US Culture and Society Since 9/11

Transcription

1 Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, 2017 Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, 2017

2 What are Americans Like? Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America American Exceptionalism Individualistic A Nation of Joiners Americans habits of the heart American culture appeared democratic and egalitarian Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 What are Americans Like? EVEN IF PRACTICE WASN T September 12, / 37 What are Americans Like? Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America American Exceptionalism Individualistic A Nation of Joiners Americans habits of the heart American culture appeared democratic and egalitarian

3 Persistent Trends Americans remain more likely than others to... Go to church Volunteer in social services agencies Mistrust government Resent taxation Believe wealth is distributed fairly Have opinions Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Persistent Trends Persistent Trends Americans remain more likely than others to... Go to church Volunteer in social services agencies Mistrust government Resent taxation Believe wealth is distributed fairly Have opinions

4 Culture What are Americans Like is an invitation to discuss American culture What do we mean by culture? Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Culture Culture What are Americans Like is an invitation to discuss American culture What do we mean by culture?

5 Culture (cont.) Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Culture (cont.) Culture (cont.)

6 Culture (cont.) Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Culture (cont.) Culture (cont.)

7 Culture (cont.) Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Culture (cont.) Culture (cont.)

8 Culture (cont.) Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Culture (cont.) Culture (cont.)

9 The Sociology of Culture Older conception: the Values of a population Example: Americans value freedom, success, wealth, opportunity Problems: 1 Nobody was ever able to measure these values 2 Very little variation Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 The Sociology of Culture The Sociology of Culture Older conception: the Values of a population Example: Americans value freedom, success, wealth, opportunity Problems: 1 Nobody was ever able to measure these values 2 Very little variation

10 The Sociology of Culture (cont.) New conception: Repertoire of Interpretive Strategies Repertoire: A list of dramas, operas, pieces, parts, etc., which a company or a person has rehearsed and is prepared to perform Interpret: To explain or tell the meaning of; to expound; to translate orally into intelligible or familiar language or terms; to decipher; to define; to apprehend and represent by means of art; to show by illustrative representation; as, an actor interprets the character of Hamlet; a musician interprets a sonata; an artist interprets a landscape Strategy: an elaborate and systematic plan of action Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 The Sociology of Culture (cont.) The Sociology of Culture (cont.) New conception: Repertoire of Interpretive Strategies Repertoire: A list of dramas, operas, pieces, parts, etc., which a company or a person has rehearsed and is prepared to perform Interpret: To explain or tell the meaning of; to expound; to translate orally into intelligible or familiar language or terms; to decipher; to define; to apprehend and represent by means of art; to show by illustrative representation; as, an actor interprets the character of Hamlet; a musician interprets a sonata; an artist interprets a landscape Strategy: an elaborate and systematic plan of action Shared Styles, Skills, and Habits; Shared Mental Representations

11 The Sociology of Culture (Cont.) Ann Swidler (1986): Culture in Action Drawing on Tocqueville: Styles, Skills, Habits Culture as Toolbox Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 The Sociology of Culture (Cont.) The Sociology of Culture (Cont.) Ann Swidler (1986): Culture in Action Drawing on Tocqueville: Styles, Skills, Habits Culture as Toolbox

12 The Sociology of Culture (cont.) Cultures are cross-cutting and overlapping Cultural membership can be partial Cultures produce their members Cultures provide members with the ways they understand their lives and the tools they choose to apply to problems Culture is both constraining and enabling People know more culture than they use (Vaisey) Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 The Sociology of Culture (cont.) The Sociology of Culture (cont.) Cultures are cross-cutting and overlapping Cultural membership can be partial Cultures produce their members Cultures provide members with the ways they understand their lives and the tools they choose to apply to problems Culture is both constraining and enabling People know more culture than they use (Vaisey) Not to be too gendered, but use the ballet and the basketball game analogies

13 Culture: A Sociological View Repertoire of Interpretive Strategies Shared tools people use to understand new things Common experience Common belief Common experience Polarized beliefs Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Culture: A Sociological View Culture: A Sociological View Repertoire of Interpretive Strategies Shared tools people use to understand new things Common experience Common belief Common experience Polarized beliefs

14 What Happened on 9/11? Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 What Happened on 9/11? What Happened on 9/11? Interpret; tell my story

15 The Unbuilt Environment Perrin, Perrin, Caren, Skinner Does physical environment affect obesity risk? Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 The Unbuilt Environment The Unbuilt Environment Perrin, Perrin, Caren, Skinner Does physical environment affect obesity risk? Why it might; how we checked; what we argue

16 Robert Putnam, Bowling Alone (2000) Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Robert Putnam, Bowling Alone (2000) Robert Putnam, Bowling Alone (2000) Americans bowling just as much as they used to, but not in leagues.

17 Bowling Alone Social Capital Participation down Individualism up Civility down Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Bowling Alone Bowling Alone Social Capital Participation down Individualism up Civility down

18 Social Capital Putnam: moral obligations and norms, social values (especially trust) and social networks (especially voluntary associations) Sociological: Returns to Sociability, Value of Social Networks Note that social capital may be held by regions (Putnam) or by individuals within networks (Sociological). Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Social Capital Social Capital Putnam: moral obligations and norms, social values (especially trust) and social networks (especially voluntary associations) Sociological: Returns to Sociability, Value of Social Networks Note that social capital may be held by regions (Putnam) or by individuals within networks (Sociological).

19 Social Capital: Operationalization Song L. Social Networks 34:12 (2012) I am going to ask some general questions about jobs some people you know may now have. These people include your relatives, friends, and acquaintances (acquaintances are people who know each other by face and name). If there are several people you know who have that kind of job, please tell me the one that occurs to you first. Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Social Capital: Operationalization Social Capital: Operationalization Song L. Social Networks 34:12 (2012) I am going to ask some general questions about jobs some people you know may now have. These people include your relatives, friends, and acquaintances (acquaintances are people who know each other by face and name). If there are several people you know who have that kind of job, please tell me the one that occurs to you first. Lijun Song, Raising network resources while raising children? Access to social capital by parenthood status, gender, and marital status, Social Networks, Volume 34, Issue 2, May 2012, Pages , ISSN ,

20 Social Capital: Ego Networks Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Social Capital: Ego Networks Social Capital: Ego Networks Strong vs weak ties

21 Social Capital: Effect of Child-Rearing Song L. Social Networks 34:12 (2012) Effect of children on social capital Men and Married Women: + Unmarried Women: Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Social Capital: Effect of Child-Rearing Social Capital: Effect of Child-Rearing Song L. Social Networks 34:12 (2012) Effect of children on social capital Men and Married Women: + Unmarried Women: why?

22 Social Capital: Why the Differences? Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Social Capital: Why the Differences? Social Capital: Why the Differences? Interpret

23 Bowling Alone Social capital would be eased by a palpable national crisis, like war or depression or natural disaster, but for better and for worse, America at the dawn of the new century faces no such galvanizing crisis. Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Bowling Alone Bowling Alone Social capital would be eased by a palpable national crisis, like war or depression or natural disaster, but for better and for worse, America at the dawn of the new century faces no such galvanizing crisis. A glimpse into what pre-9/11 concerns were like

24 Experiencing 9/11 Twitter and Facebook didn t exist Internet news was web-based At UNC, people gathered in the Union to watch CNN Nationally, nearly everyone had heard within a few hours Unsettled times cultural growth Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Experiencing 9/11 Experiencing 9/11 Twitter and Facebook didn t exist Internet news was web-based At UNC, people gathered in the Union to watch CNN Nationally, nearly everyone had heard within a few hours Unsettled times cultural growth

25 Trust in Government Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Trust in Government Trust in Government Interpret

26 Trust in Government, Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Trust in Government, Trust in Government, Watergate, small jump in late 90s, big bump in 2001, plummets thereafter

27 9/11 and Trust in Government Perrin and Smolek, SSR 38:1 (2009) Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 NLSAH (AddHealth) Wave III, /11 and Trust in Government 9/11 and Trust in Government Perrin and Smolek, SSR 38:1 (2009) NLSAH (AddHealth) Wave III, 2001 Note huge increase, relatively quick decay function

28 Increased vs Decreased Trust Perrin and Smolek, SSR 38:1 (2009) Rally Anti-rally Ratio All White male Black male White female Black female Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Increased vs Decreased Trust Increased vs Decreased Trust Perrin and Smolek, SSR 38:1 (2009) Rally Anti-rally Ratio All White male Black male White female Black female Different cultural repertoires produce different outcomes to the same stimulus? The decline function is significant for white respondents, but not for black ones. 7 African Americans reactions to the attacks appear less oriented to trust in government than those of whites; they were less likely to alter trust in government in the wake of the attacks, and their reported trust changed less as the event receded into memory. We consider this evidence that black respondents were less susceptible to the rally effect in general: they increased trust less and returned to normal more slowly. Other significant differences based on political ideology, gender, race, education.

29 Changes Since 9/11 Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Changes Since 9/11 Changes Since 9/11 Interpret

30 Public Discourse After 9/11 Perrin, Political Psychology 26:2 (2005) Culture produces discourse Where do people talk about matters of concern? Letters to the editor (544 pre-9/11, 556 post-9/11, 17 newspapers) Authoritarian and Anti-Authoritarian Messages Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Public Discourse After 9/11 Public Discourse After 9/11 Perrin, Political Psychology 26:2 (2005) Culture produces discourse Where do people talk about matters of concern? Letters to the editor (544 pre-9/11, 556 post-9/11, 17 newspapers) Authoritarian and Anti-Authoritarian Messages coded using an online engine, out of context

31 Public Discourse After 9/11 Watching the carnage in New York, I cant in my mind understand how a group of people can have such rage against the United States, let alone the people. It brings to mind another time in the 1940s when another land sneaked up on our back and caused great harm and damage. Then we were brought out of our isolation into the 20th century. This act of barbarism has no place in a civilized world. This act has stolen the innocents [sic] from this country, and its people will never again be what we were on Sept. 10. Now we will have to live in a much more brutal world with people that have no regard for life. We will also need to place a great deal of faith in God, for He will see us through. Chattanooga Times/Free Press, 9/23/01 Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Public Discourse After 9/11 Public Discourse After 9/11 Watching the carnage in New York, I cant in my mind understand how a group of people can have such rage against the United States, let alone the people. It brings to mind another time in the 1940s when another land sneaked up on our back and caused great harm and damage. Then we were brought out of our isolation into the 20th century. This act of barbarism has no place in a civilized world. This act has stolen the innocents [sic] from this country, and its people will never again be what we were on Sept. 10. Now we will have to live in a much more brutal world with people that have no regard for life. We will also need to place a great deal of faith in God, for He will see us through. Chattanooga Times/Free Press, 9/23/01 2 pro auth, 1 anti-auth

32 Public Discourse After 9/11 Authoritarian Pro-Auth Anti-Auth Salience F Scale.272*.645***.370*** 1.006*** RWA.216***.289***.071*.359*** Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Public Discourse After 9/11 Public Discourse After 9/11 Authoritarian Pro-Auth Anti-Auth Salience F Scale.272*.645***.370*** 1.006*** RWA.216***.289***.071*.359*** Again, multiple different effects

33 Public Discourse After 9/11 Pro-Authoritarianism Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Public Discourse After 9/11 Public Discourse After 9/11 Pro-Authoritarianism Total pro-authoritarian amount

34 Public Discourse After 9/11 Anti-Authoritarianism Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Public Discourse After 9/11 Public Discourse After 9/11 Anti-Authoritarianism Total anti-authoritarian amount

35 Public Discourse After 9/11 Authoritarian Sum Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Public Discourse After 9/11 Public Discourse After 9/11 Authoritarian Sum Authoritarian-ness

36 Public Discourse After 9/11 Authoritarian Valence Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Public Discourse After 9/11 Public Discourse After 9/11 Authoritarian Valence How much authoritarianism (pro or anti)

37 Public Discourse After 9/11 Why this effect? Andrew J. Perrin - SOCI 101 September 12, / 37 Public Discourse After 9/11 Public Discourse After 9/11 Why this effect?