Sociology 3701: Study Guide 2

I. Concepts, theories, videos.
ethnomethodology, , social construction of reality, extended primary group, working consensus, interaction, interaction rituals, Erving Goffman(dramaturgy, impression management, "giving off" an impression, social establishment, front:setting, appearance,and manner, idealization, negative idealization,, improvisation, front and back regions) , self as a social structure, Blumstein( identity vs. self, couple identity work, ossification), common sense, breaching experiments, . disruptions, preventive practices, precarious situations, reference group, significant others, embarrassment, tact, personal poise, self-fulfilling prophecy
Videos: "Noises Off," "Growing Up Online," "People Like Us,""Merchants of Cool" --Review your worksheets.

II. Essay Questions. Essay questions on the exam will be chosen from the following questions. Your essays will be evaluated based on the the strength of your arguments, but also on the appropriateness and breadth of your supporting examples. In other words, show me that you are very familiar with the readings and other course materials, including videos. Making an unexpected connection (one we didn't talk about in class) is always a plus.

1. Using the perspective of symbolic interaction (and of dramaturgy, which I see as a subvariety of symbolic interactionism), describe the ways in which people create, maintain, and defend identities. Show how they rely on cooperation from other people and how they try to deal with potential disruptions,challenges and precarious situations, as in Elijah Anderson's analysis of Jelly's Bar and Liquor or in our text articles, "Behavior in Private Places" and"'Precarious Situations' in a Strip Club").

2. Using Blumstein's distinction between identity and self, analyze how the self develops and how we might make that a more conscious or mindful process. This is addressed most directly in O'Brien's essay, "From Masks to Selves," but there are other materials from readings or lecture that are also relevant. Use the ones that seem most helpful.

3. What are the strengths of dramaturgy as a social psychological perspective and how can you use the video, "Noises Off," to illuminate some of those strenghths? What do you see as weaknesses of this perspective?

4. How do peer groups, emerging technologies (computers, cell phone, facebook and instant messaging), and the mass media interact in relation to self and identity among today's teens and young adults? Give examples from your own experience or from the videos.

5. Draw on course materials, as well as your own experience, to analyze junior high and high school in terms of identities and self, peer groups, and inequalities or race and class.

6. Provide a social psychological analysis of embarrassment and the protective practices by which we try to manage potentially embarrassing situations, including the help we get from other people. How does the approach called dramaturgy help in such an analysis?