Reflective Blog 4

 A Semester in Review

Image: Vox

Over the past 15 weeks, I've learned more about myself and the way society shapes our daily social interactions and identities through sociology. As our book mentions, the self is a social process, meaning you develop an identity through a process known as the "looking-glass self."  Where you take on a role, react to feedback, and imagine how others see you. Our identities also shift depending on the context of the situation, as well as who the audience is. In my own life, I've noticed a slight shift in my personality when interacting with different people. With my friends, it's always more playful and fun dialogue, whereas when I'm talking to my managers at work, it's more respectful and appropriate. Social interactions are typically strategic and meaningful; people adjust their behavior to maintain a desired impression. For example, in interviews, you want to give good responses and have strong, positive body language to impress your interviewer. Throughout this semester, we learned how much society influences us, with social norms telling us how to act, how to feel, and even think in certain situations. In Texas, everyone greets each other, whether it's with a smile or a polite hello. Even if you don't know the person, it's normal to acknowledge each other. But in other states like New York, most people don't act that way and keep to themselves. As I've been driving more and traveling to other states, I've noticed more people honk in traffic, like in Chicago and Boston; however, here in Texas, honking isn't that common. Over the last few weeks, I've developed a better understanding of society and how I and others react in social situations. 


Work Cited:

Goffman, Erving. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1959. 

Volpe, Allie. “How much social interaction do you actually need?” Vox, June 11, 2023.


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