Question

1. Explain one of the following three theories in detail: Merton’s role theory, Goffman’s role performance, or Cooley’s looking-glass self. Apply the theory to your current life situation. Next, predict how your life will be different one year after graduating from college and utilize the same theory to describe your future life scenario. Include textual evidence to support your view.
2. Discuss the social institution of marriage and family using any two of the three theoretical perspectives – functionalism, conflict, and symbolic interactionism. Which perspective fits your idea of what marriage and family are, and their place in our society? Include textual evidence to support your view.

Answer 1

Answer :

• Charles cooley was an american sociologist and the son of thomas M.cooley .
• He studied went on to teach economics and sociology at the university of michigan.
• He was founding member and the eighth president of the american sociological association .
• He is perhaps best known For his concept of looking glass self ,which is the concept that a person ,s self grows out of society's interpersonal interactions and perceptions of others .

Looking glass self :

• The looking glass self is a social psychological concept , created by charles horton cooley in 1902.
• The concept of the looking glass self is undoubtedly his most famous and is known and accepted by most psychologists and sociologists today .
• The term looking glass self was first used by cooley in his work , human nature and the social order in 1902.

Steps :

• According to cooley ,in his work human nature and social order his looking glass self involved three steps .

1. You imagine how you appear to the other person.
2. You imagine the judgement of the other person .
3. You feel some sense of pride , happiness guilt ,of shame .

Ex : how my mom and Dad see me.

How my girl friend sees me

How my older brother sees me .

How my ex girlfriend sees me .

In above scenario , theory application on current life situation .

Iam nursing Student , so in practical area , i feel how the patient respond to me when i given care .

If the care is good ,patient feel happy and may pride me .

If care is bad ,they wont reply to me when i ask anything to them and response will be poor from them.

After graduation , job plays very important role in our life .

If the employment is good or peace ,We will get great experience , if not We will face some hard situations .

I hope the future will be better than this year.