importance of sociology in everyday life essay

• _Mathematics
• _Environment
• _Data Science
• _Artificial Intelligence
• _App Development
• _Cybersecurity
• Latest Updates
• _Digital Marketing
• _Psychology

Why is Sociology Important in Today's Society?

Why is Sociology Important in Modern Society?

What is sociology, the importance of sociology to society, sociology goals and objectives, نموذج الاتصال.

Degree Level

FINANCIAL AID

STUDENT SERVICES

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

5 Examples of How Sociology Impacts Everyday Life

February 28th, 2022 by JWU

Sociology employs a wide range of approaches to study social relationships and human behavior across our society and within many areas of our lives. Sociologists evaluate and examine subject matter such as crime, religion, family relationships, racial and gender identity, class divisions, communities, cultures, and social stability. 

Understandably, there are many examples of sociology in everyday life. Sociology provides a unique and illuminating perspective on how we, as complex human beings, influence our society, our relationships, and our culture as a whole. 

WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?

Sociology serves as one of many branches under the social sciences umbrella that studies relationships among individuals within different societies. Sociology is the study of life in action — examining how individuals act and evolve within social groups while understanding the causes that influence behavior. Social interaction, or how individuals engage with and react to others, is a critical component of our collective society.

The premise that the person and society are intertwined is a crucial foundation of the sociological worldview. It isn’t easy to study one without also examining the other. This dual and comprehensive focus allows experts in this field — often referred to as sociologists — to study how individuals impact society and how society impacts individuals.

WHAT IS A SOCIOLOGIST?

A sociologist utilizes various research methods to study society to learn more about social interactions with groups and how individual and collective experiences shape our behavior. A sociologist may study behavior within small-scale groups, such as family and friend relationships, as well as international institutions, such as economics, government, global relations, and more.

Examples of sociology could include studying the relationship between culture and society, examining social movements, or researching how communication affects human behavior. Sociology can be divided into several subfields, including criminology, political science, social work, sociology of health and illness, gender studies, and race/ethnicity studies.

A sociologist believes that an individual’s personal decisions do not exist in a vacuum. We, as individuals, are influenced by cultural trends, beliefs, and values, which impact our behavior. Sociologists identify and evaluate these factors through sociological research, which includes studying the behavior of the larger collective group, comprised of individuals in the same area under the same societal influences.

Sociologists evaluate human behavior by examining individual encounters, group interactions, and social processes. Micro-level sociologists investigate individual encounters, or face-to-face interactions, in small groups. For example, a micro-level sociologist may look at the accepted rules of discourse among distinct groups, such as teens or business executives. Prior to the pandemic, such study may have focused on in-person interactions. Today, sociologists provide insight into understanding how virtual and hybrid environments impact behavior.

While micro-level sociologists focus on small groups, macro-level sociologists investigate patterns within and between larger groups and societies. A macro-level examination may investigate how language use has evolved over time or in social media channels. Additionally, a macro-level sociologist may study how large-scale historical events impact a society — in the past, in the present, and in the future. 

Sociologists compile their learnings about society and social interactions to make connections. This process is called sociological imagination.

WHAT IS SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION?

Contemporary sociologist C. Wright Mill established the  sociological imagination  as a framework for connecting personal challenges and more significant social issues. Through the sociological imagination, sociologists develop a mindset to explain how these personal experiences, along with their challenges, impact the larger society in which we operate. Having a better understanding of the relationship between personal and public issues can help influence outcomes on every level.

When you begin to consider numerous situations or activities from views other than your own, you have entered into the domain of sociological imagination. For example, let’s look at homelessness. Some individuals believe homelessness is an individual problem — a person must have made poor choices and they became homeless. However, we know that’s not necessarily true — for many, homelessness may result from an unexpected illness, medical bills, or job loss. Through the sociological imagination, you’d understand homelessness as a consequence of many social factors that can impose burdens on individuals.

SOCIOLOGY TYPES

Sociology encompasses various subfields and areas of study that focus on understanding and analyzing different aspects of society. Here are some of the major types or branches of sociology:

• General Sociology : This is the broadest field of sociology that examines the overall structure and functioning of society, including social institutions, social inequality, social change, and social interactions.
• Social Stratification : This field focuses on the study of social class, social inequality, and the hierarchical division of society based on factors such as wealth, occupation, and social status.
• Sociology of Deviance : This branch explores behaviors and actions that deviate from societal norms and values, including the study of crime, social control, and the processes of labeling individuals as deviant.
• Sociology of Family : This field examines family structures, dynamics, and relationships, including topics such as marriage, parenting, gender roles, and the impact of family on individuals and society.
• Sociology of Education : This area of sociology explores the role of education in society, including educational institutions, access to education, socialization processes, and the impact of education on social mobility.
• Sociology of Religion : This branch focuses on the study of religious beliefs, practices, and institutions, as well as the role of religion in shaping social behavior, values, and social change.
• Sociology of Gender : This field examines the social construction of gender, gender roles, inequalities, and how gender intersects with other social categories such as race, class, and sexuality.
• Urban Sociology : This area of sociology analyzes the social structure, processes, and problems of urban areas, including urbanization, urban development, social interactions in cities, and the impact of urban living on individuals and communities.

These are just a few examples of the diverse areas within sociology. It is worth noting that many of these branches overlap and intersect, and sociologists often draw on multiple perspectives and theories to understand the complexities of social life.

5 EXAMPLES OF SOCIOLOGY IN EVERYDAY LIFE

Sociology is not an abstract concept. In everyday life and in our interactions, we see many examples that sociologists study. Here are five for you to consider:

1. Conflict Theory: Class or Social Inequalities

Among experts, much discussion and evaluation is occurring regarding social classes: how they are created, what fuels them, and what inequalities arise as a result. Social inequality is linked to an imbalance in the distribution of wealth and resources that can impact social standing, social class, and social life.

For example, sociologists study how race and gender contribute to social inequalities within and across our societies. Sociologists research the contributing elements that create gender wage-gaps, as well as how racial bias contributes to disproportionate police brutality against minority groups.

Sociologists evaluate social inequality in two primary categories:

• Inequality of conditions : the imbalanced and unequal distribution of wealth and income. For example, in the United States, 69.8 percent of the  country’s net worth  was held by the top 10 percent of the richest individuals, with the top one percent holding 32.1 percent in 2021. 
• Inequality of opportunities : the unequal availability of life opportunities, such as education, criminal justice, jobs, and health care. For example, the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  state that black women are more likely to experience a stillborn birth. A sociologist would study contributing factors that disproportionately impact black mothers, along with social inequalities, to draw conclusions and advocate for reform.

2. Symbolic Interactionism

Symbolic interactionism, another major sociological framework, aims to explain human behavior by evaluating the symbolic meanings individuals develop and build upon throughout their lives. In society, different objects, gestures, behaviors, and events may mean different things. 

Let’s look at an example — emojis. Now a standard in mobile communication, emojis can be interpreted differently to different groups. A smiling emoji could simply communicate being happy, but, it may also seem passive-aggressive.

Rainbows are another example of symbolism. Technically, a rainbow is a simple meteorological phenomenon. However, a rainbow may be used to express positive emotions, hope, and happiness. A rainbow is also a symbol for the LGBTQ+community as well, representing togetherness, unity, and pride.

3. Social Roles

“You are not acting your age.” “That was unprofessional behavior.” These are examples of assigning social roles throughout our interactions in different areas. Through the lens of socially-constructed gender roles, a sociologist may study why society expects women to behave in particular ways and how this contributes to larger issues, such as the wage gap.

The concept of roles focuses on predictable behavior — as human beings, predictability maintains stasis and prevents risk. Society “defines” these roles by creating predictable expectations of behavior — a person’s behavior should correspond to their social role. 

If a cashier tells a political joke to a customer, it may be perceived as offensive and inappropriate — it does not fit into the established societal rules for this role and this type of social interaction. However, if this cashier tells the same political joke to a friend, it may not be perceived in a potentially offensive or inappropriate manner with the customer, as this is a different social setting.

4. Emotional Expectations

Emotional expression is highly complex. It’s not simply a physiological response to stimuli; gender roles established in our society may influence how we express our emotions. For example, there’s an unwritten rule in our society that men don’t, or shouldn’t, cry — it’s not “masculine behavior.” On the other hand, women shouldn’t display aggression — it’s not “feminine behavior.” Through these expectations of behavior, individuals express emotions differently based on society’s gender norms. However, this contributes to a larger societal challenge – gender inequality.

5. Environmental Sociology

Today, climate change and environmental protection remain a high priority in our society. Our choices individually, nationally, and globally directly impact our world — environmental sociology aims to understand our interactions with our natural and created environments. 

For example, environmental-social movements advocate against companies that display a lack of environmental consciousness, either through animal testing, carbon footprint size, or destruction of protected lands and groups. An environmental sociologist may seek to understand why an organization may make these decisions, rather than consider alternate environmentally-sustainable methods instead. On a smaller scale, an environmental sociologist may study the relationship between energy and the environment. For example, electricity-fueled cars versus gas-fueled cars. An environmental sociologist may ask, “Are electric cars utilized among a particular set of individuals in a society?” “Are there factors that influence the affordability or availability of electric cars in relation to gas vehicles?” “Do cultural or societal constructs influence behavior or increased adoption of electric cars?” 

Overall, many examples of sociology appear in our everyday life. Sociology encompasses a broad study of social interactions, with many interesting career options. Additionally, sociology and psychology share both similarities and distinct differences that you may be interested in exploring. If you’re wondering whether to  major in sociology or psychology , we can help.

For more information about completing your degree with Johnson & Wales University’s College of Professional Studies, complete the  Request Info  form, call 855-JWU-1881, or email  [email protected] .

By clicking Get Started below, I consent to receive recurring marketing/promotional e-mails, phone calls, and SMS/text messages from Johnson & Wales University (JWU) about any educational/programmatic purpose (which relates to my inquiry of JWU) at the e-mail/phone numbers (landline/mobile) provided, including calls or texts made using an automatic telephone dialing system and/or artificial/prerecorded voice messages. My consent applies regardless of my inclusion on any state, federal, or other do-not-call lists. Consent is not a condition for receipt of any good or service. Carrier charges may apply. Terms and conditions apply .

Request info

Now accepting applications

10 Reasons Why it’s Important to Study Sociology and Scope

Sociology is an academic discipline that is vital to be studied in our rapidly progressing and changing world. The study of societies is important as every society has their own unique characteristics and histories that define the lives of people that belong to them. Sociology helps understand various human and social perspectives in which individual lives are defined and shaped. This essay will seek to explore into ten reasons why it is important to study sociology.

Sociology as an academic discipline is vital in analyzing the relationships that are ensued as a part of interacting with the environment, the different natures of these relationships, the origin of cultures and traditions, the relationship between economic, social and political power, etc. Sociology is rich in relevance and scope. It encourages the researcher to device and accommodate innovative solutions to various societal issues. The discipline encourages one to view society more objectively and understand the subjectivity of every individual’s life. In the rapidly growing modern industrial world that is only becoming more and more complex, a discipline like sociology helps to understand and analyze the innate differences that lie within individuals and how the individual contributes to the whole. This essay will now go into the ten reasons why it is important to study and read sociology:

2. Sociology is rich in Scope

The introduction of sociology as an academic discipline marked the advent of the study of human societies in distinct systematic ways. Equipped with its various modes and methods of research, it was the only discipline that sought to analyze the nature and complexities of human societies. The discipline utilized well defined methods of enquiry such as , observational method – participant and non-participant observation, survey method, interviews, archival method, field research, experiments etc. These research methods are engaged in very professionally and often guarantee optimal results.

5. Sociology has been vital in reconstructing our attitude towards fellow human beings

There is always a threat of conflict in the world, the nature of the world has always been so. Especially with the progress the world has reached so far thanks to industrial, scientific and technological development, there are possible tensions created between countries for the accumulation of resources. Since the world is highly divided politically, chances of resource and economic conflicts also rise. This is where sociology plays its part, where it helps understand, analyze and mediate these tensions and aid in avoiding conflicts in ways such as foreign policymaking, public policymaking, creation of international laws, trade laws, etc.

The more the number of people that are educated on sociological concepts, the easier it is to reach a larger audience when raising awareness about social issues of today. Sociological understanding of the conditions of marginalized communities and other social issues of the world allows individuals to understand these issues better even if they are not directly affected by them. Awareness of how social sanctions, social institutions, our interactions, relationships etc. affect the way we treat other individuals and the way we receive and choose to act on social injustices, is key to creating a drive to seek solutions and raise awareness. Sociological research projects and their valuable results aid the governments to ensure social welfare measures and welfare programs that are undertaken for communities that require it.

Also Read: Relationship – Sociology and Other Social Sciences

10. Studying and Reading Sociology helps one gain a valid understanding about the various social forces that play a part in one’s life, and this knowledge better equips one to deal with these social forces and make rational decisions for themselves.

Angela Roy is currently pursuing her majors in Sociology and minors in International Relations and History, as a part of her BA Liberal Arts Honors degree in SSLA, Pune. She has always been driven to play a part in changing and correcting the social evils that exist in society. With a driving passion for breaking down harmful societal norms and social injustices, she seeks to learn and understand the different social institutions that exist in society like family, marriage, religion and kinship, and how they influence the workings and functioning of various concepts like gender, sexuality and various types of socializations in an individual’s life. She envisions herself to play a vital role in building safe places for today’s marginalized communities and creating a world that is characterized by equity and inclusiveness, free of discrimination and exploitative behaviors.

Importance of Sociological Theories in Everyday Life Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Sociology is very important science which helps to understand who you are and to create our relationship with one another. All classical theories are significant for the personal development. Studying sociological theories, we can find different perspectives. The use of sociological tools can help us to build our relations with different groups of people. We can find the sociological patterns everywhere around us. When I asked myself what I can do with this knowledge, I understood that sociology gives us an explanation of the various phenomena such as human believes, values and behaviors. It is obviously that, studying sociology, we should think about the importance of this information and how the use of this knowledge can help us in the regulation of social conflicts.

Usually, we take for granted so many ideas and explanations which the public opinion offers us. However, the process of the reflection is very important. Sociological theories helped me to create more skeptical and critical attitude of perception. Besides, studying sociology, I augmented my background. Sociological theories helped me to understand a value of the theory for the practical development of the society.

According to the Kolb Model, the learning cycle consists in grasping and transforming experience (Kolb, 1976, p. 45). The sociologist insists upon the idea of the cycle which involves the observation and experience of the concrete phenomena, the creation of its abstract concept and the use of it in new situation (Kolb, 1976, p. 23). While studying, we should think about an importance of this information for our perception of the world.

The perspective as a simple way of looking at the world, explains every phenomenon which life provides (Ashley, 1998, p. 10). All theories are the efforts to create more clear and logical interpretation of the social issues. Nevertheless, sociology requires an imagination and the process of thinking.

The structural-functionalist idea of Emile Durkheim and Talcott Parsons describes our society as the system of interrelated parts which maintains the social balance in the world (Ritzer, 2010, p. 42). The classic works of Karl Marx describe the social conflict between different communities which based on the power and resources. Many sociologists such as Max Weber, Erving Goffman, and Georg Simmel see the nature of human behavior as a result of social influence (Ritzer, 2010, p. 112). This idea sets thinking about the importance of personal experience and deliberation.

Sociology provides the abilities to identify and solve many problems. It helps to build your own strategy and model of behavior. Some sociological tools can be used in the job application, market research, even in the relationships. I understood that, instead of blaming, we better try to comprehend the situation and to find a solution. Sociology can help use our individuality improving the social behavior. Our world needs the peaceful solutions of the social conflicts. The approach of sociological tools can help to improve the tolerance and respect of different cultural values.

Today, we live in the world of complex and multilevel human relationships. Obviously, the study of sociology helps to understand the social phenomena and, moreover, to develop new solutions of the problems. Our life is a laboratory which produces new issues every day. Sociology gives us a key to understanding the value of cultural background within the multicultural society. This understanding is an important step to prevent the cross-cultural problems. Many sociological views can be the effective tools in the problems solution.

Reference List

• Ashley, D. (1998). Sociological Theory – Classical Statements. Fifth edition. Massachusetts: Needham Heights.
• Kolb, D. A. (1976). The Learning Style Inventory: Technical Manual , Boston, Ma.: McBer.
• Ritzer, G. (2010). Classical Sociological Theory . Six Edition. US: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
• The Issue of the Queers in Australia
• Chicago School Theory and Family Studies
• Sociology of Religion: Rational Choice Theory
• Summary of the Book "Sociology" by Richard Schaefer
• Objectivity Is Essential for Sociological Research
• Childhood Sexual Abuse and HIV Risk in San Salvador
• The Most Prominent Forms of Discrimination
• The Global Impact of Genocide: The Socio-Economic and Political Spheres
• Inefficiencies of Affirmative Actions
• The Notion of “Poverty” Is a Key Word of a Modern Society
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2022, January 15). Importance of Sociological Theories in Everyday Life. https://ivypanda.com/essays/importance-of-sociological-theories-in-everyday-life/

"Importance of Sociological Theories in Everyday Life." IvyPanda , 15 Jan. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/importance-of-sociological-theories-in-everyday-life/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'Importance of Sociological Theories in Everyday Life'. 15 January.

IvyPanda . 2022. "Importance of Sociological Theories in Everyday Life." January 15, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/importance-of-sociological-theories-in-everyday-life/.

1. IvyPanda . "Importance of Sociological Theories in Everyday Life." January 15, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/importance-of-sociological-theories-in-everyday-life/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Importance of Sociological Theories in Everyday Life." January 15, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/importance-of-sociological-theories-in-everyday-life/.

• Signup for G K Online test for 2 years
• 1 lakh+ Questions

• General Knowledge practice
• Current Affairs Q & A in Quiz format

• Daily Current Affairs News
• Get Instant news updates

• Anthropology notes
• Management notes

• Current affairs Digest

Sociology App

• Basic Concepts
• Anthropology
• Automation Society
• Branches of Sociology
• Census of India
• Civil Society
• Dalit Movement
• Economy and Society
• Environment and Sociology
• Ethnomethodology
• Folkways And Mores
• Indian Society
• Indian Thinkers
• Individual and Society
• Industrial and Urban Society
• Introduction To Sociology
• International Economy
• Market as a social institution
• Marriage, Family & Kinship
• Nation Community
• Neo Positivism
• Organization and Individual
• People's Participation
• Personality
• Phenomenology
• Political Modernization
• Political Processes
• Political System
• Post Modernism
• Post Structuralism
• Public Opinion
• Research Method & Statistics
• Rural Sociology
• Science, Technology
• Social Action
• Social Change
• Social Control
• Social Demography
• Sociology of Fashion
• Social Inequality
• Social Justice
• Social Mobility
• Social Movements
• Sociology News
• Social Pathology
• Social Problems
• Social Structure
• Social Stratification
• Sociology of Law
• Sociology of Social Media
• Sociology of Development
• Social Relationship
• Theoretical Perspectives
• Tribal Society
• Interest and Attitude
• Neo Functionalism
• Neo-Marxism
• Weaker Section & Minorities
• Women And Society
• Symbolic Interactionism
• Jurisprudence
• Sociology Of Environment
• Sir Edward Evans Pritchard
• Ruth Benedict
• Margaret Mead
• B. Malinowski
• Alfred Schultz
• Herbert Marcuse
• Edmund Leach
• Ralph Linton
• Peter M. Blau
• Auguste Comte
• Emile Durkheim
• Herbert Spencer
• Karl Mannheim
• Sigmund Freud
• Pitirim Sorokin
• Talcott Parsons
• Ferdinand Tonnies
• Thomas Hobbes
• Sir Edward Burnett Taylor
• Karl Polyani
• Alfred Louis Kroeber
• Erving Goffman
• James George Frazer
• Ralph Dahrendorf
• Raymond Firth
• Radcliffe Brown
• Thomas Kuhn
• Poverty Line Debate
• UN Summit on Non- Communicable Diseases
• UN Summit on Non- UN Report on Domestic Violence
• New Women of Tomorrow:Study by Nielsen
• World Population Projections
• Status of Healthcare Services in Bihar
• HIV/AIDS and Mobility in South Asia- UNDP Report 2010
• Levels and Trends in Child Mortality
• India's Development Report Card vis-a-vis MDG
• Sex Ratio in India
• Urban Slum Population
• Short Notes
• Chicago School of Sociology
• Harriet Martineau(1802-876)
• Power of Sociology
• Why we need sociology
• The Sociological Imagination ( 1959)
• Theories of Socialization
• Street Corner Society
• Research Tools
• The social construction of Reality
• Feminization of Poverty
• The Politics of Information
• Global Stratification
• Population and Urbanization
• Sociological Perspectives on Health and Illness
• Sociological Perspectives
• Scientific Method in Sociological Research
• Research Designs in Sociology
• What we need to know about the Gender
• Statistics and Graphs in Sociology
• Mass Media and Communications
• Rites and Secularization
• Caste System
• Communalism and Secularism
• Social Institution

• Introduction to socialogy
• Human Evolution
• Sociology Development
• Sociology Importance
• Scope of Sociology
• Sociology&Anthro
• Sociology&P.Science
• Sociology&Philosophy
• Sociology&History
• Sociology&Economics
• Sociology&Psychology
• Sociology As Science
• Socio As Int Discipline
• Revolutions Impact
• Fields of Sociology
• Career in Sociology
• Roles of Sociologist
• Concepts in sociology
• Applied Sociology
• Popular Sociology
• Subject Matter of Sociology
• Sociological Imagination
• Micro Sociology and Macro Sociology

Home >> Introduction to Sociology >> Importance Of Sociology

Importance Of Sociology

In all ages and human times ever since out erect and restless species appeared upon the planet, men have been living with others of their kind in something called societies. Prior to the emergence of sociology the study of society was carried on in an unscientific manner and society had never been the central concern of any science. It is through the study of sociology that the truly scientific study of the society has been possible. Sociology alone studies social relationships, society itself. Sociology is interested in social relationships not because they are economic or political or religious or legal but because they are at the same time social. Sociology study how the relations combine, how they build up smaller or greater systems and how they respond to changes and changing needs or demands. Therefore the study of sociology is essentially analytical.

Sociology because of its bearing upon many of the problems of the present world has assumed such a great importance that it is considered to be the best approach to all the social sciences. Giddings have rightly pointed out, 'Sociology tells us how to become what we want to be.'

Sociology studies society in a scientific way Before the emergence of sociology there was no systematic and scientific attempt to study human society with all its complexities. Sociology has made it possible to study society in a scientific manner. This scientific knowledge about human society is needed in order to achieve progress in various fields.

Sociology throws more light on the social nature of man Sociology delves deep into the social nature of man. It tells us why man is a social animal, why he lives in a group, communities and societies. It examines the relationship between individual and society, the impact of society on man and other matters.

Sociology increases the power of social action The science of society assists an individual to understand himself, his capacities, talents and limitations. It enables him to adjust himself to the environment. Knowledge of society, social groups, social institutions, associations, their functions etc. helps us to lead an effective social life.

Sociology studies role of the institutions in the development of the individuals It is through sociology that scientific study of the great social institutions and the relation of the individual to each is being made. The home and family, the school and education, the church and religion, the state and government, industry and work, the community and association, these are institutions through which society functions. Sociology studies these institutions and their role in the development of the individual and suggests suitable measures for strengthening them with a view to enable them to serve the individual better.

Study of sociology is indispensable for understanding and planning of society Society is a complex phenomenon with a multitude of intricacies. It is impossible to understand and solve its numerous problems without support of sociology. It is rightly said that we cannot understand and mend society without any knowledge of its mechanism and construction. Without the investigation carried out by sociology no real effective social planning would be possible. It helps us to determine the most efficient means for reaching the goals agreed upon. A certain amount of knowledge about society is necessary before any social policies can be carried out.

Sociology is of great importance in the solution of social problems The present world is suffering from many problems that can be solved through scientific study of the society. It is the task of sociology to study the social problems through the methods of scientific research and to find out solution to them. The scientific study of human affairs will ultimately provide the body of knowledge and principles that will enable us to control the conditions of social life and improve them.

Sociology has drawn our attention to the intrinsic worth and dignity of man Sociology has been instrumental in changing our attitude towards human beings. In a specialized society we are all limited as to the amount of the whole organization and culture that we can experience directly. We can hardly know the people of other areas intimately. In order to have insight into and appreciation of the motives by which others live and the conditions under which they exist knowledge of sociology is essential.

Sociology has changed our outlook with regard to the problems of crime It is through the study of sociology that our whole outlook on various aspects of crime has change. The criminals are now treated as human beings suffering from mental deficiencies and efforts are accordingly made to rehabilitate them as useful members of the society.

Sociology has made great contribution to enrich human culture Human culture has been made richer by the contribution of sociology. The social phenomenon is now understood in the light of scientific knowledge and enquiry. According to Lowie most of us harbor the comfortable delusion that our way of doing things is the only sensible if not only possible one. Sociology has given us training to have rational approach to questions concerning oneself, one's religion, customs, morals and institutions. It has further taught us to be objective, critical and dispassionate. It enables man to have better understanding both of himself and of others. By comparative study of societies and groups other than his existence, his life becomes richer and fuller than it would otherwise be. Sociology also impresses upon us the necessity of overcoming narrow personal prejudices, ambitions and class hatred.

Sociology is of great importance in the solution of international problems The progress made by physical sciences has brought the nations of the world nearer to each other. But in the social field the world has been left behind by the revolutionary progress of the science. The world is divided politically giving rise to stress and conflict. Men have failed to bring in peace. Sociology can help us in understanding the underlying causes and tensions.

The value of sociology lies in the fact that it keeps us update on modern situations It contributes to making good citizens and finding solutions to the community problems. It adds to the knowledge of the society. It helps the individual find his relation to society. The study of social phenomena and of the ways and means of promoting what Giddens calls social adequacy is one of the most urgent needs of the modern society. Sociology has a strong appeal to all types of mind through its direct bearing upon many of the initial problems of the present world.

Study of society has helped governments to promote the welfare of the tribal and marginalized communities The tribal and marginalized communities face many socio-economic and cultural problems. Studies conducted by sociologists and anthropologists regarding tribal societies and problems have helped governments in undertaking social welfare measures and programmes for the welfare purposes.

Sociology is useful as a teaching subject Sociology is a profession in which technical competence brings its own rewards. Sociologists those trained in research procedures are contributing in business, government, industry, social sector, communications and many other areas of community life. Sociology has now become practical enough to be practiced in the other fields prominently in local, state, national and international levels. Do you need professional help with writing your sociology papers online? Visit this essay writing service and hire a team of experienced writers for getting instant academic assistance.

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

5.3 Social Interaction in Everyday Life

Learning objectives.

• Describe what is meant by dramaturgy and by impression management.
• Provide one example of role conflict or role strain.
• List one or two gender differences in nonverbal communication.

A fundamental feature of social life is social interaction , or the ways in which people act with other people and react to how other people are acting. To recall our earlier paraphrase of John Donne, no one is an island. This means that all individuals, except those who choose to live truly alone, interact with other individuals virtually every day and often many times in any one day. For social order, a prerequisite for any society, to be possible, effective social interaction must be possible. Partly for this reason, sociologists interested in microsociology have long tried to understand social life by analyzing how and why people interact they way they do. This section draws on their work to examine various social influences on individual behavior. As you read this section, you will probably be reading many things relevant to your own social interaction.

Social interaction is a fundamental feature of social life. For social order to be possible, effective social interaction must also be possible.

Martina – Friends – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Chapter 4 “Socialization” emphasized that socialization results from our social interaction. The reverse is also true: we learn how to interact from our socialization. We have seen many examples of this process in earlier chapters. Among other things, we learn from our socialization how far apart to stand when talking to someone else, we learn to enjoy kissing, we learn how to stand and behave in an elevator, and we learn how to behave when we are drunk. Perhaps most important for the present discussion, we especially learn our society’s roles, outlined earlier as a component of social structure. The importance of roles for social interaction merits further discussion here.

Roles and Social Interaction

Our earlier discussion of roles defined them as the behaviors expected of people in a certain status. Regardless of our individual differences, if we are in a certain status, we are all expected to behave in a way appropriate to that status. Roles thus help make social interaction possible.

As our example of shoppers and cashiers was meant to suggest, social interaction based on roles is usually very automatic, and we often perform our roles without thinking about them. This, in fact, is why social interaction is indeed possible: if we always had to think about our roles before we performed them, social interaction would be slow, tedious, and fraught with error. (Analogously, if actors in a play always had to read the script before performing their lines, as an understudy sometimes does, the play would be slow and stilted.) It is when people violate their roles that the importance of roles is thrown into sharp relief. Suppose you were shopping in a department store, and while you were in the checkout line the cashier asked you how your sex life has been! Now, you might expect such an intimate question from a very close friend, because discussions of intimate matters are part of the roles close friends play, but you would definitely not expect it from a cashier you do not know.

As this example suggests, effective social interaction rests on shared background assumptions , or our understanding of the roles expected of people in a given encounter, that are easily violated if one has the nerve to do so. If they are violated, social order might well break down, as you would quickly find if you dared to ask your cashier how her or his sex life has been, or if two students sitting in class violated their student role by kissing each other passionately. Sociologist Harold Garfinkel (1967) argued that unexpected events like these underscore how fragile social order is and remind us that people are constantly constructing the social reality of the situations in which they find themselves. To illustrate his point, he had his students perform a series of experiments, including acting like a stranger in their parents’ home. Not surprisingly, their parents quickly became flustered and wondered what college was doing to their daughters and sons!

These examples indicate that social reality is to a large extent socially constructed. It is what we make of it, and individuals who interact help construct the reality of the situation in which they interact. Sociologists refer to this process as the social construction of reality (Berger & Luckmann, 1963). Although we usually come into a situation with shared understandings of what is about to happen, as the interaction proceeds the actors continue to define the situation and thus to construct its reality. This view lies at the heart of the symbolic interactionist perspective and helps us understand how and why roles (or to be more precise, our understanding of what behavior is expected of someone in a certain status) make social interaction possible.

Roles and Personalities

Roles help us interact and help make social order possible, but they may even shape our personalities. The idea here is that if we assume a new role, the expectations of that role can change how we interact with others and even the way we think about ourselves. In short, roles can change our personalities.

Roles can shape personalities. When individuals become police officers, the nature of their job can prompt them to act and think in a more authoritarian manner.

United States Forces Iraq – Pat down practice – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

A telling example of this effect comes from the story of a criminal justice professor from Florida named George Kirkham. In his classes, Kirkham would be critical of the harshness with which police treated suspects and other citizens. One day, some police officers in one of his classes said Kirkham could not begin to understand what it was like being a police officer, and they challenged him to become one. He took up the challenge by gaining admission to a police academy and going through the regular training program for all recruits. Kirkham (1984) later recounted what happened on his first few days on the job. In one episode, he and his veteran partner went into a bar where an intoxicated patron had been causing trouble. Kirkham politely asked the patron to go with him outside. Evidently surprised by this new police officer’s politeness, the man instead swung at Kirkham and landed a blow. Kirkham could not believe this happened and was forced to subdue his assailant. In another episode, Kirkham and his partner were checking out the driver of a double-parked car. An ugly crowd soon gathered and began making threats. Alarmed, Kirkham opened up his car’s trunk and pulled out a shotgun to keep the crowd away. In recounting this episode, Kirkham wrote that as a professor he quickly would have condemned the police officer he had now become. In a few short days, he had turned from a polite, kind professor into a gruff, angry police officer. His role had changed and, along with it, his personality.

Role Problems

Roles help our interactions run smoothly and automatically and, for better or worse, shape our personalities. But roles can also cause various kinds of problems. One such problem is role conflict , which occurs when the roles of our many statuses conflict with each other. For example, say you are a student and also a parent. Your 3-year-old child gets sick. You now have a conflict between your role as a parent and your role as a student. To perform your role as a parent, you should stay home with your sick child. To perform your role as a student, you should go to your classes and take the big exam that had been scheduled weeks ago. What do you do?

Figure 5.3 Example of a Role Conflict

Parents can often experience role conflict stemming from the fact that they have both parental responsibilities and work responsibilities.

Lindsey Turner – working mom – CC BY 2.0.

One thing is clear: you cannot perform both roles at the same time. To resolve role conflict, we ordinarily have to choose between one role and the other, which is often a difficult choice to make. In this example, if you take care of your child, you miss your classes and exam; if you go to your classes, you have to leave your child at home alone, an unacceptable and illegal option. Another way to resolve role conflict is to find some alternative that would meet the needs of your conflicting roles. In our sick child example, you might be able to find someone to watch your child until you can get back from classes. It is certainly desirable to find such alternatives, but, unfortunately, they are not always forthcoming. If role conflict becomes too frequent and severe, a final option is to leave one of your statuses altogether. In our example, if you find it too difficult to juggle your roles as parent and student, you could stop being a parent—hardly likely!—or, more likely, take time off from school until your child is older. Most of us in these circumstances would try our best to avoid having to do this.

Another role-related problem is called role strain . Here you have one status, and a role associated with it, that is causing problems because of all the demands coming to you from people in other statuses with which your own status is involved. Suppose you were a high school principal. In your one role as a principal, you come into contact with people in several different statuses: teachers, students, custodial and support staff, the superintendent, school board members, the community as a whole, and the news media. These statuses may make competing demands on you in your one role as a principal. If your high school has a dress code, for example, the students may want you to abolish it, the teachers and superintendent may want you to keep it, and maybe the school board would agree with the students. As you try to please all these competing factions, you certainly might experience some role strain!

A third type of role problem occurs when we occupy a status whose role demands a certain type of personality that differs from the one we actually have. Can you imagine a police officer who was afraid of guns? An athlete who was not competitive? A flight attendant who did not like helping people or was afraid of flying? Although most people avoid this type of role problem by not taking on a role to which their personality is ill suited, such problems occur nonetheless. For example, some people who dislike children and do not have the patience to be good parents end up being parents anyway. In another example, your author once knew a new professor who was woefully nervous lecturing in front of students. You might wonder why he became a professor in the first place, but he probably just loved the subject matter so much that he thought he would overcome his nervousness. He did not.

Dramaturgy and Impression Management

From a sociological standpoint, much of our social interaction can be understood by likening it to a performance in a play. As with so many things, Shakespeare said it best when he wrote,

  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. (As You Like It, Act II, Scene 7)

From this perspective, each individual has many parts or roles to play in society, and many of these roles specify how we should interact in any given situation. These roles exist before we are born, and they continue long after we die. The culture of society is thus similar to the script of a play. Just as actors in a play learn what lines to say, where to stand on the stage, how to position their bodies, and so many other things, so do we learn as members of society the roles that specify how we should interact.

This fundamental metaphor was developed and popularized by sociologist Erving Goffman (1959) in what he called a dramaturgical approach . By this he meant that we can understand social interaction as if it were a theatrical performance. People who interact are actors on a stage, the things they say and do are equivalent to the parts actors play, and any people who observe their interaction are equivalent to the audience at a play. As sociologists Jonathan H. Turner and Jan E. Stets (2006, p. 26) summarize this approach, “Individuals are, in essence, dramatic actors on a stage playing parts dictated by culture, and, like all theater, they are given some dramatic license in how they play roles, as long as they do not deviate too far from the emotional script provided by culture.”

Erving Goffman’s dramaturgical approach likened social interaction to acting in a theatrical performance.

Manolis Skantzakis – ”with regar to Mr Alexandros” – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Beyond these aspects of his theatrical analogy, Goffman also stressed that the presentation of self guides social interaction just as it guides behavior in a play. Actors in a play, he wrote, aim to act properly, which at a minimum means they need to say their lines correctly and in other ways carry out their parts as they were written. They try to convey the impression of their character the playwright had in mind when the play was written and the director has in mind when the play is presented.

Such impression management , Goffman wrote, also guides social interaction in everyday life. When people interact, they routinely try to convey a positive impression of themselves to the people with whom they interact. Our behavior in a job interview differs dramatically (pun intended) from our behavior at a party. The key dimension of social interaction, then, involves trying to manage the impressions we convey to the people with whom we interact. We usually do our best, consciously or unconsciously, to manage the impressions we convey to others and so to evoke from them reactions that will please us.

Goffman wrote about other aspects of social interaction that affect our efforts to manage these impressions. Again using his dramaturgical metaphor, he said that some interaction occurs in the “frontstage,” or front region, while other interaction occurs in the “backstage,” or back region (Goffman, 1959, p. 128). In a play, of course, the frontstage is what the audience sees and is obviously the location in which the actors are performing their lines. Backstage, they can do whatever they want, and the audience will have no idea of what they are doing (as long as they are quiet). Much of our everyday interaction is on the frontstage, where an audience can see everything we do and hear everything we say. But we also spend a lot of time on the backstage, by ourselves, when we can do and say things in private (such as singing in the shower) that we would not dare do or say in public.

Social interaction involves impression management. How a student behaves with a professor is probably very different from how the same student behaves when out on the town with friends.

UNH Manchester – Aspirations in Computing Studies – CC BY 2.0.

How we dress is also a form of impression management. You are the same person regardless of what clothes you wear, but if you dress for a job interview as you would dress for a party (to use our earlier example), the person interviewing you would get an impression you might not want to convey. If you showed up for a medical visit and your physician were wearing a bathing suit, wouldn’t you feel just a bit uneasy?

Sociology Making a Difference

Impression Management and Job Interviewing

Erving Goffman’s (1959) concept of impression management, discussed in the text, is one of the key sociological insights for the understanding of social interaction. One reason the concept has been so useful, and one reason that it interests many college students, is that impression management has so much practical relevance. Anyone who has gone out on a first date or had a job interview can immediately recognize that impression management is something we all do and can immediately realize the importance of effective impression management.

Impression management is important in many settings and situations but perhaps especially important in the job interview. Many scholarly publications and job-hunting manuals emphasize the importance of proper impression management during a job interview, especially an interview for a full-time, well-paying job, as opposed to a fast-food job or something similar (Van Iddekinge, McFarland, & Raymark, 2007). The strategies they discuss include impression management involving dress, body language, and other dimensions of social interaction. Interviewing tips they recommend include (a) dressing professionally, (b) showing up early for the interview, (c) shaking hands firmly while smiling and looking the interviewer in the eye, (d) sitting with a comfortable but erect posture without crossing one’s arms, (e) maintaining eye contact with the interviewer throughout the interview, and (f) shaking hands at the end of the interview and saying thank you.

These strategies and tips are probably more familiar to college students from wealthy backgrounds than to working-class people who have not gone to college. Sociologists emphasize the importance of cultural capital , or attitudes, skills, and knowledge that enable people to achieve a higher social status (Bourdieu & Passeron, 1990). People who grow up in poverty or near-poverty, including disproportionate numbers of people of color, are less likely than those who grow up in much wealthier circumstances to possess cultural capital. The attitudes, skills, and knowledge that many college students have and take for granted, including how to conduct oneself during a job interview, are much less familiar to individuals who grow up without cultural capital. To use some sociological language, they know much less about how to manage their impressions during a job interview should they get one and thus are less likely to be hired after an interview.

For this reason, many public and private agencies in poor and working-class communities around the country regularly hold workshops on job interviewing skills. These workshops emphasize strategies similar to those outlined earlier. One of the many organizations that offer these workshops and provides related services is the Los Angeles Urban League ( http://www.laul.org/milken-family-literacy-and-youth-training-center ) through its Milken Family Literacy and Youth Training Center. According to its Web site, this center “provides a comprehensive system of services of programs and services to assist youth and adults in developing the skills to compete for and obtain meaningful employment.” Much of what the youth and adults who attend its workshops and other programs are learning is impression-management skills that help them find employment. Goffman’s concept is helping make a difference.

Individuals engage in impression management, but so do groups and organizations. Consider the medical visit just mentioned. A physician’s office usually “looks” a certain way. It is clean, it has carpeting, it has attractive furniture, and it has magazines such as People , Time , and Sports Illustrated . Such an office assures patients by conveying the impression that the physician and staff are competent professionals. Imagine that you entered a physician’s office and saw torn carpeting, some broken furniture, and magazines such as Maxim and Playboy . What would be your instant reaction? How soon would you turn around and leave the office? As this fanciful example illustrates, impression management is critically important for groups and organizations as well as for individuals.

Impression management occurs with physical settings. These two eating establishments convey very different impressions of the quality of food and service that diners can expect.

AILAFM – Eaton Centre Food Hall – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Laura Henderson – Restaurant – CC BY-ND 2.0.

Life is filled with impression management. Compare the decor of your favorite fast-food restaurant with that of a very expensive restaurant with which you might be familiar. Compare the appearance, dress, and demeanor of the servers and other personnel in the two establishments. The expensive restaurant is trying to convey an image that the food will be wonderful and that the time you spend there will be memorable and well worth the money. The fast-food restaurant is trying to convey just the opposite impression. In fact, if it looked too fancy, you would probably think it was too expensive.

Some people go to great efforts to manage the impressions they convey. You have probably done so in a job interview or on a date. In New York City, the capital of book publishing, editors of large publishing companies and “superagents” for authors are very conscious of the impressions they convey, because much of the publishing industry depends on gossip, impressions, and the development of rapport. Editors and agents often dine together in one of a few very expensive “power” restaurants, where their presence is certain to be noted. Publishers or senior editors who dine at these restaurants will eat only with celebrity authors, other senior editors or publishers, or important agents. Such agents rarely dine with junior editors, who are only “allowed” to eat with junior agents. To eat with someone “beneath” your standing would convey the wrong impression (Arnold, 1998).

Emotions and Social Interaction

When we interact with others, certain emotions —feelings that begin with a stimulus and that often involve psychological changes and a desire to engage in specific actions—often come into play. To understand social interaction, it is helpful to understand how these emotions emerge and how they affect and are affected by social interaction.

Not surprisingly, evolutionary biologists and sociologists differ in their views on the origins of emotions. Many evolutionary biologists think that human emotions exist today because they conferred an evolutionary advantage when human civilization began eons ago (Plutchik, 2001). In this way of thinking, an emotion such as fear would help prehistoric humans (as well as other primates and organisms) survive by enabling them to recognize and avoid dangerous situations. Humans who could feel and act on fear were thus more likely to survive than those who could not. In this way, fear became a biological instinct and part of our genetic heritage. The fact that emotions such as anger, fear, hate, joy, love, and sadness are found across the world and in every culture suggests that emotions are indeed part of our biological makeup as humans.

In contrast to the evolutionary approach, a sociological approach emphasizes that emotions are socially constructed (Turner & Stets, 2006). To recall our earlier discussion of the social construction of reality, this means that people learn from their culture and from their social interactions which emotions are appropriate to display in which situations. In particular, statuses and the roles associated with them involve expectations of specific emotions that are appropriate or inappropriate for a given status in a given social setting. Someone attending a wedding is expected to look and be happy for the couple about to be married. Someone attending a funeral is expected to look and be mournful. Emotions are socially constructed because they arise out of the roles we play and the situations in which we find ourselves.

Sociologists emphasize that emotions are socially constructed, as they arise out of expectations for specific roles in specific settings. Because we expect people to have very different emotions at weddings and funerals, they usually end up having these emotions.

Elliot Harmon – Wedding – CC BY-SA 2.0; spazbot29 – Funeral – CC BY-SA 2.0.

The origins of emotions aside, emotions still play an essential role in social interaction, and social interaction gives rise to emotions. Accordingly, sociologists have discussed many aspects of emotions and social interaction (Turner & Stets, 2006), a few of which we outline here. One important aspect is that insincere displays of emotion can be used to manipulate a situation. For example, a child or adult may cry to win some sympathy, a display popularly called “crocodile tears.” A staple of many novels and films is to pretend to be sorry that a rich, elderly relative is very ill in order to win a place in the relative’s will. By the same token, though, people who display inappropriate emotions risk social disapproval. If you are attending a funeral of someone you did not really know that well and, out of boredom, think of a recent episode of The Simpsons that makes you chuckle, the glares you get will make it very clear that your emotional display is quite inappropriate.

As this example suggests, a second aspect of emotions is that we often find ourselves in situations that “demand” certain emotions we simply do not feel. This discrepancy forces most of us to manage our emotions to avoid social disapproval, a process called emotion work (Hochschild, 1983). Having to engage in emotion work in turn often leads us to feel other emotions such as anger or frustration.

A third aspect is that gender influences the emotions we feel and display. In sociology, work on gender and emotions often falls under the larger topic of femininity and masculinity as expressions of gender roles, which Chapter 11 “Gender and Gender Inequality” examines at greater length. Suffice it to say here, though at the risk of sounding stereotypical, that certain gender differences in emotions and the display of emotions do exist. For example, women cry more often and more intensely than men, and men outwardly express anger much more often than women. A key question is whether gender differences in emotions (as well as other gender differences) stem more from biology or more from culture, socialization, and other social origins. Chapter 11 “Gender and Gender Inequality” again has more to stay about this basic debate in the study of gender.

According to sociologist Jonathan Turner, positive emotions are found more often among the wealthy, while negative emotions are found more often among the poor.

Eva Rinaldi – Paris Hilton – CC BY-SA 2.0; alessandro isnotaurelio – homeless – CC BY 2.0.

A final aspect is that emotions differ across the social classes. Jonathan Turner (2010) notes that some emotions, such as happiness and trust, are positive emotions, while other emotions, such as anger, fear, and sadness, are negative emotions. Positive emotions, he says, lead to more successful social interaction and help gain needed resources (e.g., a cheerful demeanor and self-confidence can help win a high-paying job or attract a romantic partner), while negative emotions have the opposite effect. He adds that positive emotions are more often found among the upper social classes, while negative emotions are more often found among the poorer social classes. Emotion is thus “a valued resource that is distributed unequally” (Turner, 2010, pp. 189–190). The upper classes benefit from their positive emotions, while the lower classes suffer various problems because of their negative emotions. In this manner, the social class difference in positive versus negative emotions helps reinforce social inequality.

Nonverbal Social Interaction

Social interaction is both verbal and nonverbal. As Chapter 3 “Culture” discussed, culture greatly influences nonverbal communication , or ways of communicating that do not involve talking. Nonverbal communication includes the gestures we use and how far apart we stand when we talk with someone. When we do talk with someone, much more nonverbal interaction happens beyond gestures and standing apart. We might smile, laugh, frown, grimace, or engage in any number of other facial expressions (with or without realizing we are doing so) that let the people with whom we interact know how we feel about what we are saying or they are saying. Often how we act nonverbally is at least as important, and sometimes more important, than what our mouths are saying.

Body posture is another form of nonverbal communication, and one that often combines with facial expressions to convey how a person feels. People who are angry may cross their arms or stand with their hands on their hips and glare at someone. Someone sitting slouched in a chair looks either very comfortable or very bored, and neither posture is one you would want to use at an interview for a job you really wanted to get. Men and women may engage in certain postures while they are flirting with someone. Consciously or not, they sit or stand in certain ways that convey they are romantically interested in a particular person and hopeful that the person will return this interest.

Learning From Other Societies

Personal Space and Standing Apart: Why People From Other Countries Think Americans Are Cold and Distant

As the text discusses, one aspect of nonverbal interaction involves how far we stand apart from someone with whom we are talking. To amplify on a point first mentioned in Chapter 2 “Eye on Society: Doing Sociological Research” , Americans and the citizens of Great Britain and the northern European nations customarily stand about three to four feet apart from someone who is a stranger or acquaintance. If we are closer to this person without having to be closer—that is, we’re not in a crowded elevator, bar, or other setting in which it is impossible to be farther apart—we feel uncomfortable.

In contrast, people in many parts of the world—South and Central America, Africa, the Middle East, and Western European nations such as France, Spain, and Italy—stand much closer to someone with whom they are talking. In these nations, people stand only about 9 to 15 inches apart when they talk. If someone for some reason wanted to stand another two feet away, a member of one of these nations would view this person as unfriendly and might well feel insulted (Ting-Toomey, 1999; Samovar, Porter, & McDaniel, 2010).

Your author once found himself in this situation in Maine. I was talking to a professor from a Middle Eastern nation who was standing very close to me. To feel more comfortable, I moved back a step or two, without really realizing it. The professor moved forward, evidently to feel more comfortable himself, and then I moved back. He again moved forward, and I again moved back. Within a few minutes, we had moved about 20 to 30 feet!

When Americans travel abroad, anecdotal evidence indicates that they often think that people in other nations are pushy and demanding and that these citizens view Americans as cold and aloof (Ellsworth, 2005). Although there are many cultural differences between Americans and people in other lands, personal space is one of the most important differences. This fact yields an important lesson for any American who travels abroad, and it also illustrates the significance of culture for behavior and thus the value of the sociological perspective.

As with emotions, gender appears to influence how people communicate nonverbally (Hall, 2006). For example, a number of studies find that women are more likely than men to smile, to nod, and to have more expressive faces. Once again, biologists and social scientists disagree over the origins of these and other gender differences in nonverbal communication, with social scientists attributing the differences to gender roles, culture, and socialization.

Research finds that women tend to smile more often than men. Biologists and social scientists disagree over the origins of this gender difference in nonverbal communication.

mhobl – colourful and smiling – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Gender differences also exist in two other forms of nonverbal interaction: eye contact and touching. Women tend more than men to look directly into the eyes of people with whom they interact, a process called gazing . Such gazing is meant to convey interest in the interaction and to be nonthreatening. On the other hand, men are more likely than women to stare at someone in a way that is indeed threatening. A man might stare at a man because he resents something the other man said or did; a man might stare at a woman because he eyes her as a sexual object. In touching, men are more likely than women to touch someone, especially when that someone is a woman; as he guides her through a doorway, for example, he might put his arm behind her arm or back. On the other hand, women are more likely than men to touch themselves when they are talking with someone, a process called self-touching . Thus if a woman is saying “I think that…,” she might briefly touch the area just below her neck to refer to herself. Men are less likely to refer to themselves in this manner.

Key Takeaways

• A dramaturgical approach likens social interaction to a dramatic production.
• Individuals ordinarily try to manage the impression they make when interacting with others. Social interaction can be understood as a series of attempts at impression management.
• Various kinds of role strains and problems often occur as individuals try to perform the roles expected of them from the many statuses they occupy.
• Emotions and nonverbal communication are essential components of social interaction. Sociologists and biologists disagree on the origins of gender differences in these two components.

For Your Review

• Describe a recent example of how you tried to manage the impression you were conveying in a social interaction.
• Describe a recent example of a role problem that you experienced and what you did, if anything, to reduce this problem.
• If you were in charge of our society, what socialization practice would you most try to change to help improve our society? Explain your answer.

Enhancing Social Interaction: What Sociology Suggests

If a goal of this book is to help you understand more about yourself and the social world around you, then a sociological understanding of social interaction should help your own social interaction and also that of other people.

We see evidence of the practical value of a sociological understanding in the “Sociology Making a Difference” and “Learning From Other Societies” boxes in this chapter. The “Sociology Making a Difference” box discussed the impact that Goffman’s concept of impression management has made in job hunting in general and particularly in efforts to improve the employment chances of the poor and people of color. The “Learning From Other Societies” box discussed why Americans sometimes have trouble interacting with people abroad. Differences in personal space can lead to hurt feelings between Americans and people in other nations.

If we are aware, then, of the importance of impression management, we can be more conscious of the impressions we are making in our daily interactions, whether they involve talking with a professor, interviewing for a job, going out on a first date, or speaking to a police officer who has pulled you over. By the same token, if we are aware of the importance of personal space, we can improve our interactions with people with different cultural backgrounds. Thus, if we are Americans of northern European ancestry and are interacting with people from other nations, we can be aware that physical distance matters and perhaps stand closer to someone than we might ordinarily feel comfortable doing to help the other person feel more comfortable and like us more. Conversely, readers who are not Americans of northern European ancestry might move back a step or two to accomplish the same goals.

To illustrate the importance of enhancing social interaction among people from different cultural backgrounds, the federal government has prepared a document called “Developing Cultural Competence in Disaster Mental Health Programs: Guiding Principles and Recommendations” ( http://mentalhealth. samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/sma03-3828/sectiontwo.asp ). The document is designed to help mental-health professionals who are assisting victims of natural disasters in other countries or within the United States. It warns professionals that cultural differences may impede their efforts to help victims: “Both verbal and nonverbal communication can be barriers to providing effective disaster crisis counseling when survivors and workers are from different cultures. Culture influences how people express their feelings as well as what feelings are appropriate to express in a given situation. The inability to communicate can make both parties feel alienated and helpless.” It also advises professionals to be aware of the personal space needs of the people they are trying to help: “A person from one subculture might touch or move closer to another as a friendly gesture, whereas someone from a different culture might consider such behavior invasive. Disaster-crisis counselors must look for clues to a survivor’s need for space. Such clues may include, for example, moving the chair back or stepping closer.” As this document makes clear, if we can draw on a sociological understanding to enhance our social interaction skills, we can help not only ourselves but also people who come from other cultures.

Arnold, M. (1998, June 11). Art of foreplay at the table. The New York Times , p. B3.

Berger, P., & Luckmann, T. (1963). The social construction of reality . New York, NY: Doubleday.

Bourdieu, P., & Passeron, J.-C. (1990). Reproduction in education, society and culture . Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Ellsworth, M. (2005, December 12). Crossing cultures—Personal space. ExPatFacts . Retrieved from http://www.expatfacts.com/2005/12/crossing_cultures_personal_spa.html .

Garfinkel, H. (1967). Studies in ethnomethodology . Cambridge, England: Polity Press.

Goffman, E. (1959). The presentation of self in everyday life . Garden City, NY: Doubleday.

Hall, J. A. (2006). Women’s and men’s nonverbal communication: Similarities, differences, stereotypes, and origins. In V. Manusov & M. L. Patterson (Eds.), The Sage handbook of nonverbal communication (pp. 201–218). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Hochschild, A. R. (1983). The managed heart: Commercialization of human feeling . Berkeley: University of California Press.

Kirkham, G. L. (1984). A professor’s “street lessons.” In R. G. Culbertson (Ed.), “Order under law”: Readings in criminal justice (pp. 77–89). Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press.

Plutchik, R. (2001). The nature of emotions. American Scientist, 89 , 344–350.

Ting-Toomey, S. (1999). Communicating across cultures . New York, NY: Guilford Press; Samovar, L. A., Porter, R. E., & McDaniel, E. R. (2010). Communication between cultures (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth.

Turner, J. H., & Stets, J. E. (2006). Sociological theories of human emotions. Annual Review of Sociology, 32 , 25–52.

Turner, J. H. (2010). The stratification of emotions: Some preliminary generalizations. Sociological Inquiry, 80 , 168–199.

Van Iddekinge, C. H., McFarland, L. A., & Raymark, P. H. (2007). Antecedents of impression management use and effectiveness in a structured interview. Journal of Management, 33 , 752–773.

Sociology Copyright © 2016 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Why is Sociology Important? Driving Positive Change

Editorial note.

Thank you to our generous sponsors, Sociologists for Women in Society , Center for Equity Education , Azama Development Foundation , and Sociological Practice & Public Sociology (SPPS) – American Sociological Association (ASA) for helping us make Applied Worldwide’s 2023 “Why is Sociology Important?” student essay competition a success!

This essay on the importance of sociology was published on behalf of Applied Worldwide’s 2023 Global Student Essay Competition. For the 2023 competition, we awarded 16 student essayists across eight countries and one US territory and will be sharing each winning essay in our “Why is Sociology Important?” essay collection.

This sociology essay was written by Sarah Daniel, a second year undergraduate student of law at Gombe State University in Nigeria and earned a 3rd place prize in the competition.

Why is Sociology Important? Driving Positive Change, Sarah Daniel

Introduction, why is sociology important.

A frequently asked question in any subject taught in schools is “how will this help me in life?” The question of usefulness is a question that confronts every field of study and sociology is not an exception. A considerable number of students find the study of sociology fascinating but just have a hard time comprehending how it is something we can apply to everyday life. When examined closely it is easy to see how sociology is truly something we can apply to everyday lives and is indeed a science that contributes to the betterment of the world. It is a vast and multi-branched field that covers a wide range of topics, including social inequality, race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, socialization, culture, globalization, social institutions, and social change. Sociology plays an important role in our everyday lives in many different ways.

The importance of sociology lies in its ability to enhance our knowledge of social life and offer practical solutions to complex social problems. Sociologists use scientific methodologies to gather data, analyse social patterns, and develop theories that help explain social phenomena. Its theoretical perspectives and research methods enable us to analyse and interpret social phenomena from different lenses, such as structural-functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism, postmodernism, and feminism. This scientific approach allows us to identify relationships between social variables that contribute to social problems, such as economic inequality, racism, and sexism.

How sociology brings value to our immediate environment and the world around us

Nigeria, a country with a population of over 200 million people is Africa’s most populous country and its largest democracy. With more than 300 ethnic groups and over 500 languages, and many distinct religious and regional differences, its one of the world’s most culturally diverse countries. To foster unity amidst diverse ethnic groups and religious persuasions in Nigeria, sociology provides a significant toolset. It offers valuable insight into the unique challenges and perspectives of each community, providing empathy and understanding. By amplifying the voices of marginalised groups, sociology opens a gateway for inclusive dialogue, recognition, and equitable representation. In short, sociology offers an avenue for Nigerians to uphold their cultural and religious values whilst embracing diversity and promoting social harmony and tolerance.

Sociology plays a fundamental role in my community by helping individuals to understand the complex social dynamics that affect their lives. The discipline examines the social, cultural, and economic factors that impact social relationships and offer insight into how these factors can be addressed. Sociologists can analyse the impact of social determinants such as education, income, and social status on health. Understanding these factors can help residents to make informed decisions about their lives and the best strategies to improve their situation.

Sociology empowers community members to be involved in social and political processes by recognizing their rights and ensuring representation. Through research on various societal groups like vulnerable children, women, the elderly, and the disabled, sociology can provide insight into their unique challenges, increase awareness and promote policy and programmatic interventions to bring social justice to those people. Andersen & Collins, rightly affirmed in their book, “Race, Class, and Gender,” that sociology can help young people understand how their daily interactions and experiences could positively or negatively influence their lives. In Nigeria, this could be used to promote the incorporation of perspectives of all community members in decision-making, ensuring that the voices of marginalized groups are heard.

How sociology makes a valuable difference in different professional sectors

In the healthcare sector, sociology can help to better understand the social factors that impact individual health and well-being. Medical sociologists use sociological theories and concepts to analyse the social aspects of health and illness. They explore how social inequalities affect access to healthcare services, health outcomes, and patient experiences. By understanding these sociological factors, healthcare professionals can create more effective interventions and policies to improve patient outcomes and reduce health disparities.

In the public policy sector, sociology plays an important role in shaping public policy decisions. Sociologists can provide data-driven insights into social issues and design programs and policies that address these issues effectively. Sociological perspectives help policymakers understand the impact of policies on different social groups and promote policies that promote social justice and equity.

Sociology has the potential to make a valuable difference in various professional sectors. It provides insights into how different social factors affect individual and group behavior, as well as how social structures and institutions operate in society. By integrating sociological perspectives into professional practice, educators, healthcare professionals, law enforcement agencies, and policymakers can better understand social dynamics and design practices and policies that promote social justice, equity, and inclusion.

How do sociological theories and research methods help drive positive change in the world?

Sociological research methods provide ways of collecting empirical data and testing theories to identify potential solutions to social issues. For instance, qualitative research methods such as interviews, focus groups, and ethnography helps us to gain a deeper understanding of people’s experiences and how they relate to social structures and systems. Quantitative research methods such as surveys, experiments, and statistical analysis can help us to identify patterns and trends across large data sets, ultimately helping us to identify solutions to social problems . Sociological research can also provide evidence for developing policies in areas like education, immigration, and healthcare.

Sociology serves as a vital and precious field of study. It provides us with the tools to comprehend how our society functions whilst also paving the way for progression. With its scientific inquiry, it reveals the underlying patterns that dictate our social relations, highlighting where social inequities lie. Its impact spans far and wide, shaping policies, research, pedagogy, and even business operations. These contributions serve as a crucial catalyst for social justice, equality, and transformation. By adding to our collective insight into social existence, the work of sociologists has the potential to make a positive difference in our world.

Meet our 2023 Global Student Essay Competition Sponsors!

Sociologists for Women in Society is a nonprofit professional feminist organization dedicated to:

Azama Development Foundation is a Non-governmental organization that actively works towards the development of youths and women to be self-reliant and productive. Our mission is to transform the lives of youths and women from all over Africa to be self-reliant and productive actively contributing to national economy, education and development, thereby eradicating poverty, illiteracy and lack of enlightenment in the region.

You Might Also Like

Realizing an educated world community through the sociology of education, sociology and everyday life: tackling systems of power together, intersectionality: how gender and race impact our world, sociology of religion: the case of indonesia, why is sociology important the case of mexico city, the social impacts of coronavirus on families in nigeria.

• A-Z Publications

Annual Review of Sociology

Volume 13, 1987, review article, everyday life sociology.

• Patricia A. Adler 1 , Peter Adler 1 , and Andrea Fontana 2
• View Affiliations Hide Affiliations Affiliations: Department of Sociology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130 Department of Sociology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada 89154
• Vol. 13:217-235 (Volume publication date August 1987) https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.so.13.080187.001245
• © Annual Reviews

Everyday life sociology comprises a broad spectrum of micro perspectives: symbolic interactionism, dramaturgy, phenomenology, ethnomethodology, and existential sociology. We discuss the underlying themes that bind these diverse subfields into a unified approach to the study of social interaction. We outline the historical development of everyday life sociology, indicating the individuals, ideas, and surrounding context that helped to shape this evolving theoretical movement. We then examine three contemporary developments in everyday life sociology that represent significant theoretical, substantive, and methodological advances: existential sociology, the sociology of emotions, and conversation analysis. Within these areas, we outline major themes, review recent literature, and evaluate their contribution to sociology. Everyday life sociology has had influence outside its arena, stimulating grand theorists to create various micro-macro syntheses. We consider these and their relation to the everyday life themes. We conclude by discussing the major critiques and assess the future promise and problems of this perspective.

Article metrics loading...

Full text loading...

• Article Type: Review Article

Most Read This Month

Most cited most cited rss feed, birds of a feather: homophily in social networks, social capital: its origins and applications in modern sociology, conceptualizing stigma, framing processes and social movements: an overview and assessment, organizational learning, the study of boundaries in the social sciences, assessing “neighborhood effects”: social processes and new directions in research, social exchange theory, culture and cognition, focus groups.

Publication Date: 01 Aug 1987

Online Option

Sign in to access your institutional or personal subscription or get immediate access to your online copy - available in PDF and ePub formats

24/7 writing help on your phone

To install StudyMoose App tap and then “Add to Home Screen”

The role and importance of Sociology

Save to my list

Remove from my list

The role and importance of Sociology. (2016, Apr 10). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/the-role-and-importance-of-sociology-essay

"The role and importance of Sociology." StudyMoose , 10 Apr 2016, https://studymoose.com/the-role-and-importance-of-sociology-essay

StudyMoose. (2016). The role and importance of Sociology . [Online]. Available at: https://studymoose.com/the-role-and-importance-of-sociology-essay [Accessed: 21 Jul. 2024]

"The role and importance of Sociology." StudyMoose, Apr 10, 2016. Accessed July 21, 2024. https://studymoose.com/the-role-and-importance-of-sociology-essay

"The role and importance of Sociology," StudyMoose , 10-Apr-2016. [Online]. Available: https://studymoose.com/the-role-and-importance-of-sociology-essay. [Accessed: 21-Jul-2024]

StudyMoose. (2016). The role and importance of Sociology . [Online]. Available at: https://studymoose.com/the-role-and-importance-of-sociology-essay [Accessed: 21-Jul-2024]

• The Role and Scope of Sociology Pages: 2 (384 words)
• The Role of Functionalism and Social Conflict Theory in Sociology Pages: 4 (990 words)
• The Role of Official Statistics in Sociology Pages: 6 (1548 words)
• Sociology's role in explaining ethnic educational achievement? Pages: 4 (991 words)
• Psychology and Sociology: Distinctions and Overlaps Pages: 2 (592 words)
• Factors that contributed to the rise and development of sociology Pages: 6 (1543 words)
• Sociology and Polite Social Behavior Pages: 2 (376 words)
• Sociology and Youth Sub-cultures Pages: 8 (2176 words)
• Gender Dysphoria The Social Cultural And Scientific Implications Sociology Pages: 7 (1840 words)
• Women And Gender Roles In Society Sociology Pages: 5 (1323 words)

👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!

Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.

• Free Essays

Sociology in Everyday Life

Sorry, but downloading text is forbidden on this website. if you need this or any other sample, we can send it to you via email. please, specify your valid email address.

By clicking "Submit", you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We'll occasionally send you account related and promo emails.

Thank you! How about make it original at only $13.90/page?

Let us edit it for you at only $13.90 to make it 100% original!

Everyday that you wake up and come into contact with what you do and the people you speak to is sociological. You wake up and interact with objects. Some of these objects you see yourself in such as your clothes, and your music, would be called the sociology of identification. If you live with your parents and siblings, you wake up and interact with them, by saying good morning and having breakfast with them. You recognize and participate in the family institution. When you go to school, or church, or your job, you know what's expected of you and you know how to act in the way that is labeled normal.

Therefore, you interact with a set of norms by conforming to them or breaking them which is deviance. The fact that we have an everyday life in which there are patterns in ways of living is what sets a foundation for sociological analysis and for being a witness in what we do, in order to understand ourselves better. You use sociology in many ways everyday. Race and ethnicity are important concepts in the field of sociology and are ones that are studied a great deal.

Race plays a large role in everyday human interactions and sociologists want to study how, why, and what the outcomes are of these interactions. There are several sociological theories about why prejudice, discrimination, and racism exist. Current sociological theories focus mainly on explaining the existence of racism. The three major sociological perspectives are, functionalist theory, symbolic interaction theory, and conflict theory they each have their own explanations to the existence of racism. The Structural-Functional theory argues that in order for race and thnic relations to be functional and contribute to the conduct and stability of society, racial and ethnic minorities must assimilate into that society. Assimilation is a process by which minorities gradually adopt patterns of a dominant culture. It is believed that deviance encourages social change. A good example of this would be how race and ethnicity are strongly linked to crime rates. The amount of African Americans that were involved in crimes was a higher proportion than any other race. African Americans makes up 13 percent of the population but were accounted for 28. percent of the arrest. There are several reasons why arrest for African American could be this high but the main cause would probably be because of social standing. Some disadvantages to the African American population are that white people have an overall higher occupational standing and they also receive schooling beyond high school. Many people of this race are brought into single parent homes which lead to a huge gap in wealth and these children receive less supervision which puts them in a greater risk of living in poverty.

Over 40 percent of African American children grow up in poor families leaving the high crime rates to not be a surprise. Prejudice is also another factor to the high crime rates because white police tend to arrest black people more readily. If crime involved drunk driving, business fraud, embezzlement, and cheating on tax returns the white population rate of crime would rise dramatically. These factors have made many people of this race strive for the best while others are still not trying at all.

Although we operate from a class system it seems like many African Americans are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Individual achievement isn’t happening. If more people would aim for individual achievement, social standing wouldn’t be such an issue in today’s time. I believe categorizing people according to their color, sex, or social background is wrong. The only way to overcome these negative stereotypes is to stand above the descriptions that have been applied to your race. I have learned that hardwork is the key to success, whether it is in life, work, or your social standing.

Even though social stratification carries over from generation to generation it doesn’t mean you have to have the same life your parents had. Everyone is able to achieve a better life if they work for it. Social stratification is found everywhere and what is equal and unequal is different in all societies. In my society it seems like wealth and power is the key element of difference. People who are poor or have lower position are downed on. While writing this paper, I learned many things. I learned society has a huge impact on my life and those around me.

I learned that personal issues can manifest into a social issue that affects the whole society as a whole, just as the major social issues can affect my personal life. Overall, writing this paper has benefited me to look closer at society and see how different issues affect me in my life. References Macionis, J. (2009). Society the basics. (12th ed. ). The sociology of race and ethnicity . (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. trinity. edu/mkearl/race. html Winant, H. (n. d. ). Race and race theory. Retrieved from http://www. soc. ucsb. edu/faculty/winant/Race_and_Race_Theory. html

Our entire universe is made up of matter which is constantly changing…

The home appliances and Entertainments changes the everyday life in post –…

Labor-Leisure Model in the Everyday Life I like many other college students…

Tony Males is a pastor and national speaker on youth culture. He…

A man wakes up in the morning to the sound of his…

Literally, surveillance means to watch over and as such it is an…

o Life Essays Pro Life Essays abortion argumentative persuasive

1. What are some of the health problems associated with anorexia nervosa,…

“Quantum physicists have proven that 98% of the atoms in your body…

How Alice Walker Explores the Meaning of Heritage in “Everyday Use” In…

Advertising surrounds us in our everyday lives, and advertisers use countless means…

It has been said that man produces himself in no way that…

Hi! We can edit and customize this paper for you. Just send your request for getting no plagiarism essay

HAVEN’T FOUND YOUR TOPIC?

Let us write it for you!

• DOI: 10.1080/02673037.2024.2373988
• Corpus ID: 271124531

Residents’ thermal comfort in Swedish newly built homes: political aesthetics and atmospheric practices

• W. Glad , Madelene Gramfält , Malin Nilsson
• Published in Housing Studies 9 July 2024
• Environmental Science, Political Science

50 References

Enacting sustainability through glass: a study of ontological politics in the proclaimed role model neighbourhood of vallastaden, building relations: assembling an auto-geography of the diplomatic home, expanding feminist affective atmospheres, choreographing atmospheres in copenhagen: processes and positions between home and public, my apartment is cold household perceptions of indoor climate and demand-side management in sweden, walking with light and the discontinuous experience of urban change, thinking relationally about housing and home, recognizing energy dilemmas and injustices: an interview study of thermal comfort, do passive houses need passive people evaluating the active occupancy of passivhaus homes in the united kingdom, gender, age, and educational differences in the importance of homely comfort in denmark, related papers.

Showing 1 through 3 of 0 Related Papers