Ethnomethodology is a recently developed sociological approach that seeks to analyze the full range of rules that people follow in everyday social interaction. According to ethnomethodologists, all common social interaction between members of a group is governed by certain folk rules. The members of the group (ethno) have available to them a body of common sense knowledge and assumptions about the world (methods), which they use to make sense of their world. Harold Garfinkel coined the term ethnomethodology when he was studying jury deliberation in 1945. In his book Rules, Garfinkel wondered how jurors could work together and reach decisions without having known each other before and without understanding the technical rules of law. He decided that there must be a set of rules called ethnomethods that we all share and that we can call on for knowledge of how to behave in novel situations, as on a jury. These ethnomethods, in other words, are a sort of shorthand that allow people to communicate and interact effectively (Wallace & Wolf p.258).
Ethnomethodologists share with Goffman and the dramaturgical approach an interest in the techniques that people use to create impressions in social situations, but they ask a different question about techniques.
The Term Paper on Language And Communication Social People Talk
SYNOPSIS: Human language is a unique communication system which is different from that of other species. It is so complex and perfect that people couldn! t help wondering where it comes from. It is believed that language is part of our essential human nature and is therefore neither invented nor handed down as a gift. All humans are innately or genetically equipped with a unique language learning ...
They ask: How do such techniques or rules help form a common sense of reality, a feeling among people that their meanings are shared? In common with symbolic interactionists, ethnomethodologists focus on the process of social interaction, rather than on larger social structures. While symbolic interactionists see the rules by which we interact as an outcome of the process of interaction, however, ethnomethodologists arent really interested in the origins of these rules. Rather, they are interested in the way people draw on the rules to know how to interact in a given situation(Wallace & Wolf p.321).
The folk rules that govern social interaction involve a great many implicit understandings and expectations, or background assumptions, that people have about one another. These background assumptions are generally so taken for granted that they are rarely even noticed. Yet when the assumptions are disrupted, their influence on social behavior becomes evident.
A man who wears work clothes to a wedding has not followed the generally assumed role of dressing for the occasion. His disruption of the rule may only puzzle some guests; others may shun his company. Ethnomethodologists point out that even casual meetings are based on shared assumptions. To show just how true this is, Garfinkel devised what he called breeching experiments. In these experiments, people act as though they simply do not understand the basic, unspoken assumptions behind a conversation. The following is an exchange that occurred between the subject (S) and the experimenter (E): (S): Hi, Ray.
How is your girlfriend feeling? (E): What do you mean, How is she feeling? Do you mean physically or mentally? (S): I mean how is she feeling? Whats the matter with you? (He looked peeved.) (E): Nothing. Just explain a little clearer, what do you mean? (S): Skip it. How are your Med School applications coming? (E): What do you mean, How are they? (S): Whats the matter with you? Are you sick? Not only did these two people have trouble communicating, but the person who did make assumptions was upset by the other persons refusal to In another experiment, students were asked to interact with their families for a period of up to one hour as though they were not familiar with the familys shared assumptions. None of the assumptions the family usually based its interaction on was to be taken for granted. Strict formality was observed, for example with Mom and Dad being addressed as Sir and Madam. The result was a breakdown in communication, with the family members becoming annoyed and upset.
The Term Paper on Erving Goffmans Contribution Into The Notion Of The Social Interaction
Erving Goffman's contribution into the notion of the social interaction The aim of the present paper is to look through the sociological notions provided by Goffman through his books, especially in relation to the social interaction. It is essential to critically evaluate the contribution which Goffman has made through his dramaturgical theory of social interaction and through the development of ...
In attempting to restore the normal situation, the student could clearly see the familys shared Ethnomethodologists also use participant observation to try and learn the codes that underlie peoples interactions. D. Lawrence Wieder, who for instance, reports on a study of inmates at a halfway house (designed to help prisoners who are about to be released adjust to life outs side of prison).
He discovered a complex unspoken code that governed inmate behavior. It did not allow taking advantage of other inmates, having dealings with the staff, or informing (dont snitch).
It also promoted sharing and loyalty among the inmates. As an example of the operation of the code, Wieder points to an inmate going to a staff meeting who remarks Where can I find that meeting where I can get an overnight pass?(p.160).
According to Wieder, the inmate is letting his fellows know that the only reason he wants to go to the meeting is to get a pass. He does not intend to break the code by Ethnomethodologists are less interested in the substance of the codes or the background assumptions than in the rules that people use to indicate that the codes and assumptions are shared. Here are two easily understood rules that ethnomethodologists have identified. If people sense a lack of clarity when another is conversing, they will make gestures to signal the other to return to what is normal for a given situation. They might frown, or smile in a sarcastic way, or motion negatively with their arms. The meanings of these gestures are widely shared and quickly understood.
They usually result in getting a conversation back on a normal course. Another easily understood rule is the etcetera principle. Much is left unsaid in actual interaction. People must fill in or wait for information necessary to make sense of anothers conversation. When they do this, they are using the etcetera principle. They are agreeing not to stop the communication by asking for the needed information. For example, somebody using the phrase you know expects the other person to follow the etcetera principle: the other person is not to disrupt the conversation with a response such as, No, I do not know.
The Essay on Majority Vs Minorities Minority Rule People
The majority and the minority bring forth change in policy in a democratic society. Majority rule means that, if there were an over whelming amount of support on a issue their voices would be heard by the government. Our government is run on a majority rule. People in our society elect officials and put their faiths in them to make their choices. In a majority rule the basic concept of democracy ...
These rules may seem obvious, even trivial. But try to converse without them! People must follow rules in their everyday behavior, just as scientists must follow them in their experiments and players must in a
