elegant wedding dress and wearing a diamond-studded tiara (loaned to her by Queen Elizabeth, her then-future/now-current grandmother-in-law), fashion critics and cultural commentators roundly agreed that she looked beautiful, and regal rather than a commoner. Discuss the specific concepts from Goffman that help make sense of this public role/status transition/performance, making sure to discuss and apply/evaluate concepts of role performance, definition of the situation, passing, audience(s), impression management, etc.

Accepted Answer

Kate Middleton's public role/status tran

Question 6

In today's digitalized society, a lot of work-related communication, personal socializing, shopping, and other information and service transactions are now conducted online and in the absence of face-to-face interaction. How would you go about researching internet communication from an SI perspective? Would it make sense to identify the varied personas and styles of self-presentation that individuals adopt in email conversations, blogs, and chat-rooms? Explain why/why not. How does internet role performance differ and overlap with the conventional rules apparent in face-to-face interaction? Does your self-presentation differ in different internet settings? And, to what extent do your various self-presentation strategies/performances differ from your face-to-face interactions? How do you establish trust in the absence of face-to-face interaction?
D

Accepted Answer

Researching internet communication from

Question 7

Cooley's metaphor of the "looking-glass self" captures the:

Accepted Answer

A)  Ongoing interaction of the "I" and the "Me" 
B)  The increased surveillance of the self in modern society 
C)  The idea that we are always subjects and objects to ourselves 
D)  A and C 
A)  Ongoing interaction of the "I" and the "Me" 
B)  The increased surveillance of the self in modern society 
C)  The idea that we are always subjects and objects to ourselves 
D)  A and C

Question 8

Socialization is extremely important because it:

Accepted Answer

A)  Teaches us how to relate to others in society 
B)  Teaches us how to use symbols and language 
C)  Is the means of our individualization in society 
D)  All of the above 
A)  Teaches us how to relate to others in society 
B)  Teaches us how to use symbols and language 
C)  Is the means of our individualization in society 
D)  All of the above

Question 9

Symbolic interactionism's focus on face-to-face interaction has been highly influential in stimulating:

Accepted Answer

A)  Survey research 
B)  Personality research 
C)  Observation-based research 
D)  Historical analysis 
A)  Survey research 
B)  Personality research 
C)  Observation-based research 
D)  Historical analysis

Question 10

Role performance "back-stage" work typically occurs in:

Accepted Answer

A)  The Oval Office 
B)  The classroom 
C)  The doctor's office 
D)  The restaurant kitchen 
A)  The Oval Office 
B)  The classroom 
C)  The doctor's office 
D)  The restaurant kitchen

Question 11

Identify two examples of a total institution, and discuss one reason why they can be so categorized.

Accepted Answer

Two examples of a total institution are

Question 12

Where does stigma come from, and what does it do?

Accepted Answer

Stigma originates from social, cultural,

Question 13

Symbolic interactionism highlights the:

Accepted Answer

A)  Importance of a manipulative personality 
B)  Passivity of individuals 
C)  Reciprocity that underpins social interaction 
D)  Weakness of social norms 
A)  Importance of a manipulative personality 
B)  Passivity of individuals 
C)  Reciprocity that underpins social interaction 
D)  Weakness of social norms

Question 14

The processes involved in symbolic interaction reflect and reinforce:

Accepted Answer

A)  The spontaneity of interpersonal relations 
B)  Social order 
C)  The distinctiveness of public interaction 
D)  The irrelevance of social inequality in interpersonal relations 
A)  The spontaneity of interpersonal relations 
B)  Social order 
C)  The distinctiveness of public interaction 
D)  The irrelevance of social inequality in interpersonal relations

Question 15

According to Goffman, social role behavior is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Spontaneous 
B)  Unexpected 
C)  Socially scripted 
D)  Self-oriented 
A)  Spontaneous 
B)  Unexpected 
C)  Socially scripted 
D)  Self-oriented

Question 16

For Goffman, interaction rituals are

Accepted Answer

A)  Ways of affirming the importance of social ties 
B)  Simplified ways of communicating a particular social status 
C)  Ways of behaving in public only 
D)  Ways of behaving at home only 
A)  Ways of affirming the importance of social ties 
B)  Simplified ways of communicating a particular social status 
C)  Ways of behaving in public only 
D)  Ways of behaving at home only

Question 17

Situational definitions or reality frames are strategies used by:

Accepted Answer

A)  Individuals 
B)  Social movements 
C)  Institutions 
D)  All of the above 
A)  Individuals 
B)  Social movements 
C)  Institutions 
D)  All of the above

Question 18

Symbolic interaction focuses on:

Accepted Answer

A)  Organizational structures 
B)  Face-to-face interaction 
C)  Verbal communication only 
D)  Non-verbal communication only 
A)  Organizational structures 
B)  Face-to-face interaction 
C)  Verbal communication only 
D)  Non-verbal communication only

Question 19

Total institutions are settings in which:

Accepted Answer

A)  The barriers between "front-stag" and "back-stage" regions are removed 
B)  There are no audiences 
C)  Social roles are loosely defined 
D)  Audiences are segregated 
A)  The barriers between "front-stag" and "back-stage" regions are removed 
B)  There are no audiences 
C)  Social roles are loosely defined 
D)  Audiences are segregated

Question 20

To what does the "generalized other" refer?

Accepted Answer

The term "generalized other" refers to a

Give two reasons why the metaphor of drama helps to explain Goffman's understanding of social life.

The "Me" is:

In social interaction, meaning is established as a result of:

The "I" is:

Cooley's metaphor of the "looking-glass self" captures the:

Socialization is extremely important because it:

Symbolic interactionism's focus on face-to-face interaction has been highly influential in stimulating:

Role performance "back-stage" work typically occurs in:

Identify two examples of a total institution, and discuss one reason why they can be so categorized.

Where does stigma come from, and what does it do?

Symbolic interactionism highlights the:

The processes involved in symbolic interaction reflect and reinforce:

According to Goffman, social role behavior is:

For Goffman, interaction rituals are

Situational definitions or reality frames are strategies used by:

Symbolic interaction focuses on:

Total institutions are settings in which:

To what does the "generalized other" refer?

Karl Marx (1818–1883)

Emile Durkheim (1858–1917)

Max Weber (1864–1920)

American Classics: The Chicago School, Talcott Parsons, and Robert Merton

Critical Theory: Technology, Culture, and Politics

Conflict, Power, and Dependency in Macro-Societal Processes

Exchange, Exchange Network, and Rational Choice Theories

Phenomenology and Ethnomethodology

Feminist Theories

Michel Foucault: Theorizing Sexuality, the Body, and Power

Postcolonial Theory and Race

The Social Reproduction of Inequality: Pierre Bourdieus Theory of Class and Culture

Economic and Political Globalization

Modernities, Cosmopolitanism, and Global Consumer Culture

Filters

Exam 8: Symbolic Interactionism

Give two reasons why the metaphor of drama helps to explain Goffman's understanding of social life.

The "Me" is:

In social interaction, meaning is established as a result of:

The "I" is:

Cooley's metaphor of the "looking-glass self" captures the:

Socialization is extremely important because it:

Symbolic interactionism's focus on face-to-face interaction has been highly influential in stimulating:

Role performance "back-stage" work typically occurs in:

Identify two examples of a total institution, and discuss one reason why they can be so categorized.

Where does stigma come from, and what does it do?

Symbolic interactionism highlights the:

The processes involved in symbolic interaction reflect and reinforce:

According to Goffman, social role behavior is:

For Goffman, interaction rituals are

Situational definitions or reality frames are strategies used by:

Symbolic interaction focuses on:

Total institutions are settings in which:

To what does the "generalized other" refer?

Karl Marx (1818–1883)

Emile Durkheim (1858–1917)

Max Weber (1864–1920)

American Classics: The Chicago School, Talcott Parsons, and Robert Merton

Critical Theory: Technology, Culture, and Politics

Conflict, Power, and Dependency in Macro-Societal Processes

Exchange, Exchange Network, and Rational Choice Theories

Phenomenology and Ethnomethodology

Feminist Theories

Michel Foucault: Theorizing Sexuality, the Body, and Power

Postcolonial Theory and Race

The Social Reproduction of Inequality: Pierre Bourdieus Theory of Class and Culture

Economic and Political Globalization

Modernities, Cosmopolitanism, and Global Consumer Culture

Filters