Social InteractionSocial Interaction

Chapter 5Chapter 5

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Understand why it is important to understand social Understand why it is important to understand social interaction.interaction.

Know what the major types of social interaction are.Know what the major types of social interaction are. Understand the concept of role.Understand the concept of role. Explain the role norms play in social interaction.Explain the role norms play in social interaction. Describe the main features of statuses.Describe the main features of statuses. Understand how the context of a situation influences Understand how the context of a situation influences

social interaction.social interaction. Know the difference between role strain and role conflict.Know the difference between role strain and role conflict. Describe the role collective behavior plays in social Describe the role collective behavior plays in social

interaction.interaction.

Understanding Social InteractionUnderstanding Social Interaction

ContextContext

NormsNorms

EthnomethodologyEthnomethodology

DramaturgyDramaturgy

ContextsContexts

Three ElementsThree Elements

Physical setting or placePhysical setting or place Social environmentSocial environment Activities surrounding the interactionActivities surrounding the interaction

Preceding, during, and followingPreceding, during, and following

NormsNorms

Specific rules of behavior, agreed Specific rules of behavior, agreed upon and shared, that prescribe limits upon and shared, that prescribe limits of acceptable behavior.of acceptable behavior. Contribute to predictability of social Contribute to predictability of social

behaviorbehavior The behaviors we most commonly The behaviors we most commonly

expect to encounterexpect to encounter

EthnomethodologyEthnomethodology

The study of the sets of rules or The study of the sets of rules or guidelines that individuals use to guidelines that individuals use to initiate behavior, respond to behavior, initiate behavior, respond to behavior, and modify behavior in social settingsand modify behavior in social settings Raises awareness of subtle devices Raises awareness of subtle devices

used to create realities to which we used to create realities to which we respondrespond

DramaturgyDramaturgy

People play roles to create an impressionPeople play roles to create an impression Role performance is judged by others who are Role performance is judged by others who are

alert to any slips that might reveal the actor’s alert to any slips that might reveal the actor’s true charactertrue character

Perceive interactions as governed by Perceive interactions as governed by planned behaviorplanned behavior Enables an individual to present a particular Enables an individual to present a particular

image to othersimage to others

Types of Social InteractionTypes of Social Interaction

CooperationCooperation ExchangeExchange

Nonverbal Nonverbal BehaviorBehavior

ConflictConflict CompetitionCompetition

Nonverbal BehaviorNonverbal Behavior

Interaction without WordsInteraction without Wordsviavia

Gestures and Movements Gestures and Movements

Waving Hand YawnWaving Hand Yawn

ExchangeExchange

Doing something for each other with Doing something for each other with the express purpose of receiving a the express purpose of receiving a reward or return is an exchange reward or return is an exchange interactioninteraction May beMay be

• MaterialMaterial• Emotional or psychologicalEmotional or psychological

CooperationCooperation

People acting together to promote People acting together to promote common interests or achieve shared common interests or achieve shared goals. goals. Athletic teamsAthletic teams Family membersFamily members Student study groupsStudent study groups

ConflictConflict

Conflict arises between groups when:Conflict arises between groups when: Values are incompatibleValues are incompatible Rewards or resources are limited Rewards or resources are limited

Conflict generally involves attempting to Conflict generally involves attempting to gain or use powergain or use power

CompetitionCompetition

A form of conflict enacted within agreed-A form of conflict enacted within agreed-upon rulesupon rules

• Political conflict / electionsPolitical conflict / elections• Domestic conflict Domestic conflict

Elements of Social InteractionElements of Social Interaction

StatusesStatuses

RolesRoles

Role SetsRole Sets

Role ConflictRole Conflict

StatusesStatuses

Socially defined positions that people Socially defined positions that people occupyoccupy Simultaneous, multiple statuses are common. Simultaneous, multiple statuses are common.

• SonSon• StudentStudent• EmployeeEmployee• SpouseSpouse

May be May be ascribedascribed or or achievedachieved

Master StatusMaster Status

Dominant over other components of statusDominant over other components of status

Ascribed StatusAscribed Status

Conferred upon us through birth or other Conferred upon us through birth or other significant factors beyond our control and significant factors beyond our control and without intent without intent

• Birth orderBirth order• SexSex• Racial identityRacial identity

Achieved StatusAchieved Status

Result of the individual’s choices or Result of the individual’s choices or actionsactions

StudentStudent ProfessorProfessor Garage mechanicGarage mechanic ParentParent SpouseSpouse

RolesRoles

Bring statuses to life through culturally Bring statuses to life through culturally defined rules for proper status performance defined rules for proper status performance and behaviorand behavior

• Are associated with every statusAre associated with every status• May be multiple roles per status May be multiple roles per status

Role SetsRole Sets

Collective of all the roles attached to a Collective of all the roles attached to a single statussingle status Performance of specific role dependent on:Performance of specific role dependent on:

• Status of other personStatus of other person• Social setting and circumstancesSocial setting and circumstances• Rights and obligations associated with statusesRights and obligations associated with statuses

Role StrainRole Strain

Single role involvesSingle role involves Conflicting demandsConflicting demands Conflicting expectationsConflicting expectations

• Performer of role experiences strain in balancing Performer of role experiences strain in balancing demands and expectationsdemands and expectations

• Ex.: A teacher might feel overwhelmed by the Ex.: A teacher might feel overwhelmed by the demands of the school board and the needs of his demands of the school board and the needs of his students.students.

Role ConflictRole Conflict

One individual occupies multiple statuses One individual occupies multiple statuses simultaneouslysimultaneously Unable to enact the roles of one status Unable to enact the roles of one status

without violating those of another statuswithout violating those of another status Ex.: A mother who works as an office Ex.: A mother who works as an office

manager, volunteers at the SPCA, manager, volunteers at the SPCA, participates in church activities, and cares for participates in church activities, and cares for her elderly father.her elderly father.

Role PlayingRole Playing

Profound influence onProfound influence on AttitudesAttitudes Behaviors Behaviors

Transformative potentialTransformative potential ActionsActions Perception of selfPerception of self

Collective BehaviorCollective Behavior

Spontaneous social actionsSpontaneous social actions Response to Response to

• Unstructured situationsUnstructured situations• Ambiguous situationsAmbiguous situations

Potential of powerful social response and Potential of powerful social response and exchangeexchange

Collective Behavior at PlayCollective Behavior at Playin Societyin Society

Fads – social changesFads – social changes Short life, abrupt rise and fallShort life, abrupt rise and fall

Fashions – standards of dress or mannersFashions – standards of dress or manners Longer life, slower evolutionLonger life, slower evolution

Rumors – ambiguity in truth and meaningRumors – ambiguity in truth and meaning Face-to-face or media sharingFace-to-face or media sharing

Public Opinion – shared belief about Public Opinion – shared belief about common problem, interest, or activitycommon problem, interest, or activity Strongly held and possibly divisiveStrongly held and possibly divisive Influenced byInfluenced by

• Propaganda / advertisingPropaganda / advertising• Leaders and leadershipLeaders and leadership

Mass Hysteria and PanicMass Hysteria and Panic Hysteria – overwhelming emotion and activityHysteria – overwhelming emotion and activity Panic – uncoordinated group flight from Panic – uncoordinated group flight from

perceived dangerperceived danger