Which Is More Important in Shaping Individual Identity: Social Structure or Social Interaction?

Social structure and social interaction are the building blocks of present life. The need for people to interact with each other is crucial and has always been the key action to survive and sustain existence. Sociologists now refer to this as socialisation, to establish the important components of living and a person’s social identity.Social structure is more important than social interaction in shaping individual social identity, the reason for this to have more importance in shaping someone’s social identity, is because without social structure there would be no social interaction both are important in discussing macrosociology (social structure) and microsociology (social interaction). Within social structure is class, status and institutions they will be expanded upon later in detail on the way they influence one social identity more then social interaction.Social identity is defined as a person’s acknowledgement of belonging to a certain social category or g roup where its members possess the same social identification and observe the surroundings with an individual perspective (Hogg & Abrams 1988, p. 7). To better understand social identity, Social structure needs to be explained, it is defined as the framework of society that was already laid out before we were born. Social structure refers to the typical patterns of a group, such as its usual relationships between men and women or students and teachers.The sociological significance of social structure is that it gives us direction to and sets limits on behaviour (Henslin, J. 2010, pp. 76 – 77). Social interaction is a significant part of life in society also a part of an individual’s social identity, it is the different ways that people interact with one another. Culture lays the broadest framework, while social class divides people according to income, education and occupational prestige. Each of us receives ascribed statuses at birth, that are involuntary that are inh erited and later achieved statuses are added.Our behaviours and orientations are further influenced by the roles we play, the groups to which we belong and our experiences with social institutions. These components of society work together to help maintain social order (Henslin, J. 2010, p. 76). To achieve social order all members of a society accept its moral values and their roles within it, complying to these norms is a way to maintain social order. Emile Durkhiem’s views were that rather than individual activities such as crime and religion causing certain behaviours, it was society as a whole Bessant & Watts, 2007 pp. 72 – 73). Showing that structure has more influence on a persons identity rather than their interactions within their class and statuses. Social Class is based on income, education and occupational prestige. Large numbers of people who have similar amounts of income and education and who work at jobs that are roughly comparable in prestige make up a social class. It is hard to overemphasise this aspect of social structure, for our social class influences not only our behaviours but even our ideas and attitudes (Henslin, J. 010, p. 78). There is four different structures that we can inherit at birth; wealthy upper class, middle class, working class and under class (Macionis & Plummer 1997). Karl Marx was the first to study class and it’s relationship to the functions of society and identity. Marx focused on how one class controlled and directed production, while the other classes were service providers or producers, whose efforts benefited the ruling or dominating class.Marx saw that human relationships and identity were a product of labour, and therefore shaped by it (Cox, 1998). An example of this is Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson being the controlling class and all his employees below him represent the other classes which all in turn benefits him. Social Status in sociology has been given two meanings. One refers to t he position that a person occupies in the social structure, such as teacher or priest.The other more specific meaning refers to the form of social stratification in which social positions are ranked and organised by legal, political and cultural criteria into status groups. These social positions may carry a great deal of prestige, as in the case of a judge or an astronaut, or it may bring little prestige as in the case as a grocery store worker or a waitress at the local pub. The status can also be looked down on as in the case of a homeless person, an ex-convict or a thief.Social status is a major shaping component of social identity status set all the statuses or positions that an individual occupies are generally all ascribed statuses that are inherited such as your race/ethnicity, sex and the social class of your parents as well yours statuses as female or male, daughter or son, niece or nephew. Our identity as ‘male’ or ‘female’ is one of the most bas ic aspects of our being. As Sigmund Freud observed a century ago, when you meet a person for the first time, the very first thing you notice about them is whether they are a man or woman (Bessant & Watts, 2007 p. 09). Social Institutions are the organised, usual or standard ways by which society meets its basic needs. Social institutions are the family, religion, education, economic, medicine, politics, law, science, the military and the mass media (Henslin, J. 2010, p. 81). They establish the context in which we live, shaping our behaviour and colouring our thoughts. Social institutions are so significant in shaping individual identity that is they were to change we would be different people, as they influence our orientations to the social world and the wider world itself.Much of the influence lies beyond our ordinary awareness. For example, because of our economic institution, it is common to work eight hours a day for five days every week. There is nothing normal or natural abou t this pattern, however. This rhythm is only an arbitrary arrangement for dividing work and leisure. Yet this one aspect of a single social institution has far-reaching effects. Not only does it also lays out a structure for their interaction with family and friends and for how they meet their personal needs (Henslin, J. 2010, p. 1). From this you can see that social identity is formed primarily by structure rather than interaction with individuals fitting into their institutions through their class and status showing the greater importance of social structure on shaping the social identity. Social identity is shaped through an individual’s journey in life within their social structure and social interaction, but this is not solely through inherited ascribed statuses, class and institutions also by the way a person socialises within the given environment.The inequalities of the worlds classes is shapes a person’s identity by the way they have had to behave due to their social structure limitations and well as the interactions with others of the same class and status, without this structure there would be no social interaction. This is why social structure is of a higher importance when it comes to shaping the identity of an individual. REFERENCE LIST Back, L. , Bennett, A. , Edles, L. ,Gibson, M. , Inglis, D. ,Jacobs, R. , Woodward, I 2012, Cultural Sociology: An Introduction, Wiley, ebook Bessant, J. amp; Watts, R. 2007, Sociology Australia, 3rd ed. , Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest Henslin, JM, Possamai, A, and Possamai-Indesedy, A 2011, Sociology: A Down to Earth Approach, Pearson Australia, Frenchs Forest Hogg, M. A. & Abrams, D. 1988, Social Identifications A Social Psychology of Intergroup Relations and Group, Routledge, London Macionis, J. J. & Plummer, K. 2012, Sociology: A Global Introduction, 5th ed. , Pearson, Prentice Hall, New York Plummer, K 2010, Sociology: The Basics, Taylor and Francis, ebook

Reflection of Freakonomics

Isaac Pack Mrs.. Buchwald AP com/microeconomics-chapter-4/">Microeconomics 18 August 2013 Freakishness Reflection/Response Initially, I was intrigued by the book based on its odd cover, an image of what appears to be a granny smith apple on the outside and an orange on the inside, and I found the contents far more interesting. The â€Å"catchphrase† used is â€Å"a rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything†, and no other phrase could be more accurate.Steven D. Levitate, a professor of economics at the University of Chicago, roved the various uses for his field that I had never before realized. The first example of a use for economics that piqued my interest was the very first one in the book: criminology. Before reading this, I had assumed that the subject of economics was involved with nothing more than concepts like the elasticity of prices and interest rates. I was utterly shocked when Steven D.Levitate was able to conclude that the cause of the decrease in the crime rate was attributable to not the increase in gun laws, not the increase in policing, and not the aging population, but the Roe v. Wade case that eventually led to the legalization of abortions. Anyone could easily guess that unwanted children are much more likely to become criminals, but to link that fact to the idea that people could avoid having unwanted children and create a logical and reasonable statement regarding the decrease in crime was absurd yet brilliant.The second use for economics that caught my eye was the idea of the value of roared information. He used the instance of the ASK with the facts regarding real estate astoundingly well to prove a point. Not only were the random bits of facts [such as the mention of Clansmen calling a conversation a â€Å"collaboration†] hilarious and entertaining, but they proved an impressive point: withheld information can drastically raise or lower value with ease. I never really pondered upon it before, but upon r eading and analyzing this statement, I came to be conscious and aware of it.

Jefferson/Madison Dbq

Devin Timms AP US History Jefferson/Madison DBQ During the presidencies of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, the two political parties were still somewhat true to their founding ideas, but not completely. The different parties had started to let go of their strong stances and instead begin to take a more, middle of the road viewpoint. The Jeffersonians began to sway from their strict constructionism partly, as they passed things like the 1st Bank of the United States, which went against almost everything the Jeffersonians were for and allowed the government to read-into the constitution.As the Jeffersonians started letting go of their ideals, so did the Federalists. As Thomas Jefferson moved throughout his presidency, he started letting go of his strict constructionism view. Before he became president, Jefferson still upheld the strict constructionist view that had become the characteristic of the Jeffersonian party. In his letter to Gideon Granger, he talks about how the governmen t will never be harmonious as long as the Federalists continue to attempt to make changes to the Constitution(Doc A).This letter and the one Jefferson wrote to Samuel Miller in 1808 still show more of a classic Jeffersonian view as they talk about giving less power to the central government and enforce a strict constructionist standpoint(Doc B). However, other actions and letters indicate Jefferson’s change. For example, the 1st Bank of the United States was passed under Jefferson, and that is clearly a Federalist item. Also, in Jefferson’s letter to Samuel Kercheval, he talks about how even though he may not like it, the world is changing and so you must change with it to keep up(Doc G).However, not all Jeffersonians were following his lead. In a speech to the House of Representatives, John Randolph shows a much more strict constructionist view as he denounces the â€Å"true republican principles of Jefferson’s administration†(Doc F). The Jeffersonian pa rty had stayed true to their characterization for the most part, but Jefferson had started them down the path to complete change by showing less and less support of the strict constructionist view.The Federalists had also begun changing, but not as much as the Jeffersonians. During a speech to the House of Representatives in Madison’s presidency, Daniel Webster, a Federalist, said how the government should not have the right to draft people for the army. He bases this argument off of the fact that it does not specifically state it in the Constitution(Doc D). Webster is showing an absolutely strict constructionist viewpoint in saying this. Even Madison had become less of a broad constructionist.In his message to Congress in 1817, he explains that even though it would be nice to have all the internal improvements they want, he will not pass it because of the fact that it is not specifically in the constitution as one of the government’s powers(Doc H). As both political p arties grow and change, so too do their viewpoints they assumed could stay the same. However, during the time period of 1801-1817, both parties began letting go of their original stances and started sharing their ideas.

Emily Bront's novel Wuthering Heights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Emily Bront's novel Wuthering Heights - Essay Example As such, this paper will analyze the relationship between the wild and the civilized in Emily Bronte’s novel Wuthering Heights. The novel Wuthering Heights uses symbols, themes, imagery, flashbacks, and allegory to portray the different aspects of civilization and wilderness as manifested by the characters and the story setting. Notably, passionate and unrestricted actions characterize wildness while order and modernity characterizes civilization (Rathje, n.y). The most significant element that brings out the aspects of wildness and civilization is the differences between the Thrushcross Grange and the Wuthering Heights farmhouses. We can see cold, muddy, and desolate moors separating the two farmhouses, which stands alone. Indeed, the separation by the moors can only mean that there is an aspect of isolation in the characteristics and meaning of the two houses (Rathje, n.y). This isolation reveals the aspects of wildness and civilization in the setting as the entire novel set ting takes place in Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. Actually, the appearance and atmosphere of Wuthering Heights differ from that of Thrushcross Grange where Wuthering Heights sits and manifests on a stormy hilltop while Thrushcross Grange sits on calm and protected valley. ... Indeed, violent acts like Heathcliff’s abuse by Hindley and Heathcliff’s mistreatment of Hareton take place in Wuthering Heights. This depicts Wuthering Heights as an aggressive, violent, and wild environment. More so, the weather surrounding Wuthering Heights and its inhabitants is also violent (Bronte, 1858). Indeed, the novel opens with a description that, "Wuthering" is "a significant provincial adjective, descriptive of the atmospheric tumult to which its station is exposed in stormy weather (Bronte, 1858)." On the other hand, the novel describes the life at Thrushcross Grange as one that manifests luxury, cultivation, and propriety. Indeed, the novel quotes that Thrushcross Grange is the house that Catherine aspires to socially, the house that will make her a "lady (Bronte, 1858)." These distinctions portray Thrushcross Grange as a representation of civilization and Wuthering Heights as a representation of wildness. More so, we can also see Catherine boxing Edgar Linton on the ear when Edgar seeks to leave Wuthering Heights (Bronte, 1858). Additionally, there are haunting figures in  Wuthering Heights, which depict wildness. Most assuredly, Thrushcross Grange is more luxurious than Wuthering Heights. The luxury in Thrushcross Grange reflects civilization. On the other hand, order and societal expectations defines life at Thrushcross Grange while nature drives life at Wuthering Heights. For example, we can see a snowstorm forcing Lockwood to stay at Wuthering Heights (Rathje, n.y) where he equally experiencers a hostile dream of a ghost child at the window. Indeed, the ghost child was crying, "let me in! Let me in!"â€Å"; I’ m come home: I'd lost my

Gender difference in advertising Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Gender difference in advertising - Essay Example Buying power for women varies depending on various factors, among them being education, whether married, with a child or not and other factors (Dines & Humez 2011). The buying power among women folk is especially considered high and therefore advertising trends tend to feature more on what mothers want, from, baby clothes to food stuff. Every New Year, demographics on the size and quantity of shopping from the female gender keeps on rising (Dines & Humez 2011). Women have continuously shopped more, both online and offline, and continue to do so, eclipsing their male counter parts. Research indicates that women are not only the gender influencing more on the consumer purchase decisions but they also do shopping differently. Women tend to take more time when they are doing shopping and they also are more selective (Dines & Humez 2011). Advertising companies therefore have had to delve more into the shopping behavior of women and look at ways of ensuring that marketing adverts are tailor made and suited to appeal to the female gender more (Dines & Humez 2011). While this does not necessarily mean that advertising does not focus on men, it is aimed at ensuring that advertising realizes the goal of winning over potential consumers as well as maintaining the existing market

Light in August by William Faulkner and Fate Assignment

Light in August by William Faulkner and Fate - Assignment Example Light In August reveals the hopelessness that intertwines with the human condition. Joe Christmas and Lena Grove reveal as characters with fuzzy backgrounds. Their beginnings are despicable and this contributes towards their fate. Lena Grove falls in love with a man, who abandons her when she becomes pregnant. Lucas Burch seems like a mildly ambitious man whose direction in life is similarly blurry. In the same sense, Joe Christmas has a contemptible background that trails him towards his castration. The novel only mentions his adopted family and the unpleasant relationship that leads him towards murdering his foster father. The depiction of the term street shows how the characters’ attempts at solace ruins them. The street symbolizes the unending search for belonging and self-acceptance that Lena and Joe experiences. For instance, Christmas kills the man who adopted him thereby triggering abandonment by Bobbie Allen and the family (Faulkner 80). When Joe steps off the porch of his former house, he escapes into the streets for fifteen years. In a quest towards finding personal meaning, Joe participates in vain wanderings that reflect his restless nature. The streets possess the allure of potential places for quenching Joe’s inner turbulence. This, however, is a mirage that offers limited answers about his identity. Similarly, Lena possesses hope when she goes in the streets, but she encounters travails that almost break her. The story also entails the burdens of conflicting aspirations and identities that people hold. Although Joe is seemingly white, he has a strong feeling that he is an African American. This means he can neither identify himself as a white nor classify himself as an African American person. Miss Burden inherits the expectations of her family that borders on pride and luminous legacy. Miss Burden, therefore, commits herself to her heritage’s cause that concerns with racial equality and slave abolition. Her charity eventually leads her into romantically falling for Joe, as she tries helping him achieve a stable self-esteem.  

The efficiency of Wind Turbines Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The efficiency of Wind Turbines - Essay Example It turned into an obstacle on the way to prosperity for many states. Moreover, our environment is changed because of air pollution that leads to global warming. Thus, the problem needs an urgent solution. The solution should respond to all the needs connected with energy supply and environmental protection. Thus, it is essential to consider the types of energy, which are not harmful for our environment and renewable at the same time. This paper will discuss the wind power as a type of renewable and ecologically good energy. The main goal is to prove that wind power should be considered by the countries of the world as an alternative. The advantages of wind turbines Speaking about wind power, it is essential to mention that it is considered to be the one of the most perspective type of energy. The power is generated by means of wind going though the turbine motor. Wind turbines do not need any fuel to produce energy, thus there are no emissions. Actually, it is currently used in many fields as it is ecologically good and inexhaustible. There are many reasons why it attracts so much attention. Before, people used windmills to work with water, but now people already consider wind to get energy. A great number of states plan to use wind turbines as they start to trust wind energy. Wind power helps decrease the use of exhaustible resources such as oil and coal. The kinds of wind turbines There are two kinds of modern turbines that produce wind energy. They have different design: horizontal axis and vertical axis, while horizontal axis design is more widespread as it is considered to be more suitable. Horizontal axis wind turbines are highly developed and financially feasible. Their sizes and shapes may vary, but they have one common feature: they look like their ancestors – windmills. Now horizontal axis wind turbines are widely applied in the world to produce clean electricity that does not pollute the air we breath. Horizontal axis wind turbines are very ef fective â€Å"today these machines are proven: they are used throughout the world producing clean, affordable, and sustainable electricity. Modern horizontal axis wind turbines produce electricity 70-85% of the time (whenever the wind is over 7-8 mph)† (Types of electricity generating wind turbines). In contrast to horizontal axis wind turbines, vertical axis wind turbines are not widely used, notwithstanding that they have some advantages. They are not so reliable and very often work poorly, thus they are not so successful at the market as horizontal turbines. Many experts state that they are simply not ready for exploitation. However, scientists do their best to improve the characteristics of vertical axis wind turbines. Moreover, new technology is being currently invented: â€Å"To ensure  wind turbines  that are big in size work in a better manner, a new kind of air-flow technology may soon be introduced. Apart from other aspects, it will focus on efficiency of blade s used in the wind turbines. The technology will help in increasing the efficiency of these turbines under various wind conditions† (Increasing the Efficiency of Wind Turbine Blades). Wind turbines are also different by their capacity, they can be smaller and bigger. Big ones can produce energy for the whole cities, while small are mostly used for households, where there are problems with the access to electricity. Contra argument Despite all the advantages, wind power appears to be very expensive, thus many countries do not consider such opportunity. However, the technology is being improved and the opportunities to reduce the expenses grow. Now many countries consider the possibility to replace the exhaustible energy that is harmful for our environment with wind energy. The expenses on this kind of power are high,