Informal Pedagogy

The goal of many self-help books on interpersonal relationships is for the reader to learn how to "just act natural." There are certain processes that interfere with one's ability to follow such advice, namely, the imposition of calculation of what is `natural' will not generate a reality where the "just natural" interaction that is occurring is believed. This thesis examines several implications of this as it relates to the social organization of experience and the limitations of self-help books in aiding in the learning production of that experience of expression games in informal interaction. These implications and limitations are examined through (1) an analysis of how the learning of expression games occurs through informal socialization. This is followed by (2) a brief content analysis of a sample of 50 self-help books on interpersonal relationships that purport to teach informal interaction. This informs (3) a systematic pilot study of a selected...

The goal of many self-help books on interpersonal relationships is for the reader to learn how to "just act natural." There are certain processes that interfere with one's ability to follow such advice, namely, the imposition of calculation of what is `natural' will not generate a reality where the "just natural" interaction that is occurring is believed. This thesis examines several implications of this as it relates to the social organization of experience and the limitations of self-help books in aiding in the learning production of that experience of expression games in informal interaction. These implications and limitations are examined through (1) an analysis of how the learning of expression games occurs through informal socialization. This is followed by (2) a brief content analysis of a sample of 50 self-help books on interpersonal relationships that purport to teach informal interaction. This informs (3) a systematic pilot study of a selected subsample that presents the limitations inherent in the authors' advice as formalized by the advice's characteristic content and rule-like quality; which is followed by an analysis of the reactions of readers to the subsample. The thesis concludes with suggestions for future research and considerations for scholars and policymakers in terms of how `expression games' are an integral feature in the generation of solidarity among social interactants and its relation to societal social order.