Sociology 1 . Professor Vu . Winter Jan 18, 2012 . Lecture . Chp 4 . 1
I.
The Macrosociological Perspective a.
Groups: consciously and regularly interacting with one another. i.
They share the same values, norms, behaviors, etc. ii.
You relinquish part of your control to the social group. The amount of control you relinquish depends on how closely linked you are to the group.
II.
Social Institutions a.
Societies way of meeting basic needs. b.
Sociological significance of social institutions. i.
They set limits and provide guidelines for peoples behaviors. c.
Ten Social Institutions in Industrialized Societies. i.
Family, Religion, Education, Economy, Medicine, Politics, Law,
Science, Military, Mass Media ii.
Depending on the type of society, the social institutions that are necessary for its existence will change.
1.
A hunting-and-gathering society will only need the most basic social institution such as the Family.
2.
A more complex and larger society begins to take on additional social institutions. iii.
Family: regulate reproduction, socialize and protect children iv.
Religion: Concerns about life after death, the meaning of suffering and loss; desire to connect with the Creator. v.
Education: Transmit knowledge and skills across generations. vi.
Economy: Produce and distribute goods and services. vii.
Medicine: Heal the sick and injured, care for the dying. viii.
Politics: Allocate power, determine authority and prevent chaos. ix.
Law: Maintain social order and enforce norms. x.
Science: Master the environment. xi.
Military: Protection from enemies, enforce national interests. xii.
Mass Media: Disseminate information, report events and mold public opinion.
III.
Mass Media a.
Influences are attitudes to social institutions, towards other people and towards ourselves.

Sociology 1 . Professor Vu . Winter Jan 18, 2012 . Lecture . Chp 4 . 2 b.
Functionalists believe that the mass media is comprised of the many groups that represent the national public. c.
Conflict Theorists believe that the mass media is comprised of a particular group of power and political elite that use the mass media to influence, maintain and grow their own profits.
IV.
Functionalist Perspective on Social Institutions a.
An established way of meeting societies needs. i.
Replacing members ii.
Socializing New Members iii.
Producing and Distributing Goods and Services iv.
Preserving Order v.
Providing a Sense of Purpose.
1.
So that individuals will be willing to sacrifice personal interest for the good of the many.
V.
Conflict Theorist’s Perspective on Social Institutions a.
View S.I.’s as a primary means by which the power elite will maintain their own power. i.
Powerful groups control social institutions ii.
Small groups garner the Lion’s Share of Wealth. iii.
Social Institutions affect gender relations and restrict who will have access to particular resources. iv.
Main purpose is to preserve social order.
VI.
Changes in Social Order a.
What holds society together? i.
Mechanical and Organic Solidarity.
1.
Mechanical: the collective consciousness that people experience as a result of performing the same or similar tasks. (Such as Farmers, who rise and sleep at the same time, harvest and plant their crops at the same time, and because of such behavior they share the same way of seeing life.).
2.
Organic: Collective consciousness based on the interdependence brought about by an increasingly specialized division of labor. ii.
Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft.

Sociology 1 . Professor Vu . Winter Jan 18, 2012 . Lecture . Chp 4 .
1.
How intimate communities are being replaced by more impersonal communities.
2.
Gemeinschaft: society where life is intimate. A community where everyone knows everyone else and people share a sense of togetherness.
3.
Gesellschaft: a society that is dominated by impersonal relationships, individual accomplishments and self interest. b.
How Relevant Today? i.
It helps us understand the nature of contemporary events.
This gives us a different perspective on why people are doing the things that they do and try to change it in a constructive way instead of simply trying to force a change or conformity.
VII.
Microsociological Perspective: Social Interaction on Everyday Life a.
Is performed by Symbolic Interactionists. b.
Examines face-to-face interactions. c.
Symbolic Interaction i.
Symbols People use ii.
How people look at things iii.
How it affects behavior and Orientations to Life d.
Stereotypes: are used by everyone i.
Assumptions about what people are like. ii.
Classify others by visible characteristics. iii.
Ideas about characteristics guide our behavior. iv.
Stereotypes can also be self-fulfilling as they will guide you to behave or perceive someone in a particular way and they in turn, act according to your stereotype.
1.
We see features of the person, or hear things about the person.
2.
We will fit what we see or hear into stereotypes, and then expect the person to act in certain ways.
3.
How we expect the person to act shapes our attitudes and actions.
4.
From how we act, the person gets ideas of how we perceive him or her.
3

Sociology 1 . Professor Vu . Winter Jan 18, 2012 . Lecture . Chp 4 . 4
5.
The behaviors of the person change to match our expectations, thus confirming the stereotype. e.
Personal Space i.
Intimate Distance: 18 Inches or less, reserved for wrestling, comforting, sex ii.
Personal Distance: 18in-4ft, reserved to friends or acquaintances. iii.
Social Distance: 4ft-12ft, reserved for impersonal or formal relationships iv.
Public Distance: 12ft or more, reserved for speaker and audience f.
Touching g.
Eye contact: direct eye contact is seen as positive h.
Smiling: is seen as positive i.
Applied Body Language:
VIII.
Goffman and Dramaturgy: The Presentation of the Self in Everyday Life a.
Dramaturgy: social life is analyzed in terms of drama on a stage b.
Front and Back Stage i.
The front stage is where the performance is given and the back stage is where people will rest for the performances, discuss their presentations and plan for a future performances. c.
Role Performance: the particular interpretation or style that an individual gives a role. d.
Impression Management: how we design our impression, celebrities, politicians. e.
Role Strain Between and Within Roles, if you occupy two roles that contradict how you will act. If you are seen as a good son but are going to a party with your friends and you run into your parents. f.
Sign Vehicles i.
Social Setting: Where the action unfolds and includes the furnishings within the location. ii.
Appearance: How and individual looks when they perform their role, including the props they wear during the performance.

Sociology 1 . Professor Vu . Winter Jan 18, 2012 . Lecture . Chp 4 . 5 iii.
Manner: Attitudes and behaviors one exhibits during the performance. g.
Teamwork and Face Saving Behavior: when two or more players work together to make sure a performance goes off as planned. i.
Laughing at your boss’s joke even if you don’t find it funny. h.
We become the roles that way play: the military, police-work, priest.
Leaving such roles threatens your identity. i.
Applying Impression Management: Politicians, celebrities, etc.
IX.
Ethnomethodology: Uncovering Background Assumptions. a.
The study of how people do things: The basic assumptions or
“commonsense” we apply as the background for why people act as they do. b.
Harold Garfinkle’s Experiments: i.
Had his students break basic assumptions of personal space, behavior
X.
Social Construction of Reality a.
Definition of the Situation i.
If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences. ii.
If we do not define what is real as the objective reality vs a subjective interpretation. iii.
Gynecological Examinations: The sexual aspect of getting naked a having a vaginal exam, the room and the procedure was reconstructed in a way that was nonsexual.
XI.
Need for Macroociology and Microsociology a.
Understanding is incomplete without understanding social structure
(macro) and social behavior (micro) because both add to our knowledge of human experience. b.
Consider the Example of Groups studied by William Chambliss.