Please select TWO long-essays from the following essay questions. Each question is worth 50 points.
1. Habermas states in Civil Society, Public Opinion, and Communicative Power that “Every
encounter in which actors do not just observe each other but take a second-person attitude,
reciprocally attributing communicative freedom to each other, unfolds in a linguistically constituted public space.” (Habermas cited in Edles & Applerouth 2016: 142). Please comment
on the quote by incorporating the concepts of communicative action and the public sphere,
and explain how they relate to each other. According to Habermas, what can we expect from
the public sphere?
2. Collins argues that “A matrix of domination contains few pure victims or oppressors. Each
individual derives varying amounts of penalty and privilege from multiple systems of oppression which frames everyone’s lives.” Give concrete examples of moments or situations
in which you found yourself as a “victim” and concrete examples of moments or situations
in which you found yourself an “oppressor”. Explain how your examples reflect the matrix
of domination at the level of personal biography, the community, and the systemic level of
social institutions.
3. Homans states that the motives behind the behavior of humans are similar to that of pigeons.
Do you find his claims credible? Why or why not? What aspects of human behavior are so
different from pigeons? Please be specific in your example.
4. A rational calculation can be used to explain most social behavior, including attending a public university. Discuss how the decision to attend public university (or not) by applying the
main concepts from exchange theory and/or rational choice theory. Keep in mind the importance of trust and norms.
5. Symbolic interaction emphasizes the constructed and negotiated aspects of the self and social
life. Use some of the key concepts in this framework (e.g., meaning, impression management, definition of the situation, interaction rituals, front and backstage, secondary adjustments, feeling rules, emotion work) to explore typical everyday life situations in your life
(e.g. employer/employee; father/son; professor/student; or any other).
DO NOT USE THE SAME THEORIST IN MORE THAN ONE ANSWER.
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