SOC 111 Flashcards: Role Theory Concepts

Questions and Answers

Define: Master status

One status/role which overrides or overpowers your other roles.

Define: Gender Roles

Sets of behavioral norms assumed to accompany one's status as male or female.

Define: Role Conflict

Tension caused by the competing demands of two or more roles pertaining to different statuses.

Define: Status set

All of the statuses that one holds simultaneously. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between an ascribed status and an achieved status? Give an example for each.

An ascribed status is born into or involuntarily assigned (e.g., race); an achieved status is acquired based on actions (e.g., doctor). Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between role strain and role conflict?

Role strain is when a single status has many roles that can be difficult to manage, while role conflict involves competing roles from different statuses. Signup and view all the answers

In Role Theory, what is the example of Johnny not performing well on his midterm due to a basketball game?

Role Conflict. Signup and view all the answers

What is a total institution? Give an example.

An institution that controls all aspects of daily life, such as boot camp. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between resocialization and adult socialization?

Adult socialization is ongoing learning to fit into a changing environment, while resocialization is a drastic reengineering of social values and norms. Signup and view all the answers

Name four agents of socialization.

Media, Peers, School, Family. Signup and view all the answers

What is the generalized other?

An internalized sense of all the social expectations learned to interact with strangers appropriately. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between I, me, and self?

Self is your identity as perceived by you; I is one's sense of agency; Me is your identity as you think others see you. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Concepts in Role Theory

Master Status: A primary role that significantly influences an individual's identity and behaviors, overshadowing other statuses they may hold.
Gender Roles: Behavioral expectations linked to being male or female, guiding actions and societal perceptions.
Role Conflict: This arises when an individual faces challenges due to competing roles across different statuses, such as balancing responsibilities as a student and an athlete.
Status Set: The collection of all statuses that an individual possesses at any given time, which can influence interactions and social identity.

Types of Status

Ascribed Status: A social position assigned at birth or involuntarily acquired, examples include race, age, and sex.
Achieved Status: A social position attained through individual effort and choices, such as being a doctor or an athlete.

Role Dynamics

Role Strain: The stress experienced when an individual struggles to fulfill multiple roles associated with a single status, leading to difficulties in management.
Role Conflict vs. Role Strain: Role conflict involves competing roles from different statuses (e.g., being a mother and a teacher), while role strain pertains to managing various roles stemming from one single status.

Total Institutions

Total Institution: Environments where individuals are fully immersed, and all aspects of their daily lives are controlled, such as military boot camps or rehabilitation centers.

Socialization Processes

Resocialization: An intensive process that alters an individual’s social values and norms, often seen in transformative settings like prisons or during immigration.
Adult Socialization: Ongoing adjustment to new social environments and responsibilities, such as starting a new job or transitioning to different life stages.

Agents of Socialization

Four Key Agents: Media, peers, schools, and family play crucial roles in shaping an individual’s social identity and norms.

Generalized Other

Generalized Other: The internalized understanding of societal expectations that guides interactions with unfamiliar individuals.

Self, I, and Me

Self: The personal identity perceived by oneself.
I: Represents an individual’s sense of agency and capacity for action.
Me: Reflects how an individual believes they are perceived by others, indicative of social perspectives.

Description

Explore fundamental concepts in Role Theory with these flashcards from SOC 111. Learn about master status, gender roles, and role conflict, and how these ideas shape social interactions. Perfect for exam preparation or reinforcing your understanding of sociological terms.