Yogin Patel Sociology 1100 12/6/13 Alternative Assignment

Sociology in Life

a)

We live our days thinking about the past and the future. From Memories to what comes

next, is life every day. We never think about how sociology plays an important part of our daily lives. The thoughts we have, the way we behave, how we communicate, are all those things we never take in mind. When we wake up, we interact with objects. For example, we look at what clothes look good on us around different people. We quickly recognize the needs. When we go to places, we know what is expected of us and how to act. A pattern of our behavior everyday sets an impression towards people. So, sociology is in our everyday life. Sociology is, simply, the scientific study of social behavior and human groups (Schaefer 5). It lets us see society through behaviors. I think sociology mostly affects my social and family life. My social life isnt great. The way I talk, understand things, look at people, is quite different from other people. I can talk very clearly but sometimes when I say things, I dont realize what I am saying sometimes. When someone explains something, my understanding level isnt of an average person. I try to visualize it and try to process it to understand fully. When I can visualize what someone is saying, it becomes easier for me to understand their view points. However, if I cant visualize the information in my head, I certainly cant understand most of the things. The way I think is through a visualization process. The behavior part plays a big role in my life as well. I tend to

Yogin Patel Sociology 1100 12/6/13 Alternative Assignment behave in a different way when I am with my friends. I feel more open to talk to them and share my ideas. It becomes almost easier to enjoy spending my time with them. In my family life, I try to understand things from my parents. I am way too quiet at home than I am with my friends. My days go by with me cleaning, doing work, watching TV, and leaving barely enough time for me to talk with my family. My life outside my house is much social. Sometimes, I feel like my family reaches out for me to communicate with them. But, I dont open the doors and try to talk. Sometimes, it feels as if I am scared to talk with my family. Sociology is the only thing that can make me more effective at understanding things whether its my social life or family life.

b)

These are the 5 words/concepts that are the most meaningful to aspects of my life.

Sociological imagination (Schaefer 5), nonverbal communication (Schaefer 17, 74), values (Schaefer 78), social interaction (Schaefer 119), looking glass self (Schaefer 95). Sociological imagination is an awareness of the relationship between an individual and the wider society (Schaefer 5). It allows us to go beyond personal experiences and observations to understand public issues. Also, it is the understanding that social outcomes are based on what we do (Wikipedia Soc Imagination). For example, when I play sports with my friends, I cheer them on to awaken a feeling in them that they are capable of doing good. The outcome comes out with the best results when I cheer them. When I dont, they usually dont feel like they can do anything and think they dont have it in them. Nonverbal communication is symbolic interaction such as postures, gestures, facial expressions, etc (Schaefer 17). When I am with my friends or in a class and I am not interested in what is being discussed, I automatically start folding my head, looking around, or make facial expressions. When we play sports, we usually

Yogin Patel Sociology 1100 12/6/13 Alternative Assignment give a tap on someones back if they did well because we have learned this form of language to communicate with others. Its a way to communicate and we tend to use it as much as possible to avoid talking. Values are a big part of my life. I choose what I value the most and the least. Values are collective conceptions of what is considered good, desirable, properor bad, undesirable, and improperin a culture (Schaefer 78). I value my family and my friends for being a part in my life. When I think about where I have gotten, I usually think of them for the reason I am here at this point in life. Without them, I wouldnt be what I am now. Looking glass self is a concept that the self is the product of our social interactions (Schaefer 95). I imagine how differently I behave or act when I am with my friends and relatives. Its easier to tell how I present myself to others. But, I get curious on how people might evaluate me as a person. Social interaction is the way people respond to one another (Schaefer 119). My responses dont bring the excitement in others. It just ends the conversation. My friend was telling me of a situation and how he overcame it. My response was cool man rather than it is good you overcame it man. My response puts the sense into them I might not care about what they say/tell me. A typical person would at least try to act nice or respond in a way to make the other person glad for what he did. So, these are 5 terms/concepts I think are the biggest in sociology that are the most meaningful in every aspect of my life.

c)

Conflict and symbolic interactions provide the greatest insight in analyzing my social and

family life. It is hard for me to open up and freely talk with my family because I never took a chance to. When they give me the opportunity, I let it pass. I pretend I am in a conversation sometimes to make them not feel bad or confused. I have had a conflict of social interaction with

Yogin Patel Sociology 1100 12/6/13 Alternative Assignment my family for my life. I mainly use symbolic interaction with my family most of the time. Whenever I have to do something my family says, I end up using facial expressions or gestures to agree with their work. Its hard to talk to someone about anything when you havent really talked to them your whole life. When it comes to personal stuff, I am not capable of telling them because of the past. In the past, I never told them about my feelings or what I go through. Therefore, I am always hesitant to ask for guidance. On the contrary, in my social life, I have had conflicts to understand their viewpoints on things. Since I understand they say my way, they tend to make fun of me. They are used to the understanding part where I am not. When I communicate with them, I try not to talk thinking I might say something stupid because of the way I understand differently. That is when symbolic interaction comes into place. I start folding hands, nod or smile to agree with what they are saying, or even say a couple of positive words. This is all to make them seem like I am listening to what they say when I am really not trying to understand. Its hard around my family and my friends. Sociology does affect who I am and how I behave around different people and at different places. If I were to be socially involved, only sociology can affect me in a positive way. If I stay quiet and dont take my chances, I will be the same. If I open up and start talking, it might bring new things to the table and connect the dots on communication.

Yogin Patel Sociology 1100 12/6/13 Alternative Assignment

Works Cited Sources

1. "Conflict. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Sep. 2013. Web. 1 Dec. 2013. 2. Schaefer, Richard T. Sociology in Modules. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2011. Print. 3. "Sociological Imagination." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Nov. 2013. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.

Yogin Patel Sociology 1100 12/6/13 Alternative Assignment