SOCI 1001 Lecture Notes - Symbolic Interactionism, Ethnomethodology, Hoodie
Document Summary
A micro-level theory in which shared meanings, orientations, and assumptions form the basic motivations behind people"s actions. We act toward ideas, concepts, and values on the basis of their meaning. A red light or stop sign tells you to stop. Meanings are the products of social interactions. People encounter and respond to the meaning that signs and social signals hold for them. By responding in a certain fashion, we establish its meaning. Certain clothes, like a doctor"s coat can establish authority and give people the idea they are intelligent, or a hoodie can give one the idea it"s cold outside or that person is lazy. In an elevator it"s just common courtesy to not stand next to someone unless the elevator is full and usually you don"t converse to strangers when you walk in you just acknowledge their presence. When one goes against this, it"s a norm violation. Learning about a social environment by interacting and discovering norms.
