“Groups & Interaction Unit”
Social Interaction
In Everyday Life
Journal Entry
 Which one of the sociologist did you most
agree with for the development of YOU!
 Which one of the sociologist did you most
disagree with for the development of YOU!
 Be sure to answer WHY!!!
Social Interaction
 Social interaction –
the process where
people act and react
in reaction to others.
–Through
interaction, we
create the reality in
which we live.
STATUS
 Status – a social
position that an
individual
occupies.
 Every status is
part of our social
identity.
Mother
Teacher
Wife
STATUS SET
A status set – all of the statuses a
person holds at a given time.
Change over life course
Ascribed status
Ascribed status – a
social position a person
receives at birth or gets
involuntarily.
–No choice
 Ascribed Statuses:
– Race
– Gender
– Family Makeup
Achieved status
Achieved status – a
social position a person
assumes voluntarily that
reflects personal ability.
You Choose
Master Status
 Some statuses matter more
than others.
Master status – a status
that has special
importance for social
identity.
Thoughts to ponder… 
 Think about all of the “statuses” you have
– What are your ascribed?
– What are your achieved?
 What would you consider to be your “master
status”
 What things do you have to do to maintain
your statuses?
Organizing…
 Every status a person possesses has a
role…
Role
Role – behavior expected of
someone who holds a
particular status.
Role set – a number of
roles attached to a single
status.
Figure 6-1
Status Set and Role Set
Role conflict
 Role conflict –
conflict between roles
of two or more
statuses.
–being pulled in
several different
directions
Role strain
 Role strain – tension
between roles
connected to a single
status.
–performing various
roles feels like a
“balancing act.”
Question…
 Identify situations in your life when you have
experienced role strain and role conflict
 How do you reduce these situations?
Your Activity
 Part 1- Status and Roles in Your life
 Part 2- The Development of Self in Your life
– Read the section in the directions, I promise it
will help you complete the assignment
 *Working alone complete both sides of the
paper 
INTERACTION IN SOCIETY…
LOCKE- TABULA RASA “BLANK SLATE”
• Humans are born w/o personality traits and talents
• We get our personal characteristics as we experience stuff
• A person can be shaped/molded in anyway
• What problems does this theory have?
COOLEY- LOOKING GLASS SELF
• We show our self to others, and then
wait to see their reaction (like looking
in a mirror) to decide who we are
• 3 step process
• 1- Imagine how we appear to
others
• 2- se our “self” in the mirrorothers reactions
• 3- decide who we are- judge
ourselves
• Example: a class clown
MEAD: ROLE TAKING
• Individuals see themselves as
others see them
• THEN take on that ROLE
• Become others “version” of
our selves
• We act how others expect
us to
• Imitate, play, organized
games
GOFFMAN’S PRESENTATION OF SELF
• Spent life proving that people’s everyday
behaviors are a lot like actors performing on a
stage
• A status is like a part in the play, and the role
serves as the script
• “Presentation of self” a persons efforts to create
specific impressions in the minds of others
PERFORMANCES
• People express information both consciously and
unconsciously.
• Individuals design settings, such as homes, offices,
etc. to bring about desired reactions to others
• EX: bedroom, car, Facebook wall
NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION
• Nonverbal communication – using body
movements, gestures, and facial
expressions rather than speech.
• This conveys information.
• Facial expressions are most significant
form
NONVERBAL EXAMPLES
• Eye contact is used to invite interaction.
• Avoiding eye contact= discourages
communication
• Hand gestures may convey an insult.
• Gestures also supplement spoken words.
IDEALIZATION, EMBARRASSMENT, AND
TACT
• We construct performances to idealize our
intentions.
• We try to convince others we do not have
selfish motives.
• Embarrassment – discomfort resulting from a
spoiled performance.
• Tact – helping someone “save face.”
EMBARRASSMENT AND TACT
INTERACTION IN EVERYDAY LIFE
HUMOR
• Humor is a product of reality construction.
• It stems from the contrast between two different
realities.
• Humor arises from contradiction, ambiguity, and
double meanings found in differing definitions of the
same situation.
• Humor provides a way to express an opinion
without being serious. (just kidding)
• Humor often is a sign of real conflict.
REVIEW
• Experiments and Theories
• Asch Line test, Bystander, Milgrim Obedience, Janis Group
think, Blue Card White Card Game
• Types of Leaders and Leadership Styles
• Status and Roles
• Development of Self
• Nonverbal, tact, humor