FAD 3271 Lecture Notes 02 25 2013 Symbolic Interactionism Origins of Symbolic Interactions o Began in early 1900s o Industrial Revolution o Pragmatist Philosophers o Meaning comes from our interactions with objects not from objects themselves o Meaning is negotiated through use of language Ex respect means different things to different people Respect for romantic partner faithful communicate Respect for older family member obedience yes ma am no ma am listen to their stories o People can change society through communication and interaction Ex Women petitioning for their rights Principle Scholars George Herbert Mean talked about o How we developed our sense of self Play stage a time Game stage Practice imitate imagine role of only 1 person at Ex son imitating dad shaving Understand many perspectives family roles Ex when a kid can join a sports team Predict how behaviors affect society understand Ex I should not hit people because it is group fit Generalized other norms wrong Who we think we are is based on how we think others Charles Horton Cooley o Looking glass self see us William Isaac Thomas o Family has a role in socialization o Definition of the situation different interpretations Given the same situation two or more people can get many more interpretations o Subjective opinion valued has real consequences Ex if someone thinks their boyfriend is cheating on them even if they are wrong that thought is going to have consequences Herbert Blumer o 1st to use phrase symbolic interactionism Basic assumptions We understand and relate to our environment based on the symbols We react to something according to the meaning that thing has for that we know or learn us o Ex daycare center in Finland water play time was naked In our culture that would be odd We learn about meaning through interactions with others we make value judgments We interpret what s learned we aren t passive We must have a sense of self to interact with others based on our meaning of situations o For confidence meaningful relationships Infants are asocial develop sense of self as they interact not born with temperament o Basically it s all learned as you go along Sense of self motivates future behavior we reflect on experiences and use them as a guide We are born into environment with symbols and values assigned at o Ex names clothes parents dress them in colors We are influenced by cultural norms values and changing societal We learn the rules and values of society through everyday birth expectations interaction Symbols The meaning of symbols is o Learned from interacting o Based on way we see others using them o May not be the same in different situations Ex peace sign during radical movement vs now o Based on context of current environment Interaction Social behavior between two or more people Some type of communication takes place They react and modify their behavior Necessary part of socialization Nonverbal communication ex facial expressions Acts that represent something else Gestures Social Norms Expectations of how to act and when We adapt our behavior based on social norms o Ex no shirt no shoes no service o Ex the golden rule Rituals How family celebrates holidays Which symbols and gestures are appropriate If one of these people were your partner how would you feel about them Having lunch with a coworker Having dinner with an ex o How long has the relationship been broken up Roles Identity Set of social norms for specific situation We define for ourselves what is appropriate for each role we play Family roles change over time o Ex I don t ask for a blankie from my mom anymore Provider housekeeper troublemaker nurturer star scapegoat perfectionist overachiever black sheep Roles most salient for us define our identity More salient more important We give priority to roles that best identify who we think we are Space and Time Space Influence of Space o A 3 dimensional framework or expanse in which events actions and processes occur and energy and matter exist Territoriality emotional attachment to and the defense of space or home ground private home streets neighborhoods gang territories and even larger national boundaries Activity space areas within which we move Awareness space knowledge of opportunity locations Personal space individuals define personal or safe zones of comfort privacy and separation from others 4 types of privacy others Solitude the need to be alone and free from observation by Intimacy seclusion from unwanted intruders Anonymity freedom to be in public while at the same time free Reserve need to limit communication about ourselves protected from identification of others by the cooperation of others Ways people use space 1 Fixed feature space o physical space organized by unmoving boundaries such as walls barriers or psychological boundaries o House Design and Family Interactions Neighborhood House placement Privacy in house 2 Semi Fixed feature space o flexible space created by the arrangement of furniture or other movable objects o environment can be altered to accommodate group size or create an atmosphere conductive interaction type and aesthetics creating a feeling o Arranging Space Interior Design Seating 3 Informal space o Ways people handle individual or spatial needs that vary according to situation 4 spatial distances 1 Intimate space 0 18 inches allows for close contact hugging 2 Personal space 18 inches 4 feet Encourages interpersonal discussions between people and sharing emotions 3 Social space 4 12 feet used by small groups for social or business conversation 4 Public space over 12 feet allows short discussion or greetings from a distance with some members in the space Time A continuum in which events succeed one another from past through present to future Time and Relationships 4 Time Domains o Individual Time perception of time depends on how we experience the present What influences our perception about the passage of What type of factors make time seem to go more slowly time or faster Pain o Social time o Cultural Time Time of interactive systems companies schools businesses where individuals interact with one another Implies seeing time as a means of social coordination General agreement about time how it should be spent what it means by individuals or human groups that make up a culture People can get competing messages about time form different groups in which they are a part family school American etc o Historical time Refers to the time period in which the family
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