PSYC 110 Lecture Notes - Bank Teller, Erving Goffman, Social Control
29 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Because those STATUSES have ROLES and EXPECTATIONS attached to them. And
EXPECTATIONS associated with roles are NORMS.
Norms: The shared rules and expectations that govern our behavior Norms vary depending
on context or situation Norms are most often tied to statuses, and govern roles Status
[Symbol] Role [Symbol] Norms Norms inform us how we are to act, toward whom, where,
and when. And, not only how we are to act, but what to anticipate in others. B. Social
Control Norms make our interactions orderly and predictable. Thus, society has
mechanisms to ensure that people conform to norms. Social control: The ways that
society (people or institutions) attempts to keep people in line with social norms.
Positive sanctions: rewards for approved behavior. Negative sanctions: punishment for
disapproved behavior. Mechanisms of social control: Vary in severity E.g., Raised
eyebrows vs. execution. Vary in formality Formal punishment – prison system Informal
punishment – snubbing C. Further Characteristics of Norms 1. Norms are
comprehensive Norms shape all our behavior. Even our perceptions – how we perceive
things have predictable patterns. E.g., perception of someone staring in elevator 2.
Norms vary in intensity Norms vary in the intensity of their moral significance “Mores”:
Norms that have great moral significance; very important to a society. Distinguish between
right and wrong. Usually apply everywhere and at all times. E.g., prohibition against
murder “Folkways”: Norms for routine or casual interaction in a society. Distinguish
between right and rude. Often depend on the situation. E.g., appropriate greetings; proper
dress 3. Limits to Norms a. Norms can be manipulated As GOFFMAN shows, we can
regulate our “presentation of self” in society E.g., Pretend to be different social class We
can also engage in “role distance” Show we aren’t really occupier of a particular status.
E.g., Bank teller says she’s PhD student b. Norms are not always clearly defined. Case of
unclear script Very often with new statuses in society E.g., Role of step-parent c.
Status conflict In some cases roles are incompatible because statuses are in conflict E.g.,
Lawyer who is Parent of sick child D. Norms in Interaction: Goffman “Front Stage/Back
Stage” Example: Cahill article Front stage is public place where we expect to “perform”
Back stage is area where we get ready for our front stage performances Different “norms”
govern these spaces Let’s see this at work in Cahill article: ***What is the purpose of the
public bathroom? **What are the two performance regions and how are they regarded?
**How do people interact in public bathrooms – what are the bathroom “interpersonal
rituals”? **What are the norms that govern interaction in this particular social context, with
its distinct performance regions? **Why do we have these norms? **What is a
secondary purpose of the public bathroom? In summary, WHY do we do these things?
The norms in this private yet public setting Show that we are loyal to the “behavioral
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Mechanisms of social control: vary in severity e. g. , raised. Vary in formality formal punishment prison system informal. Because those statuses have roles and expectations attached to them. Norms: the shared rules and expectations that govern our behavior norms vary depending on context or situation norms are most often tied to statuses, and govern roles status. [symbol] role [symbol] norms norms inform us how we are to act, toward whom, where, and when. And, not only how we are to act, but what to anticipate in others. Control norms make our interactions orderly and predictable. Thus, society has mechanisms to ensure that people conform to norms. society (people or institutions) attempts to keep people in line with social norms. Positive sanctions: rewards for approved behavior. disapproved behavior. eyebrows vs. execution. punishment snubbing c. further characteristics of norms comprehensive norms shape all our behavior. Even our perceptions how we perceive things have predictable patterns.
