Unit 2: Culture, the Socialized Self, and the Individual in Society
In Unit 2 we explore the sociological concerns of culture, social interaction, groups and organizations, deviance and social control, and media and technology. As we explore these sociological areas, we study some common unwritten rules for behavior in our social world. We investigate why social rules are so important to our everyday interactions. For example, what happens when you commit a minor social offense, such as cutting into a line of people, interrupting others, or showing up to meetings consistently late? Our unwritten rules (normative behaviors) do allow these kinds of deviance. without provoking a reaction.
Finally, we explore how technology affects our social interactions and deviant behavior. For example, Facebook, a virtual interactive world, has impacted our social thinking. The word "friend" is now a verb, we "like" something, and we can bridge our lives and experiences with hundreds of other users from around the world in seconds.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 10 hours.
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- differentiate between culture and society;
- describe the sociological concept of reality as a social construct;
- describe and identify socially constructed roles and explain their place in daily interactions;
- explain nature vs. nurture;
- define formal organizations and bureaucracies;
- describe deviance and the nature of deviant behavior;
- explain deviance from various theoretical perspectives;
- differentiate between deviance and crime;
- define crime typologies;
- differentiate between methods of social control; and
- explain technological inequality and issues related to unequal access to technology.
2.1: Culture
Read this chapter for a review of culture. As you read each section, consider the following topics:
- Write down the differences between culture and society.
- Focus on the bold terms, paying close attention to the differences between ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. Then, write down some ideas as to why these two concepts would be central to studying societies.
- Take note of the bold terms in this section, focusing on the different kinds of norms as well as the significance of symbols.
- Take note of the different types of cultures as well as the effect of globalization on those cultures.
- Read this section while making connections to the three theoretical perspectives you studied in subunit 1.1.
- Write down the differences between culture and society.
Visit the website and review the statistics. Does this surprise you?
- Receive a grade
Use this quiz to help you check your understanding of subunit 2.1. Once your score has been calculated, review your class notes and resource materials to better understand any questions you answered incorrectly.
- This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
- You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
- You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.
2.2: Society and Social Interaction
Read this chapter for a review of society and social interaction. As you read each section, consider the following topics:
- Take note of the Maasai village in Tanzania. How does this village differ from a rural American town?
- Take note of the different types of societies, making connections to the society in which you currently live.
- Take notes on Durkheim's functionalist approach, Marx's conflict approach, and Weber's symbolic interactionist approach to studying societies.
- Take note of the bold terms and how they contribute to your own construction of reality as well as how they affect larger social phenomena.
- Receive a grade
Use this quiz to help you check your understanding of subunit 2.2. Once your score has been calculated, review your class notes and resource materials to better understand any questions you answered incorrectly.
- This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
- You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
- You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.
2.3: Socialization
Read this chapter for a review of socialization. As you read each section, consider the following topics:
- Take note of the definition of socialization. Can you think of factors (or people) that have influenced your socialized self?
- Take note of the main differences between the psychological and sociological theories of development.
- Focus on the nature vs. nurture section, taking note of the different skills that are innate and those that are learned. Pay close attention to the section about Chris Langan.
- Take note of the various agents for socialization, including family, peers, institutions, schools, work, religion, government, and media.
- Take note of resocialization and how it differs from socialization.
- Receive a grade
Use this quiz to help you check your understanding of subunit 2.3 . Once your score has been calculated, review your class notes and resource materials to better understand any questions you answered incorrectly.
- This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
- You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
- You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.
2.4: Groups and Organization
Read this chapter for a review of groups and organizations. As you read each section, consider the following topics:
- Focus on the three major theoretical perspectives in relation to groups and organizations.
- Take note of the bold terms outlining the different types of groups.
- Take note of the bold terms, focusing on the sections "Dyads, Triads, and Large Groups" and "Group Leadership".
- Take note of the bold terms and Table 1: Table of Formal Organizations. Also, pay close attention to the section "The McDonaldization of Society".
Read this article on the Stanford Prison Experiment. Philip Zimbardo is a social psychologist who wanted to research the effects of power structures and labeling in a prison setting. To do so, he experimented with college students by creating a prison-like experience. What does this experiment tell us about power and authority? What does it tell us about obedience and conformity?
- Receive a grade
Use this quiz to help you check your understanding of subunit 2.4. Once your score has been calculated, review your class notes and resource materials to better understand any questions you answered incorrectly.
- This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
- You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
- You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.
2.5: Deviance, Crime, and Social Control
Read this chapter for a review of deviance, crime, and social control. As you read each section, consider the following topics:
- Read this section for an introduction to deviance and social control. What do you think about the experiences of the two students discussed in the chapter? Do you agree with the school's ruling about the dress code? Why or why not?
- Take note of the definition of deviance and how social control is enforced through types of sanctions (Table 1). Can you think of times when you have been affected by sanctions?
- Take note of the various theoretical perspectives typically used in sociology to describe or explain deviant behavior. Focusing on labeling theory and secondary deviance, can you think of a time in your life when a label assigned to you may have affected your behavior?
- Take note of the various theoretical perspectives explaining deviance in society. Take note of the examples accompanying each theoretical model.
- Receive a grade
Use this quiz to help you check your understanding of subunit 2.5. Once your score has been calculated, review your class notes and resource materials to better understand any questions you answered incorrectly.
- This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
- You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
- You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.
2.6: Media and Technology
Read this chapter for a review of media and technology. As you read each section, consider the following topics:
- Take note of how a functionalist might explain the social purposes of media and technology.
- Focus on the bold terms throughout the chapter. Have you ever experienced technological inequality? Can you think of ways to overcome technological inequality?
- Take note of the different types of media and their social impacts. What are some types of media common in your life? How might these mediums affect your everyday interactions?
- Take note of the differences between media globalization and technological globalization. After reading about the impact of cell phones in Sub-Saharan Africa, what are your initial thoughts on shared phone programs?
- Take note of the various theoretical perspectives pertaining to media and technology. In addition, Take note of the new theoretical perspective introduced in this chapter: the feminist perspective. Lastly, focus on how the social construction of reality will be affected by mass media.
- Receive a grade
Use this quiz to help you check your understanding of subunit 2.6. Once your score has been calculated, review your class notes and resource materials to better understand any questions you answered incorrectly.
- This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
- You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
- You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.
Unit 2 Discussion and Assessment
- Make forum posts: 1
- Receive a grade
Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.
- This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
- You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
- You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.