Deck 9: Phenomenology and Ethnomethodology

Question 1

Symbolic interaction and phenomenology are two theoretical perspectives that are frequently referenced as having a micro-analytical focus. Compare and contrast both perspectives in terms of the appropriateness of this characterization. What is the place of structure and of institutionalized patterns in both frameworks?

Answer 1

Symbolic interaction and phenomenology are both theoretical perspectives that focus on the micro-level of social interaction and meaning-making. However, they differ in their approach and emphasis.

Symbolic interactionism, developed by George Herbert Mead and Herbert Blumer, focuses on the ways in which individuals create and interpret symbols and meanings in their interactions with others. It emphasizes the importance of symbols, language, and communication in shaping social reality. Symbolic interactionists argue that individuals actively construct their social world through their interactions with others, and that meaning is constantly negotiated and re-negotiated in these interactions.

Phenomenology, on the other hand, is a philosophical perspective that emphasizes the subjective experiences and perspectives of individuals. It focuses on how individuals perceive and interpret the world around them, and how these perceptions shape their actions and interactions. Phenomenologists argue that individuals' lived experiences and subjective interpretations are central to understanding social reality.

In terms of the appropriateness of the characterization of having a micro-analytical focus, both perspectives can be seen as appropriate. Symbolic interactionism and phenomenology both focus on the micro-level of social interaction and meaning-making, and emphasize the importance of understanding individual experiences and interpretations.

When it comes to the place of structure and institutionalized patterns in both frameworks, there are some differences. Symbolic interactionism acknowledges the influence of social structures and institutions on individual behavior and meaning-making, but it tends to focus more on the agency of individuals in shaping their social reality. Phenomenology, on the other hand, is more focused on the subjective experiences of individuals and may downplay the influence of social structures and institutions.

In conclusion, while both symbolic interactionism and phenomenology have a micro-analytical focus and emphasize the importance of understanding individual experiences and interpretations, they differ in their approach to the influence of social structures and institutionalized patterns. Symbolic interactionism acknowledges the influence of social structures but emphasizes individual agency, while phenomenology focuses more on the subjective experiences of individuals.

Question 2

Phenomenologists emphasize the importance of individuals' everyday experiences and knowledge in determining what they know as the reality, a reality which may be at odds with some officially defined reality. How would a phenomenological analysis explain social and institutional change (e.g., changes in the legal definition of marriage to incorporate divorce, and more currently, same-sex marriage)? Where would phenomenologists look for the first stirrings of change? [Answer: Divorce: The everyday lives/experiences of married people whose experiences of marriage are at odds with the cultural image of marriage as everlasting bliss; Same-sex marriage: The everyday lives/experiences of cohabiting same-sex partners, whose realities are experienced by them as relatively similar to their heterosexual married neighbors.] How do everyday experiences lead to mobilization for change? [Answer: Via symbolic universes - sharing with others experiences that affirm the validity of particular experiences.]

Answer 2

Phenomenologists would explain social and institutional change, such as changes in the legal definition of marriage, by emphasizing the importance of individuals' everyday experiences and knowledge in determining their reality. In the case of divorce, a phenomenological analysis would focus on the everyday lives and experiences of married individuals whose experiences of marriage are at odds with the cultural image of marriage as everlasting bliss. These individuals may feel the need for change in the legal definition of marriage to incorporate divorce, as their reality does not align with the officially defined reality of marriage.

Similarly, in the case of same-sex marriage, phenomenologists would look at the everyday lives and experiences of cohabiting same-sex partners, whose realities are experienced by them as relatively similar to their heterosexual married neighbors. These individuals may also feel the need for change in the legal definition of marriage to incorporate same-sex marriage, as their everyday experiences lead them to question the officially defined reality of marriage.

Phenomenologists would look for the first stirrings of change in the everyday experiences of individuals who feel that their realities are not reflected in the officially defined reality. These individuals may begin to question and challenge the existing social and institutional norms, leading to the mobilization for change.

Everyday experiences lead to mobilization for change through the sharing of symbolic universes with others. Individuals who have similar experiences and realities come together to affirm the validity of their experiences and to advocate for change. This mobilization is driven by the need to align the officially defined reality with the everyday experiences of individuals, ultimately leading to social and institutional change.

Question 3

Ethnomethodologists emphasize the importance of credible accounts in the ordering of reality. Can you think of an unpersuasive account of some event, decision, or action sequence told to you by a friend/family member, or that you heard from some politician or (local/national) government official on the news? What was the event at issue? Why, both from your personal point of view and from the larger social-cultural context in which you live, was the account not credible? To what extent do your personal expectations of what is reasonable/sensible overlap with/deviate from the expectations of the larger culture? How might a phenomenological perspective help to account for any deviations between your personal expectations and those of the culture-at-large?

Answer 3

One example of an unpersuasive account that comes to mind is a story I heard from a friend about a decision made by their employer. My friend claimed that their employer had decided to cut employee benefits in order to increase profits, despite the company already being very successful financially. From my personal point of view, this account was not credible because it seemed illogical for a company to prioritize profits over the well-being of its employees, especially when the company was already doing well financially.

From a larger social-cultural context, this account was not credible because it goes against the widely accepted belief that companies should prioritize the well-being of their employees and contribute positively to the community. In my personal expectations, I believe that it is reasonable and sensible for companies to prioritize the well-being of their employees and contribute positively to the community, and I believe that this expectation aligns with the larger cultural expectations as well.

From a phenomenological perspective, the deviation between my personal expectations and those of the culture-at-large could be accounted for by considering the individual experiences and perspectives that shape my beliefs. For example, my personal experiences with companies that prioritize employee well-being and community involvement may have influenced my belief that this is a reasonable and sensible expectation. Additionally, the larger cultural expectations may also be influenced by similar experiences and perspectives. Overall, a phenomenological perspective helps to account for the deviations between personal and cultural expectations by considering the individual experiences and perspectives that shape beliefs and values.

Question 4

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question.

-Explain the sociological significance of attention to the "here-and-now" reality.

Question 5

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question.

-Explain what Schutz means by "natural routines."

Question 6

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question.

-What phenomenological point is reflected in the military's establishment of suicide hotlines and other social support interventions for homecoming veterans?

Question 7

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question.

-How is a can-opener an objectification of reality?

Question 8

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question.

-In what circumstances might we come to realize that our common-sense knowledge is not as common as we had thought?

Question 9

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question.

-What do breaching experiments typically cause, and why?

Question 10

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question.

-What, from an ethnomethodological perspective, do workers in a coroner's office do as part of their everyday work routines?

Question 11

Phenomenology focuses on:

A) Power elites
B) Corporate culture
C) Individuals' everyday experiences
D) Historical patterns

Question 12

Phenomenologists emphasize that individuals:

A) Act within and upon their social world
B) Are good at impression management
C) Are passive members of society
D) Are indifferent to everyday realities

Question 13

Phenomenology is most attentive to:

A) The interaction of culture and social institutions
B) The here-and-now reality
C) The reality of the power elite
D) The social facts that comprise reality

Question 14

According to phenomenologists, the knowledge necessary to navigating social life is:

A) Theoretical knowledge
B) Sociological knowledge
C) Practical knowledge
D) Psychological knowledge

Question 15

We interpret our everyday experiences based on:

A) What we have learned at school
B) Our existing stock of previous experiences
C) What the government says is relevant
D) What scientists deem relevant

Question 16

Social reality is:

A) Intersubjective
B) Arbitrary
C) Individually determined
D) Biographically unique

Question 17

Phenomenologists emphasize that everyday reality is experienced and interpreted through:

A) Scientific categories
B) Typifications
C) The mass media
D) Government regulations

Question 18

Phenomenologists construe social reality as a:

A) Highly conflicted reality
B) Highly unstable reality
C) Highly ordered reality
D) Highly unpredictable reality

Question 19

Internalization is a process that refers to how individuals:

A) Create an ongoing social reality
B) Experience, interpret, and appropriate the objective reality
C) Act back on the objective reality
D) Suppress the objective reality

Question 20

Externalization is a process that refers to how individuals:

A) Collectively create an ongoing objective reality
B) Experience the objective reality as oppressive
C) Make sense of the objective reality
D) Acquire information about the external reality

Question 21

One of the mechanisms by which we objectify reality is through:

A) Language
B) Maps
C) Technical vocabulary
D) All of the above

Question 22

An in-group is a group whose:

A) Folkways seem natural to its members
B) Established norms are taken for granted by its members
C) Common-sense reality is unquestioned by its members
D) All of the above

Question 23

A phenomenological approach to social life recognizes that:

A) Scientific knowledge is a superior knowledge of everyday reality
B) Different everyday experiences produce different everyday knowledges
C) Common-sense knowledge is irrelevant in a modern society
D) Knowledge comes from ideas and not from experiences

Question 24

A stranger is someone who:

A) Is like a tourist passing through a community
B) Has no typifications of his/her own
C) Wants to be permanently accepted by the out-group he/she approaches
D) Does not question the mores of the out-group

Question 25

For the stranger, the common-sense knowledge of the out-group lacks:

A) Seriousness
B) Authenticity
C) Authority
D) Consistency

Question 26

"The homecomer can always rely on his original typifications of home even after he/she returns from an extended time away from home."

Question 27

The frameworks by which individuals meaningfully integrate everyday experiences are called:

A) Folkways
B) Symbolic universes
C) Recipe systems
D) Artful practices

Question 28

Ethnomethodologists focus on demonstrating:

A) The given-ness of social order
B) The constancy of social order
C) The accomplishment of social order
D) The autonomy of social order

Question 29

For ethnomethodologists, social structure is most readily seen in:

A) Organizational hierarchies
B) Individuals' everyday activities
C) Economic relations
D) The occupational structure

Question 30

Social processes and social experiences are underpinned by patterned:

A) Routines
B) Categorizations
C) Procedures
D) All of the above

Question 31

Individuals' everyday activities and decisions are focused toward providing:

A) Reasonable, sensible accounts
B) Confused, unexplainable sequences
C) A cover-up of unanticipated consequences
D) Impractical interpretations of reality

Question 32

Rumors, gossip, and group stereotypes:

A) Have no relevance in making accounts credible
B) Make some accounts more credible than others
C) Have no relevance in everyday decision-making activities
D) Only matter in traditional societies

Question 33

According to ethnomethodologists, gender is:

A) An inherited social status
B) A natural biological state
C) Something that has to be accomplished on an ongoing basis
D) A role performance

Question 34

Breaching experiments disrupt taken-for granted routines in order to show:

A) The naturalness of the social order
B) The consequences of faulty socialization
C) The robust nature of social organization
D) The fragility of social order

Question 35

Conversation analysis research documents:

A) The significance of interruptions and pauses as conversation tactics
B) The translation of gender inequalities into conversation exchange
C) The social-institutional context of language use
D) All of the above