SOC 472 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Caveat Emptor, Brain Surgeons, Paraprofessional

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 472
• Professor: Silvano Guzzo

Document Summary

Sociologists exclude most of the jobs that could be considered professional jobs or a job that follows rules or steps or procedures. Professional knowledge is grounded in particular concepts: to be profession one must have both specific specialized knowledge, but also enough generalized knowledge. If one only has very narrow specialized knowledge one is only considered a technician, not a professional. Professionals deal with others in the profession with respect. Professionals represent their profession: they are working for the betterment of others in their profession. It is very difficult to get doctors to criticize other doctors. Status also varies within medicine : brain surgeons have more status then foot surgeons. Some professionals like university professors exclusively work for universities. Set the standard or expectation: managers have to train their employees, they must motivate their employees, reprimand them when their work is below standard. Praise them when their work is well done.