Social Interaction - Microsociology Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of microsociology?

Investigating economic systems

Understanding daily interactions and their meanings (correct)

Studying historical events in society

Analysis of broad societal structures

What concept refers to the unconscious form of avoidance in social interactions?

Focused Interaction

Civil Inattention (correct)

Identity Construction

Social Rituals

What does focused interaction involve?

Awareness of others without direct communication

Non-verbal communication through gestures

Spatial distance maintained in public settings

Direct attention to someone's words or actions (correct)

According to the content, what predominates in safe interactions?

Behavioral safety of participants Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of unfocused interaction?

A public gathering with mutual awareness Signup and view all the answers

How does Erving Goffman's work relate to social interaction?

It emphasizes the subjective experience of ordinary actors Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'Kings’ peace' in interaction?

Granting credit for safe behavior in social encounters Signup and view all the answers

What is phenomenology concerned with in the context of interaction?

Lived experiences and taken-for-granted behaviors Signup and view all the answers

How does audience segregation affect identity presentation?

It protects the impression fostered by individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Situated Activity System?

A singular activity performed jointly in a closed setting. Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is NOT a part of 'Hot Tub Culture' as described?

Engaging in deep personal discussions. Signup and view all the answers

What is primarily formed during early life through socialization?

Primary identity Signup and view all the answers

In encounters, which of the following signifies the suspension of civil inattention?

Tentative eye contact indicating openness. Signup and view all the answers

Which concept refers to the various social roles and statuses that can change over time?

Secondary identity Signup and view all the answers

What role does non-verbal communication play in encounters?

It provides additional context and checks on sincerity. Signup and view all the answers

What term is used to describe the ideal impression of reality people try to convey?

Impression management Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'front regions' refer to in terms of identity and impression management?

Formal roles enacted in public encounters Signup and view all the answers

Norbert Elias viewed facial expressions as:

Highly flexible and primary for conveying emotion. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a secondary identity?

Artist Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario reflects a risk in social encounters?

Presence of unshared definitions leading to avoidance. Signup and view all the answers

What is a possible consequence of failing to segregate identities?

Increased risk of discrediting the fostered self. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following scenarios best describes 'back regions' in impression management?

Preparing for a performance behind the scenes Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of 'giving off expressions' in identity recognition?

To produce an impression on others through specific actions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the relationship between roles and identity?

Roles dictate clothing, props, and behavior linked to character Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the breaching experiments conducted by Harold Garfinkel?

To reveal and analyze the rules of social interaction Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the six emotions identified by Ekman and Friesen in the Facial Action Coding System?

Euphoria Signup and view all the answers

What does Edward Hall's research on distance pertain to?

Different types of personal and social space Signup and view all the answers

What does 'flooding' refer to in the context of social interaction?

An emotional outburst that disrupts primary involvement Signup and view all the answers

How do props influence social interactions according to the content?

They can create artificial distance or barriers Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Body Idiom' refer to in social interactions?

The physical discipline that conveys involvement Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following actions best exemplifies 'feigned ignorance' in social interactions?

Providing general responses to specific inquiries Signup and view all the answers

In the context of social interaction, what is generally expected to maintain a smooth flow of conversation?

Unquestioned adherence to social norms Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Social interaction is the everyday, routine interactions that frame and give meaning to lives.
Studying daily life interactions reveals how people creatively shape social reality, constructing it moment by moment.
Daily interactions show how patterns align with social structures, reproducing and producing order.
This includes creativity in highly ritualized settings.
Sociology views ordinary actors as both subjective and structured.

Types of Interaction

Erving Goffman (1922-1982), Chicago School:
- Phenomenology: Study of lived experience, focusing on how people experience and interpret interactions. Emphasizes the taken-for-granted aspects of interaction.
- Unfocused interaction: Mutual awareness of presence in public spaces. Characterized by constant non-verbal communication (posture, facial expressions).
- Civil inattention: Unconscious avoidance that involves recognizing someone without intruding.
Focused interaction: Direct attention to others' words or actions. A defining example is an encounter.
Interactions include a protective/defensive disposition, a desire to avoid embarrassment, and portraying oneself as a safe interactant.
"King's peace" concept: granting credit to others who behave safely, prioritizing safe interaction over content.

Identity

Identity distinguishes what's common and different between people and groups (collectives).
Identities are discovered, not invented.
Collective identities share similarities (e.g., class, ethnicity).
Individual identities are unique (e.g., unusual given names vs. family names).
Individuals can hold multiple roles and identities (e.g., daughter, student, artist).
Primary identities form early in life through primary socialization (e.g., ethnicity, gender).
Secondary identities are associated with social roles and achieved statuses (e.g., occupation, character) and are more fluid.

The Self

The self is shaped through interactions, roles, and the expectations of a social position.
Dramaturgy: Social interactions resemble roles in a play, with defined expectations and social positions.
Impression management: Fostering a specific image of self through performance.

Impression Management

People use expressions, words, and body cues to create a desired impression.
Others use expressions to assess and validate personal identity.
Front regions are settings where people act out their roles.
Back regions are where people make preparations and conceal from the audience.
Different behaviors and dress styles are employed to create impressions in different environments.

Situated Activity Systems

A singular activity system, where multiple identities and contexts connect in a closed system.
Identities align with rules of different settings. Audience segregation can isolate interactions and protect intended impressions.
Examples like 'Hot Tub Culture' illustrate unique disciplinary and spatial rules that define acceptable behaviour.

The Encounter

Defining the situation creates a shared understanding that enables cooperation.
People bring and collect information (markers) to encounters.
A shared definition of the situation leads to safe, expected interactions.

Non-verbal Communication

Non-verbal communication (facial expressions, gestures, body language) exchange information and meaning.
Non-verbal signals (expressions of sincerity) and visual cues are part of conveying a message in encounters.
Non-verbal cues help establish and sustain communication.

The Face and Encounters

The "face" can convey contradictory feelings, and this can cause concerns with sincerity.
Facial expressions are important for conveying emotions, and this can be influenced by a person's social setting and personal experience.
This includes Ekman and Friesen's Facial Action Coding System (FACS). FACS has been shown to identify a set of six universal emotions based on facial expressions.

Breaching the Order

Ethnomethodological research challenges taken-for-granted assumptions of interactions.
Researchers designed experiments that disrupted social rituals and orders.
Practices such as feigned ignorance or insisting on specificity can breach the existing order and highlight its importance.
This highlights the importance and inherent rules of interactions, conventions of talk, distance, and involvement for successful encounters.

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Description

Test your understanding of social interactions and microsociology concepts. This quiz explores daily life interactions and how they shape social reality, drawing on Erving Goffman’s theories. Challenge yourself on the nature of focused and unfocused interactions in public spaces.