SOC 330 ¾ SELF & SOCIETY

Donald E. Arwood  |  Scobey Hall #204  |  688-4898  | donald.arwood@sdstate.edu  |
|  Office Hours:   M/W/Th 1:30-3:30 or by appointment  |

|  Study Guides:  1   2   3   4  final  |  Posted Grades  |

COURSE DESCRIPTION

It might not be readily apparent why sociologists would be interested in the “self” as a social phenomenon.  Most people consider it the quintessential psychological variable.  A reason why sociologists should be interested in the “self” is described by Morris Rosenberg (1981: 593).

"For one thing, social factors play a major role in its formation.  It is not present at birth but arises out of social experience and interaction; it both incorporates and is influenced by the individual’s location in the social structure; it is formed within institutional systems, such as the family, school, economy, church; it is constructed from the materials of culture; and it is affected by immediate social and environmental contexts."

Moreover, as a sociological variable, the self, unlike light from the sun, does not emanate continuously from the person’s psyche.  On the contrary, sociologists assume that each person acts toward his or her person as a social object.  The kind of object the self becomes emerges as people mutually define the social situation they are in.  During the encounter, each person indicates, dissects, incorporates, and uses one or more of the self’s delineated parts to successfully interact with other people.  This situated self may appear to emanate from the person but is arguably a product of social encounters with others. 

This ability to be self-regulating is also not the innate property of the person.  This ability arises through socialization.  Indeed, “societies everywhere, if they are to be societies, must [socialize and] mobilize their members as self-regulating participants in social encounters” (Goffman 1967: 44)  Moreover, the nature of self-regulation is dependent upon the person’s culture, his or her society’s structural arrangements, situational constraints that are perceived to exist, and each individual’s biography.

Considering the social character of the self, this semester we will look at sociological perspectives of the self-regulating person.

Topics

This semester we will cover the following topics:

•  introduction to the concepts of self and society;
   social embeddedness of the self;

•  the sociological imagination;

• socialization¾the process of creating the self-regulating person;

• symbolic interactionist approaches to self and society;

• dramaturgical approaches to self and society; and

• qualitative methods¾procedures for understanding the intersection of self and society.

Information on these topics will be conveyed via assigned readings, class presentations, films, and in-class exercises.  You will demonstrate what you have learned by taking five tests.

Learning Objectives

At the end of the semester you will evaluate my teaching effectiveness on a number of items: (1) stimulating student interest, (2) fostering student collaboration, (3) establishing rapport, (4) encouraging student involvement, (5) structuring classroom experiences, and most importantly, (6) meeting four important learning objectives. 

These four learning objectives have been standardized and include: (1) “gaining factual knowledge (terminology, classifications, methods, trends)”, (2) “learning to apply course material (to improve thinking, problem solving, and decisions),” (3) “developing specific skills, competencies, and points of view by professionals in the field most closely related to this course,” and (4) “learning to analyze and critically evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view.”

 COURSE REQUIREMENTS

ATTENDANCE.  Students are expected to attend class.  Students with good attendance will be rewarded with bonus points.

READINGS. 

Sandstrom, Kent L., Daniel D. Martin, and Gary Alan Fine.  2003.  Symbols, Selves, and Social Reality.  Los Angeles, CA: Roxbury Publishing Company.

Activities. Several activities will be done this semester.  Some of them are listed on the course schedule.  These activities are worth 30 points toward your final grade.

EXAMS. There are five exams this semester.  Each exam is worth 100 points and must be taken at the scheduled time and place.  The final exam is comprehensive.  In case of sickness, make-up exams will be given on December 10.  The lowest exam score will not count toward the final grade.  Use study guides and topic sheets as study guides (see course agenda below).

Exam #1¾September 24             
Exam #2¾October 24              
Exam #3¾November 12
Exam #4¾December 12
Exam #5¾December 18

 GRADING SCALE.  Your scores on three of the four exams will be added together to derive your final grade.  Bonus points for attendance will be added to this total.  A 90-80-70-60% standard is used to determine cutoffs.

A = 387 - 430 points
B = 344 - 386.99 pts
C = 301 - 343 .99 pts
D = 258 - 300.99 pts
F =  less than 258 pts

 CHEATERS WILL BE KILLED.

COURSE AGENDA