Listen to the audio file below and then answer the questions that follow. Your response should be at least two pages in length and utilize the vocabulary from the chapter. Be sure to define the terminology used to help complete your discussion.
1. What can we learn about the microsociology of Japan from this story?
2. Is it possible to make any macrosocial observations? Please explain your answer
3. How does the commentator’s role and social status affect her social interaction? In your response, discuss how your role may differ from what she may be accustomed to in the United States.
AUDIO => http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1138686
VOCAB =>
macrosociology analysis of social life that focuses on broad features of society, such as social class and the relationships of groups to one another; usually used by functionalists and conflict theorists
microsociology analysis of social life that focuses on social interaction; typically used by symbolic interactionists
social interaction what people do when they are in one another’s presence
social structure the framework (or typical patterns) that surrounds us, consisting of the relationships of people and groups to one another, which gives direction to and sets limits on behavior
social class according to Weber, a large group of people who rank close to one another in property power, and prestige; according to Marx, one of two groups: capitalists who own the means of production or workers who sell their labor
status the position that someone occupies in a social group
status set all the statuses or positions that an individual occupies
status symbols items used to identify a status
master status a status that cuts across the other statuses that an individual occupies
status inconsistency ranking high on some dimensions of social class and low on others, also called status discrepancy
role the behaviors, obligations, and privileges attached to a status
socialization the process by which people learn the characteristics of their group—the knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, norms, and actions thought appropriate for them
group people who have something in common and who believe that what they have in common is significant; also called a social group
social institution the organized, usual, or standard ways by which society meets its basic needs
social integration the degree to which members of a group or a society feel united by shared values and other social bonds; also known as social cohesion
mechanical solidarity Durkheim’s term for the unity (a shared consciousness) that people feel as a result of performing the same or similar tasks
division of labor the splitting of a group’s or a society’s tasks into specialties
organic solidarity Durkheim’s term for the interdependence that results from the division of labor; people
depending on others to fulfill their jobs
Gemeinschaft a type of society in which life is intimate; a community in which everyone knows everyone else and people share a sense of togetherness
Gesellschaft a type of society that is dominated by impersonal relationships, individual accomplishments,
and self-interest
stereotype assumptions of what people are like, whether true or false
body language the ways in which people use their bodies to give messages to others
dramaturgy an approach, pioneered by Erving Goffman, in which social life is analyzed in terms of drama or the stage; also called dramaturgical analysis
impression management people’s efforts to control the impressions that others receive of them
front stage places where we give performances
back stage places where people rest from their performances, discuss their presentations, and plan future performances
role performance the ways in which someone performs a role within the limits that the role provides; showing a particular “style” or “personality
role conflict conflicts that someone feels between roles because the expectations attached to one role are incompatible with the expectations of another role
role strain conflicts that someone feels within a role
sign-vehicle a term used by Goffman to refer to how people use social setting, appearance, and manner to
communicate information about the self
teamwork the collaboration of two or more people to manage impressions jointly
face-saving behavior techniques used to salvage a performance (interaction) that is going sour
ethnomethodology the study of how people use background assumptions to make sense out of life
background assumption a deeply embedded common understanding of how the world operates and of how people ought to act
social construction of reality the use of background assumptions and life experiences to define what is real
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