Question 1

Which of the following is true of expressions given, as defined by Erving Goffman?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is true of...

Question 2

Sociologists have often wondered about financial collapses, like those of the 1930s, in which rumors of insolvency, when believed by enough depositors, resulted in bank failures. What sociological concept describes this phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

The Thomas theorem states that "If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences." In the case of financial collapses, rumors of insolvency can cause enough depositors to believe that their bank will fail, leading to a run on the bank and potential bankruptcy. The belief in the rumor becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Question 3

Which of the following is true of expressions given off, as defined by Erving Goffman?

Accepted Answer

Erving Goffman defines expressions given off as nonverbal behaviors that can be observed in various ways, such as through body language or facial expressions. While they may not always be consciously controlled by the person giving them off, they are still observable by others.

Question 4

Erving Goffman theorized social life as a kind of con game in which each individual works to control the impressions others have of her. What did Goffman call this process?

Accepted Answer

Goffman called the process of controlling the impressions others have of us "impression management."

Question 5

A waitress is hired at the local branch of La Maison de la Casa House, and on her first day, she is given strict instructions to always wear black pants with a white shirt, to never carry a notepad, and to always address customers as "sir" or "madam." All of these things are elements of:

Accepted Answer

These instructions are all related to the waitress's personal front, which is the physical and behavioral aspects of an individual's presentation that are used to create a particular impression on others. The specific dress code and rules for customer interaction are designed to create a certain image for the restaurant and its employees.

Question 6

When a college professor begins to lecture and the class at least pretends to take notes, what are the students doing in terms of impression management?

Accepted Answer

By pretending to take notes, students are engaging in impression management by supporting the role or "self" that the professor is projecting as an authority figure or educator. This behavior helps maintain the social dynamics expected in a classroom setting, where the professor teaches and the students learn.

Question 7

Which of the following sources of socialization forms the foundation for all other socializing agents?

Accepted Answer

The family is considered to be the primary source of socialization as it is the first and most prolonged contact that an individual has with socializing agents. The values, attitudes, and beliefs instilled by the family form the basis for all other socializing agents.

Question 8

Some people are disturbed by Goffman's work, because it seems to suggest that no one is ever being honest about who they are. What would Goffman say to this?

Accepted Answer

Goffman's work does suggest that individuals are always presenting themselves in a particular way or "performing" a role for others, but he does not necessarily argue that this means they are never being honest about who they are. Goffman would argue that regardless of who an individual feels herself to "really" be, she must still present that self, and it is never self-evident. So, the presentation of self is always a part of social interaction, but it does not necessarily override an individual's essential self.

Question 9

Because impression management relies so much on strategies of performance, scholars have called Erving Goffman's ideas:

Accepted Answer

Goffman's ideas are based on the metaphor of theatrical performance, where individuals manage their impressions in different social situations like actors on a stage. Therefore, his ideas are called dramaturgy.

Question 10

The University of California, Santa Barbara, is located near the Pacific Ocean, and many students live within walking distance of the beach. Although it feels perfectly normal to wear a bathing suit while at the beach, most students put on a cover-up or wrap themselves in a towel to make the short walk back to their apartments. The beach, unlike the street, is a(n) ____________ that makes it seem normal and acceptable to be wearing nothing but a bathing suit.

Accepted Answer

The beach serves as a "front" or a setting where certain behaviors and appearances are deemed appropriate or normal, which changes once the context shifts to a more public or communal space like the street.

Question 11

If a professor were to trip over his own feet and fall down while trying to write something on the blackboard, very few students would point and laugh. And if the professor then loudly insisted, "I meant to do that!" chances are no one would contradict him, at least not verbally, but instead would assist their instructor in regaining his dignity. What would Goffman call this process?

Accepted Answer

Goffman would call this process "cooling the mark out," which involves helping someone save face after a potentially embarrassing situation.

Question 12

What is the name of the social research method that involves an individual observing her own behavior?

Accepted Answer

Autoethnography is a social research method that involves an individual observing their own behavior, experiences, and culture. It is a qualitative approach that combines auto-observation and ethnography to gain insight into the self and others. It aims to understand how culture and society shape individual experiences and how individuals contribute to the construction of culture and society.

Question 13

Many people are afraid of hitchhikers. Imagine that, to get a ride, a hitchhiker makes a suitcase out of a gasoline can, so it looks like he's a stranded motorist rather than a hitchhiker. A sociologist would say that he was working on:

Accepted Answer

The hitchhiker making a suitcase out of a gasoline can to look like a stranded motorist is an example of impression management, which involves controlling the impressions others have of oneself.

Question 14

Appearance, manner, style of dress, race, gender, and age are all elements of:

Accepted Answer

Appearance, manner, style of dress, race, gender, and age are all elements of an individual's personal front, which is the way they present themselves to others in social situations.

Question 15

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

Mass media has increasingly become a significant source of socialization in recent times. While the family and peers remain important agents of socialization, mass media, including television, movies, social media, and the internet, have a significant impact on shaping attitudes, behavior, and values. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

Question 16

When you play high stakes poker, it is silly to tell your opponents that you have a good hand. However, particularly good poker players say they can read other players' "tells"-the subtle and unintentional facial expressions, mannerisms, and body language that reveal what they are thinking. What would Erving Goffman call tells?

Accepted Answer

Erving Goffman would refer to tells as "expressions given off," which are nonverbal cues that individuals unconsciously display and can be interpreted by others.

Question 17

Given that we try to understand how others have defined situations, why might expressions given off seem like more trustworthy guides than expressions given?

Accepted Answer

Expressions given off are often subconscious and therefore may be more indicative of a person's true feelings or intentions. On the other hand, expressions given can be consciously manipulated and may not accurately reflect a person's true state of mind. Therefore, expressions given off may be seen as more trustworthy guides than expressions given.

Question 18

A famous monologue from Shakespeare's As You Like It begins: "All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts"
Which theory of social life could be seen as taking its inspiration from these lines?

Accepted Answer

The theory of dramaturgy, developed by Erving Goffman, sees social life as a theatrical production where individuals are actors who present a certain image to others. The monologue from As You Like It emphasizes the idea that individuals play different roles throughout their lives, which aligns with the dramaturgical perspective.

Question 19

What does Erving Goffman call it when we help someone save face by preventing them from realizing that they've done something embarrassing?

Accepted Answer

Erving Goffman calls it "cooling the mark out" when we help someone save face by preventing them from realizing that they've done something embarrassing.

Question 20

Churches usually teach their members rules, often codifying these rules into formal commandments to be followed. In that they are at all successful, churches would be called:

Accepted Answer

Churches, by teaching members rules and influencing their behaviors and beliefs, act as agents of socialization, which are entities that play significant roles in the socialization process, teaching individuals the norms, values, and customs of their society.

Quiz 4: The Self and Interaction