sociology chapter 4

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sociology chapter 4
2010-04-28 17:21:55

midterm definitions
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  1. significant symbol
    a word, gesture, or other learned sign used to convey a meaning from one person to another
  2. symbolic gestures
    nonverbal cues, such as tone of voice and body movements, that convey meaning from one person to another
  3. role taking
    the process of stepping outside the self and imagining how others view its apperance and behavior from an outsiders perspective
  4. play
    a voluntary and often spontaneous activity with fewe or no formal rules that is not subject to constraints of time or place
  5. significant others
    peopel or hcaracters who are important in an idividuals life, in that htey greatly influence that persons self evaluation or motivate him or her to behave in a particular manner
  6. games
    strucutured, organized activities that usually ivolve more than one person and a number of contraints such as established roles, rules, time, place, and outcome
  7. generalized other
    a system of behaviors, meanings, and viewpoints that transcned those of the people participating
  8. looking-glass self
    a process in which a sense of self develops, enabling one to see oneself reflected in oters real or imagined reactions ones appearance and behaviors
  9. agents of socialization
    significant others, primary groups, ingroups and outgroups, and institutions that (1) shape our sense of self or social identity (2) teach us about the groups to which we do and do not belong, (3) help us to realize our human capacities, and (4) help us negotiate th social and physical environment we have inherited
  10. group
    two or more peopel who share a distinct identity, feel a sense of belonging, and interact directly or indirectly with one another
  11. primary group
    a social group that has face to face contact and strong emotional ties among its members
  12. ingroup
    a group which people identify and to which they feel closely attached, particularly when that attachment is founded on hatred or opposition toward an outgroup
  13. outgroup
    a group toward which members of an ingroup feel a sense of separateness, oppoisition, or even hatred
  14. mass media
    forms of communication designed to reach large audiences without face to face contact between those conveying and those receiving the messages
  15. resocialization
    the process of discarding values and behaviors unsuited to new circumstances and replacing them with new, more appropriate values and norms
  16. total institutions
    institutions in which people surrender control of their lives, voluntarily or involuntarily, to an administrative staff and carry out daily activities with others required to do the same thing