SociologySociology

Intro:Intro:Norms; Poverty; Groups; Norms; Poverty; Groups;

Social ClassSocial ClassAgents of Socialization:Agents of Socialization:

Family and LoveFamily and LoveBystanderBystander

SociologySociologyThe scientific study of society

and human behavior. People’s social experiences – the

groups to which they belong and their particular experiences within these groups – underlie their behavior.

Social factors that act on the individual.

Groups Within SocietyGroups Within SocietySmall groups act as a buffer between Small groups act as a buffer between the individual and the larger society.the individual and the larger society.

It’s human nature for people to want to It’s human nature for people to want to join groups.join groups.

Helps us feel less overwhelmed and Helps us feel less overwhelmed and prevents a sense of not belonging. prevents a sense of not belonging.

Often they reinforce society’s major Often they reinforce society’s major values.values.

Primary GroupsPrimary GroupsClose, intimate, face-to-face relationships.Close, intimate, face-to-face relationships.

Ex.Ex.

Provides feelings of self-esteem, belonging, Provides feelings of self-esteem, belonging, appreciation, and sometimes love.appreciation, and sometimes love.

Their values and attitude become fused in our Their values and attitude become fused in our identity. Thus it is often difficult for us to identity. Thus it is often difficult for us to separate ourseparate ourselves selves from our primary group. from our primary group.

Example of dysfunctional primary group…… Example of dysfunctional primary group…… (goes against society)(goes against society)

Secondary GroupsSecondary Groups Larger, relatively temporary, more Larger, relatively temporary, more

anonymous, formal, and impersonal. anonymous, formal, and impersonal. Groups are based on some common Groups are based on some common

interest or activity Ex…interest or activity Ex… Secondary groups tend to break down Secondary groups tend to break down

into primary groups because secondary into primary groups because secondary groups fail to satisfy our deep human groups fail to satisfy our deep human need need for intimate association. Thus the for intimate association. Thus the new primary group “buffer” is now new primary group “buffer” is now between us and the demands of the between us and the demands of the secondary group.secondary group.

Agents of Socialization (the society within each of us)People and groups that influence who we are.Much of our socialization is intended to turn us into conforming members of society. Are we truly “free” or does “society within you” drive you?The process of socialization begins at birth and continuesthroughout ourlives.

Agents of Socialization – People and groups that influence who we are. Family

Social Class Religion Day Care School

hidden curriculum Peer Groups Sports Workplace Television/Media Gender Expectations

Social Norms – what society deems as “normal” and expected behavior – unwritten “rules.” Norms change… Who decides what’s “normal”? Can be good or bad – Group cohesion vs….? Ex.

Group Norms Cultural Norms Gender/Sexual Norms

How do we positively sanction people?

Norm Violation - How do we negatively sanction people who go against norms?Deviance/ImprisonmentDegradation Ceremonies

SOCIAL STATUS - PRESTIGEJobs at the top share 4 elements:#1 They PAY more!#2 They require more EDUCATION#3 They entail more abstract

THOUGHT#4 They offer greater autonomy

(independence)

*Worksheet – poverty myths and social class consciousnessPrimetime movie

Love

Culture influences Culture influences choice of a partner.choice of a partner.

• Society and culture influences our mate selection not our heart!

• The few differences between males and females indicate the relatively small effects of gender on mate preferences.

General Trait Ranking by Country

United States Iran Nigeria China South Africa

1. LOVE Neatness Neatness Health Maturity

2. Maturity Disposition Intelligence Maturity Dependable

3. Dependable Maturity Maturity Desire for home Disposition

4. Disposition LOVE Good health Chastity Good health

5. Intelligence Desire for home..home Dependable Intelligence

6. Health Ambition LOVE LOVE LOVE

Triangular Theory of LOVE

Intimacy

Passion Commitment

Robert Sternberg believes that most of us strive for complete love - a balanced combination of

all three.

Infatuation (“love at first sight”)

Hollywood loveRomantic loveCompanionate love

Bystander

Bystander Effect (or bystander apathy)

The effect whereby the presence of others inhibits

helping.

PLURALISTIC IGNORANCEPLURALISTIC IGNORANCE

Confronted with a sudden, Confronted with a sudden, dangerous situation, a person looks dangerous situation, a person looks quickly to see what others are quickly to see what others are doing. In reality everybody is doing. In reality everybody is looking at everybody else who are looking at everybody else who are doing the same thing so they think doing the same thing so they think they’re the only ones confused and they’re the only ones confused and they don’t react. “poker face”they don’t react. “poker face”

AUDIENCE INHIBITION AUDIENCE INHIBITION

(or Social Blunder)(or Social Blunder)

People are too embarrassed to People are too embarrassed to help in a public setting - they help in a public setting - they don’t want to look foolish if don’t want to look foolish if they’re wrong.they’re wrong.

If other people are around in an If other people are around in an emergency we believe that emergency we believe that

somebody else will do it (call somebody else will do it (call police, help etc.). It’s easier to police, help etc.). It’s easier to

place the responsibility on othersplace the responsibility on others

Deindividuation in crowdsDeindividuation in crowds

Refers to the increased tendency for Refers to the increased tendency for subjects to behave irrationally or subjects to behave irrationally or perform antisocial behaviors when perform antisocial behaviors when there is less chance of being there is less chance of being personally identified. You can be personally identified. You can be someone else when you’re “lost in someone else when you’re “lost in the crowd.”the crowd.”

Ex.Ex.

Solomon Asch’s line Solomon Asch’s line experiment on Conformity – experiment on Conformity – Group Pressure to ConformGroup Pressure to Conform

40 year-old male violinist who is a suspected drug dealer 34 year-old male architect who is a homosexual 26 year-old lawyer The lawyer’s 26 year-old wife who has just gotten out of a

mental institution – they both want to go in together or stay out together

75 year-old priest 34 year-old retired prostitute who was so successful that

she’s been living off her annuities for 5 years 20 year-old Black militant 23 year-old female graduate student who speaks publicly on

the virtues of chastity 28 year-old male physicist who will only come into the shelter

if he can bring his gun with him 30 year-old female MD who is an avowed bigot 12 year-old girl who has a low IQ