Sociology

The process by which people act and react in relation to others

A social position that a person holds. Status sets refers to all the statuses a person holds at a give time, this changes over the life course. People's ascribed status influences the statuses they achieve.

A social position a person recieves at birth or takes on involuntarily later in life. Examples are being a daughter, a Cuban or a teenager. We have little or no choice about Ascribed Status

A social position a person takes on volunarily that reflectst personal ability and effort. Examples are being an honor student, a spouse or a thief.

A status that has special importance for social identity, often shaping a person's entire life.

Behavior expected of someone who holds a particular status. A person holds a status and performs a role. A role set is the number and nature of roles attached to a single status

Conflict among the roles corresponding to two or more statusses

Tension among the roles connected to a single status

Reality is "soft" as it's being shaped and becomes "hard" in its effects.

• Erving Goffman
• People in their everyday behavior are much like actors performing on a stage. A status is like a part in a play, a role is a script. Each person's performance is the presentation of self- a person's efforts to create specific impressions in the minds of others.