“SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM”

Farhan Ahmad Sociology Departnment

QAU Islamabad Pakistan

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- Symbolic interaction theories focus on the interpretation (social meaning) that is given to behaviour, and on the way such interpretation helps to construct the social world, the identities of people, and, ultimately how they behave.

- All interaction theories are concerned with the way in which meaning is constructed.

Symbolic Interaction Theories

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1. Humans have capacity for thought.2. Thought is shaped by social interaction.3. Through interaction, people learn symbols

and meanings that allow them to think.4. Meanings and symbols allow for human

action.5. People can interpret a situation and modify

their action or interaction.6. People can create own meanings.7. Groups and societies are made up of

patterns of action and interaction.

Basic Principles

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INTRODUCTION

George Herbert Mead was born in South Hadley, Massachusetts in February of 1863.

In 1894 , Mead moved from The University of Michigan to Chicago, Illinois, where he would later become the center of the sociological department at The University of Chicago.

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INTRODUCTION CONT’D After Mead’s death in 1931 his students at

the University published his Mind, Self, and Society teachings.

Herbert Blumer, Mead’s pupil, further developed his theory and coined it “Symbolic Interactionism.”

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INTRODUCTION CONT’D This theory is the process of interaction in

the formation of meanings for individuals. In simple form, people act based on symbolic

meanings they find within a given situation. The goals of our interactions are to create a

shared meaning.

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EVOLUTION & PRAGMATISM- Charles Darwin’s model provides the means of understanding and

discovering all behaviors, those of humans included.- Mead’s attraction to Darwin rests on his emphasis on process,

specifically, the idea that process gives rise to different forms.- Although Mead would become one of the key figures in the

development of pragmatism, he was initially introduced to it by John Dewey, William James, and James Baldwin.

- “If Dewey gave range and vision, Mead gave analytical depth and scientific precision.”

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GEORGE ROBERT MEAD (1863-1931)- Was born in Massachusetts and entered Oberlin College at the age

of 16.- After graduation, earned his graduate degree from Harvard.- Taught philosophy and psychology at the University of Michigan.

After 1893 taught at the University of Chicago until his death.- Believed people have the capacity to think and decide on their own

how they should act in certain situations.- Their reactions are based on their perceptions and

definitions of the situation.- People cope with the reality of things according to their

comprehension of the situation.

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Mind, Self, and Society- Views the mind as a process, a conversation within itself.

- People have the capacity to control their responses to the environment.

- Self involves the process where actors reflect on themselves as objects.

- Develops from social forces and social experience.- Society cannot exist without minds and self.

- Humans have ability to manipulate environment so multiple societies exist.

The ‘I’ and ‘Me’- I is source of creativity and spontaneity.- Me is formed from the perceptions others’ actions and views,

including own thoughts on oneself.9

Development of Self1. Imitation stage- understanding gestures.2. Play stage- learned use of language and meanings of certain symbols.3. Game stage- understanding the roles of others and abiding by the

rules.The Act1. Impulse- gut reactions or the need to do something.2. Perception- use of senses and mental images to satisfy the impulse.3. Manipulation- taking some conscious effort in regard of impulse.4. Consummation- act of satisfying the impulse.

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The Social Act and Gestures- The stimulus creates an impulse that triggers possible reactions by

people in the environment.- Mead emphasizes the importance of the vocal gesture (verbal

communication).- Shared language increases efficiency.- Can hear ourselves talking, therefore carries same

meaning between listener and speaker.

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Herbert Blumer came up with three basic principles for his theory.

Meaning, Language, and Thought. These three principles lead to conclusions

about the creation of a persons self and socialization into a larger community.

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HERBERT BLUMER (1900-1987)- Taught sociology at the University of Chicago from 1927 to 1952.- Completed doctoral dissertation in 1928 under guidance of

Ellsworth Faris, a disciple of George Herbert Mead.- Blumer was one of sociology’s most prominent and esteemed

practitioners.- Leading spokesperson for the Chicago style of

symbolic interactionism for an entire generation.- Believed that humans construct their own actions and are free of

internal drives.- Additionally, actions are a consequence of reflexive and deliberate

processes determined by an individual in response to their environment.

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BLUMER (CONT.)Symbolic Interactionism- is a term that was coined by Blumer in 1937.- “humans act toward things on the basis of meanings” Blumer insisted

its importance, while peers downplayed it.- Blumer views symbolic interactionism as “a uniquely

human process” one which we must completely understand through language and gestures.

- Must share a language to communicate effectively.- The importance of the fact that people act depending on meanings of

objects for them, which creates profound methodological implications.

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BLUMER & SOCIAL THEORY- Blumer’s focus was limited to theories grounded in empirical

science.- Acknowledged the role structure in human society:

- I.e. social roles, statues positions, rank orders, social codes, norms, values, etc.

- Stated: “social interaction is obviously an interaction between people and not between roles...”

- Theoretical schemes are essentially proposals as to the nature of relations between persons and their social environments.

- Wrote Industrialization as an Agent of Social Change in an attempt to explain the role of industrialization as a cause of social change.

- Published posthumously in 1990 by Maines and Morrione.

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1ST PRINCIPLE Meaning: “Making is a community project” Meaning is something that has to be

assigned and who assigns it? The definition of this word states that it is a

intention for a particular purpose or destination.

Blumer says that the principle of meaning is central in human behavior

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MEANING CONT’D Meaning is based on human interaction

and how we act towards other people. We as humans, base things upon the

meanings that they have been given. An example would be me saying, “Hey

you look great, have you lost a lot of weight?” This statement could be taken a lot of different ways. Perhaps the person that I said this to takes it in the way of a compliment, (Which is what I was giving them) or a negative remark. The meaning that we assign to the statement is how we react to people and what they say. 17

MEANING CONT’D

This theory tells us that its how people interpret messages and statements.

Each one of us has a different meaning assigned to different things.

To us humans the word “grass” is something that can be defined as green, or something needed to be cut. To animals, the word “grass” could mean shelter or food.

Now in the case of symbols, meanings also depend on the number of consensual responses of those who use it. If someone uses a particular word such as hey, to those that use it a lot, it means hello. Now for those people that are ambiguous to it, it could mean a totally different thing to them. 18

2ND PRINCIPLE

Language: “Symbolic naming for the human society”

Language gives humans a means by which to negotiate meaning through symbols.

Mead believed that when you named something, it is assigned a meaning. An example of this would be me naming my dog Lucifer. The meaning of this name would be the devil, because maybe the dog is extremely mean or bites people all of the time. 19

LANGUAGE In simple terms, this principle says that when

we talk to each other, symbolic interaction means that humans identify meaning, or naming, and then they develop discourse, which is communication orally

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3RD PRINCIPLE Thought: “Interpretation of symbols”

Thought is based on language. While in a conversation, your mind is imagining or thinking about the different points of view or meanings to what the other person is saying to you.

What this means is that once your hear someone say something, you automatically start thinking about what you are going to say next. 21

LANGUAGE

Mead believes that “We naturally talk to ourselves in order to sort out the meaning of a difficult situation.”

Whatever you think of before acting to an action or responding to a phrase is your thought. We do this all the time without knowing or realizing it. It is your own personal meaning that you put on words.

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CONCLUSION George Herbert Mead was a professor whose teachings were transformed into a theory that is well known and taught throughout the world. Symbolic Interactionism has only one variable in it. The individual has its own set of meanings for things and people. A problem with this theory is that it does not state whether or not an individual wants to win and get their own way or not. Sometimes we think that people can also construct a sample and ask someone if they should have a certain meaning for this and a meaning for that. 23

This theory doesn’t tell you if you think this way because a person told you to or if you think a certain way because you feel that you need to.

George Herbert Mead died in 1931. Although he never got around to publishing his own teachings, he still is considered to be one of the top sociological theorists that have ever walked this earth. 24

THOUGHT According to Blumer:

We as humans have the ability to take the role of the other.

This allows us chances to find new meaning and different perspectives in life.

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TAKING THE ROLE OF THE OTHER This is seeing the world through another’s

eyes.

Walking in someone else’s shoes

Grown up version of having imaginary friends and talking to yourself.

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TO CONCLUDE

Symbolic Interactionism and its premises are built upon communication between individuals.

Language and Thought are vital in the interpretation of symbols.

We have and always will be affected by Language and Thought.

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APPLIED SYMBOLIC INTERACTION

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SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM The characteristics of this approach are

human interaction, interpretation or definition rather than mere reaction, response based on meaning, use of symbols, and interpretation between stimulus and response

It is concerned with the interaction order of daily life and experiences, rather than the structure.

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SIX APPLICATIONS OF SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM

There are six different applications within the theory of symbolic interactionism: creating reality meaning-ful research generalized other naming symbol manipulation the self-fulfilling prophecy

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CREATING REALITY

Sociologist Erving Goffman argues that everyone is constantly negotiating with others to publicly define our identity and the nature of the situation in the creating reality application.

The impression of reality is a delicate and fragile thing that can be shattered.

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MEANING-FUL RESEARCH In meaning-ful research, Mead claims that

research occurs through participant observation.

Mead believes that behavioral experimental and survey research are void of the meaning of the experience.

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GENERALIZED OTHER Generalized other is described as the

combined mental image of others in a community, their expectations, and possible responses to one’s self.

In symbolic interaction, there is a tragic potential of negative responses consequently reducing a person to perceiving themselves as nothing.

The generalized other is a combination of all of the looking glass selves that others give us.

The looking glass self is imaging how we look to others.

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NAMING

Naming is what we would call name-calling, such as retard, slut, liar, ugly, etc.

Name-calling can be devastating because it forces us to view ourselves through a warped mirror.

These grotesque images are not easily dispelled and can be very hurtful and damaging. This is shown in a clip from the T.V. show South Park.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LGBYVnkSqis34

SYMBOL MANIPULATION Symbol Manipulation is the process in which

symbols incite people to unite into action.

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SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY Each and everyone of us affects how

others view themselves. Predictions in the self-fulfilling

prophecy may be false but made true by one’s actions. One’s prophecy is simply a possibility that is made into probability by one’s unconscious or conscious actions.

Our expectations evoke responses that confirm what we originally anticipated, resulting in a self-fulfilling prophecy. 36

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THE PERSONALITY STRUCTURE

The outer layers are the first to be penetrated and include more public information.

Gradual disclosure will lead to more understanding of each individual.

Once penetrated, it will be easier to return to inner layers.

Goals and aspirations

Preferences in food, music, clothes

Biographical data

Religious views

Deeply held fears and fantasies Concept of

self

Source: Griffen, E. (2007). A first look at communication theory (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

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FOR THE EXAM...Define these terms as they are used by symbolic interactionists: - Presentation of self (Goffman): An identity that one presents to others in an attempt to manage their impression of him or her.

We act a certain way so others view us in this certain way.- Dramaturgy (Goffman): Method of analyzing social interactions in the form of a play. We are the actors, we present ourselves

in a specific way in the front stage and act as we truly are in the back stage. - Stigma (Goffman): Describes a mark of disgrace. Sometimes in physical form other times as poor personality traits (weak or

dishonest).- Emotion culture (Hochschild): A series of ideas about how and what people are supposed to experience in given situations. Describe how Herbert Blumer defines the relationship between symbolic interactionism and social methodology.- Symbolic interactionism is the idea that humans act toward objects on the basis of the meanings that the things have for

them. And the meaning of the objects is brought on by the social interaction with one’s peers. Blumer’s social methodology took a naturalistic approach (study of conduct and group life as these occur in everyday existence). He also stressed the need for exploratory studies.

Describe the key perspective by which symbolic interactionists view society.- The presentation of self and the fact that human communication, through gestures and language, and interaction often

involve attempts to manage one’s image and evironment.What do sociologists gain by viewing society from the perspective of symbolic interactionism?- Process of interaction is best-understood dimension of the social universe because of the social methodology. Social

methodology allows researchers to be flexible and form comprehensive acquaintance with a study that is unknown to them. Describe one key limitation to the way that the symbolic interactionists view society.- Ignores class structure and socioeconomic factors.

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