04-Social+Interaction

 Master status: a status that has special importance for social identity, often shaping a person's entire life. Ex.: The position of Chief of Medicine was something that changed the life of Dr. Cox completely.

Ethnomethodology: Harold Garfinkel's term for the study of the way people make sense of their everyday surroundings.  Ex.: Throughout all the episodes of [Scrubs] J.D. thinks to himself as he tries to make sense of his surroundings and situations. Part of how he does this is by comparing himself to his coworkers and imagining himself in their shoes.

 Social interaction: the process by which people act and react in relation to others Ex.: Like any social situation coworkers interact and have converse with each other.

Achieved Status: a social position a person takes on voluntarily that reflects personal ability and effort. Ex.: After Dr. Bob Kelso retires as Chief of Medicine, Dr. Cox is promoted to be the main head of Sacred Heart. This illustrates his ability and effort allowing him to achieve a higher position

Thomas theorem: W.I. Thomas' claim that situations defined as real are in their consequences. Ex.: While death happens at Sacred Heart, the doctors are largely desensitized to the emotional plights of the patients with notable exceptions. One includes fellow nurse Laverne Roberts who was in a car accident and eventually died from those wounds. Every single staff member was affected, and forced to reflect on the nature of their job and the consequences of life.

Personal space: the surrounding area over which a person makes some claim to privacy. Ex.: Dr. Cox is often annoyed at J.D.’s attempts to receive physical contact from Dr. Cox in the form of hugs, high fives, etc. Dr. Cox would be said to have a need for a larger personal space than J.D.