FSU SPC 3210 - Chapter 5: Symbolic Interaction Theory

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Chapter 5 Symbolic Interaction Theory I Who is George Herbert Mead scholar of the Chicago school published little in his career After his death his students collaborated on a book entitled Mind Self and Society 1934 The term Symbolic Interaction was coined by Herbert Blumer one of Mead s students The school of Symbolic Interactionism that adopted a scientific approach to their studies is IOWA II Introduction to Symbolic Interaction Theory SI SI focuses on the relationship between symbols and interactions center on understanding how humans create symbolic worlds and how the worlds shape our behavior SI sees individuals as active reflective participants in their social context Meanings created in SI are used both in communication with others interpersonal and with the self interdependency between individual and society intrapersonal 3 Themes of Symbolic Interaction Theory 1 The importance of meanings for human behavior we construct meaning through communication process w goal to create shared meaning Hard ex We understanding ring to be symbol of legal and emotional bond see it as positive but some view marriage as oppressive negative RING itself has no meaning but we assig why we come to class why fireworks mean something on 7 4 2 The importance of the self concept 3 The relationship between the individual and society Assumptions of SI People are motivated to act based on meanings they assign to people and things The importance of meanings for human behavior assumptions Humans act towards others on the basis of meanings those others have for them we make meaning from social forces that shape us meanings change ex Someone gets award and is treated diff Meaning is created in interaction between people it can only exist thru shared common interpretation of symbols Meaning is modified through an interpretive process EX symbol sarah palin reach understanding through interpretation process 3 ways to account for meaning s origin 1 being intrisic to the thing itself a chair is a chair 2 brought to a thing by the person it means something to 3 occurring between people as social products Another term for looking glass self used by researchers is reflected appraisals Meaning is modified through interpreted process process has 2 steps 1 point out things that have meaning 2 communicators select check and transform meaning based on own contexts relies on shared cultural meaning universally accepted B The importance of the self concept assumptions Individuals develop self concepts through interaction with others infants aren t born with idea of self self concept developed by interpretation of surroundings and acquisition of language Self concepts provide an important motive for behavior beliefs values assessments of self etc affect behavior bc we possess selves we are provided with mechanism for self interaction this guides our conduct as we must construct our actions and responses ex If you feel good about a class its likely youll do well How does the self concept develop in you through family acquaintances lovers teachers strangers and friends Development of self 1 Social Comparison important for little boys recognizing your place in relation to others 2 Reflected Appraisals more important for little girls Cooley looking glass self surrounding yourself w people who make you look at yourself in positive light developing self concept through interaction with others 3 Self Perception more important w age C The relationship between the individual and society assumptions People and groups are influences by cultural and social processes social norms constrain behavior culture strongly influences behavior and attitude about self concepts values important to you by culture assertiveness in US cooperation in Asian places will change how you see self Social structure is worked out through social interaction social structure can change and acknowledges individuals modify social situations ex casual fridays in work place some constraints but still have free will Key concepts associated with SI 1 Mind the ability to use symbols with common social meanings developed thru interactions Language Interaction with others is limited until we learn language dependant on significant signals or symbols with generally agreed upon meaning VIEW OF WHATS GOING ON CHANGES Language depends on symbols that evoke the same meaning by developing mind we create interior setting for the society we see operating outside us how we internalize it Reflects and creates the social world Thought inner convo Through interpersonal convo one can sort out meaning of a situation Thought allows role taking Self the ability to reflect on ourselves from the perspectives of others put self in others place Symbolic act helps develop empathy reason why we don t cheat or hurt people SELF ability to reflect on self from other s perspective Types of self Looking glass self ability to see ourselves in reflection of anothers gaze Cooley s 3 principles of development 1 we imagine how we appear to others 2 Imagine their judgement of us 3 Feel hurt or pride based on these feelings others see this idea as reflected appraisal or peoples perception of how others see them better framework for understanding identity construction Suggests labels have power to effect self concept Pygmalion self expectations of others living up or down to them EXAMPLE Matt s parents think he s really good at math although he has doubts about that He doesn t realize it but his parents beliefs about his mathematical capabilities are motivating him to work and study harder in his math classes and he s doing quite well We learn more about self through lang We are able to be subject and object to ourselves We as individuals can be both subject the I and object the me The I is impulsive creative spontaneous and not influenced by social constraints The me is reflective socially aware analytical and evaluative The I and Me are complementary parts of the self Society the web of social relationships that humans create Ed feels great about his abilities in his communication theory class Because Ed feels great about his abilities in the course he is likely to do well in the course This process is called Self Fulfilling prophesy Society dynamic social structure where interaction takes place web of social relationships we create 2 parts of society that affect mind and self Generalized others attitude of whole community Provides info about roles rules and attitudes Particular others


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FSU SPC 3210 - Chapter 5: Symbolic Interaction Theory

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