For centuries, philosophers and sociologists have pondered the idea of reality.
Sociologists generally accept that reality is different for each individual.
The term social construction of reality refers to the theory that the way
we present ourselves to other people is shaped partly by our interactions with others, as well
as by our life experiences. How we were raised and what we were raised to believe affect how we
present ourselves, how we perceive others, and how others perceive us. In short, our perceptions
of reality are colored by our beliefs and backgrounds.
Our reality is also a complicated negotiation. What is real depends on what is socially
acceptable. Most social interactions involve some acceptance of what’s going on. While we
participate in the construction of reality, it’s not entirely a product of our own doing.
Example: A wealthy individual, whose basic survival needs are met many times over, buys his
pets gourmet, organic food that costs more per week than the weekly earnings of a minimum-wage
worker. He is proud that he is able to take such good care of his animals and insists that it’s
the right thing to do if one really loves one’s pets. After all, his vet was the one who
recommended that he buy that brand. A minimum-wage worker who loads that food into the rich
person’s car might feel anger when he realizes how much money this individual spends on his
pets. The minimum-wage worker might fume that this man’s pets eat better than he does. He might
wonder whether this rich man has any concept of reality.
How we define everyday situations depends on our respective backgrounds and
experiences. The wealthy individual has learned through interactions with others that spending
money on one’s pets is a worthy expense. His reality is one of pride. The minimum-wage worker
has learned through interactions with others spending that much money on a pet is a negative
thing, so his perception of the situation is entirely different.
The Thomas Theorem
What is the “real” reality? Is buying a pet expensive food the right thing to do or a
waste of money? According to sociologist W. I. Thomas, “if a person perceives a
situation as real, it is real in its consequences.” This statement is also known as the
Thomas Theorem. In other words, our behavior depends not on the objective reality
of a situation but on our subjective interpretation of reality. The consequences and results of
behavior make it real. For example, a teenager who is defined as deviant might begin to act
deviant. He makes his label real.
People perceive reality differently, and when they decide how they are going to view a
person or a situation, they act accordingly. Since we all perceive reality differently, our
reactions differ. Our definition of a situation as good or bad, to be embraced or avoided,
dictates our response to it.
Ethnomethodology
Ethnomethodology, as founded by sociologist Harold Garfinkel,
is a theory that looks at how we make sense of everyday situations. Though we may view a
situation differently from those around us, our backgrounds provide us with some basic
assumptions about everyday life. Ethnomethodology studies what those background assumptions
are, how we arrive at them, and how they influence our perceptions of reality. In order to
understand these assumptions, students of ethnomethodology are often taught to violate or
challenge the taken-for-granted assumptions we have about everyday life.
Example: In the United States, one background assumption is that emergency personnel, such as
police officers, wear identifiable uniforms when on duty. An officer at an accident scene who
is wearing everyday clothes might find that crowds won’t obey someone who claims to be a
police officer but is without a uniform. The officer might have difficulty keeping onlookers
at bay or redirecting traffic away from the scene. When the background assumption is not
fulfilled, members of the public will not respond as respectfully as they would if the officer
were in uniform, and the officer will have a hard time performing required duties.
