who came up with the symbolic interaction theory

Who is the founder of symbolic interactionism?

Herbert Blumer coined the term 'symbolic interactionism' and was the first to formulate Mead's ideas into a cohesive theory with specific methodological implications for study. Kuhn and Stryker, while methodologically at odds with Blumer, share much of the same theoretical orientation as Blumer, following Mead.

What is symbolic interactionism theory?

Symbolic interactionism is a theoretical approach to understanding the relationship between humans and society. The basic notion of symbolic interactionism is that human action and interaction are understandable only through the exchange of meaningful communication or symbols.

Where did symbolic interaction come from?

Symbolic interactionism grew out of the American philosophical tradition of pragmatism in the late 19th century, especially as elaborated by William James, John Dewey, and Charles S. Peirce. The most important bridge between the pragmatic tradition and sociology was George Herbert Mead.

Who are the 5 theorists of symbolic interactionism?

Aside from George Herbert Mead, Herbert Blumer, and Max Weber, other theorists that contributed to symbolic interactionism in sociology include Max Weber, Charles Horton Cooley, Charles Darwin, and William Isaac Thomas.

What is symbolic interactionism by George Mead?

of George Herbert Mead Mead believed that our thoughts, self-concept, and the wider community we live in are created through communication—symbolic interaction. The book that lays out his theory, Mind, Self, and Society, describes how language is essential for these three critical human characteristics to develop.

What is Goffman's symbolic interactionism?

"The term 'symbolic interactionism' refers, of course, to the peculiar and distinctive character of interaction as it takes place between human beings. The peculiarity consists in the fact that human beings interpret or 'define' each other's actions instead of merely reacting to each other's actions.

What is symbolic Interactionism and example?

What Is Symbolic Interactionism? While it might seem like a big name, symbolic interactionism is how your experiences add subjective meanings to symbols and letters. For example, the word 'dog' is just a series of letters. Through your interactions with the letters 'dog', you see this as a furry, four-legged canine.

What is symbolic Interactionism and why is it important?

Nevertheless, symbolic interactionism is a major theory in sociology and social psychology. It focuses on the active role that people play in constructing their own reality, and in that way, it helps us understand how interactions can shape people's experiences and behavior.

What are the main features of symbolic Interactionism?

Some of the characteristics of the symbolic interaction perspective are an emphasis on interactions among people, use of symbols in communication and interaction, interpretation as part of action, self as constructed by individuals and others in flexible, adjustable social processes through communication and ...

What is symbolic interactionism?

Scott Plunkett. The symbolic interactionism analysis society by the descriptive meanings that people have given to objects, events and behaviors. The behavioral pattern of the people will be based on these descriptive meanings because people behave according to their descriptive believes rather than objective truth.

How are meanings molded?

The meanings are molded from the interactions with the society. And these interactions are subjectively interpreted by them to suit the meaning in accordance with the existing symbols. It can be said that if we need to understand the behavioral patterns of the society we need to understand the existing symbols.

Why are interpretations often called definitions?

These interpretations are often called “definition of the situation” because they just define the situations. This theory says how humans develop a complex set of symbols that gives meaning to the world in their perspective. The meanings are molded from the interactions with the society.

What is the third principle of symbolic interaction?

The third core principle of symbolic interactionism is thought . The thought implies the interpretations that we have assigned to the symbols. The basis of thought is language. It is a process of mentally conversing about the meanings, names and symbols. The thought includes the imagination.

What is the meaning of language?

Language. Thought. 1. Meaning : It suggests that people act and behave towards the other people and things based upon the meaning that they have given to them. The principle of meaning is central to the theory of symbolic interactionism. Example: when we think of a Buddhist Monk the image comes to our mind.

Which principle makes symbols and interactions comprehensible to the mind?

The second core principle which makes the symbols and interactions comprehensible to the mind. And which helps in formulating assumptions. According to the theory, the naming assigned through the language, the naming creates meanings to everything because everything has its own name.

Who was the first person to use sociological theory?

It has to be noted that Blummer was greatly influenced by John Dewey (the leader of sociological theory).

Who introduced symbolic interaction?

Although symbolic interactionism traces its origins to Max Weber 's assertion that individuals act according to their interpretation of the meaning of their world, the American philosopher George Herbert Mead introduced this perspective to American sociology in the 1920s.

Why would young people smoke cigarettes?

For example, why would young people smoke cigarettes even when all objective medical evidence points to the dangers of doing so? 1  The answer is in the definition of the situation that people create. Studies find that teenagers are well informed about the risks of tobacco, but they also think that smoking is cool, that they will be safe from harm, and that smoking projects a positive image to their peers. So, the symbolic meaning of smoking overrides the facts regarding smoking and risk.

What is symbolic interaction?

The symbolic interaction perspective, also called symbolic interactionism, is a major framework of the sociological theory. This perspective relies on the symbolic meaning that people develop and build upon in the process of social interaction. Although symbolic interactionism traces its origins to Max Weber 's assertion ...

How does symbolic interaction theory work?

Symbolic interaction theory analyzes society by addressing the subjective meanings that people impose on objects, events, and behaviors. Subjective meanings are given primacy because it is believed that people behave based on what they believe and not just on what is objectively true. Thus, society is thought to be socially constructed through human interpretation. People interpret one another’s behavior, and it is these interpretations that form the social bond. These interpretations are called the “definition of the situation.”

What are the social constructs of race and gender?

Having no biological bases at all, both race and gender are social constructs that function based on what we believe to be true about people, given what they look like. We use socially constructed meanings of race and gender to help us decide who to interact with, how to do so, and to help us determine, sometimes inaccurately, the meaning of a person's words or actions.

What is the role of self in interaction?

With respect to the second premise, interactionists differ in the degree to which they assign an independent "causal" role to the self as the link between social organization or structure and social behavior. For many, self can and does serve as an independent source of that behavior (McCall and Simmons 1978). For others, social organization or structure (as the residue of prior interaction) builds selves in its image, thus making the self essentially a conduit through which these structures shape behavior, not an independent source of that behavior (Goffman 1959). Similarly, there is variation among symbolic interactionists in the degree to which the self is seen as the source of creativity and novelty in social life, the degree to which creativity and novelty in social life are seen as probable as opposed to simply possible (occurring only relief under a specific and limited set of social circumstances), and the degree to which social life is constructed anew rather than "merely" reconstructed in the image of prior patterns (Turner 1962; Hewitt 1997; Stryker and Statham 1985).

What is symbolic interaction?

The fundamental character of symbolic interactionist ideas is suggested by the theoretical proposition that the self reflects society and organizes behavior and by related imagery that addresses the nature of society and the human being, the nature of human action and interaction, and the relationship between society and the person. That imagery begins with a vision of society as a web of communication: Society is interaction, the reciprocal influence of persons who, as they relate, take into account each other's characteristics and actions, and interaction is communication. Interaction is "symbolic," that is, conducted in terms of the meanings persons develop in the course of their interdependent conduct. The environment of human action and interaction is symbolically defined: It is the environment as it is interpreted that is the context, shaper, and object of action and interaction. Persons act with reference to one another in terms of symbols developed through interaction and act through the communication of those symbols. Society is a label aggregating and summarizing such interaction. Society does not "exist"; it is created and continuously re-created as persons interact. Social reality is a flow of events joining two or more persons. More than simply being implicated in the social process, society and the person derive from that process: They take on their meanings as those meanings emerge in and through social interaction.

What is the most important aspect of a situation requiring definition?

From the point of view of the actors involved, the most important aspects of a situation requiring definition are who or what they are in the situation and who or what the others with whom they interact are. Defining the others in the situation typically is accomplished by locating them as members of a socially recognized category of actors, one (or more) of the kinds of persons it is possible to be in a society (e.g., male or female, young or old, employed or unemployed). Doing this provides cues to or predictors of their behavior and permits the organization of one's own behavior with reference to them. When others are recognized as instantiations of a social category, behaviors are expected of them and actions that are premised on those expectations can be organized and directed toward them. Through this process, the introduction of early definitions of the situation can produce, although not inevitably, behavior that validates the definitions. This is an insight that underlies the notion of altercasting (Weinstein and Deutschberger 1963) and appears in the development of expectation states theory (Berger et al. 1974). When such behavior becomes routinized and organized, it also can serve to reproduce the existing social structure.

What are symbolic objects?

Things, ideas, and relationships among things and ideas can all be symbolized and enter the experience of human beings as objects; objects whose meanings are anchored in and emerge from social interaction constitute social reality. Although meanings are unlikely to be identical among participants, communication and social interaction presuppose significant symbols that allow meanings to be "sufficiently" shared. Because significant symbols anticipate future behavior, they entail plans of action: They organize behavior with reference to what they symbolize. In the context of the ongoing social process, meanings must be at least tentatively assigned to features of the interactive situations in which persons find themselves; without the assignment of meanings, behavior in those situations is likely to be disorganized or random. The situation must be symbolized, as must its constituent parts; it must be defined or interpreted, and the products of that symbolization process are definitions of the situation. Those definitions focus attention on what is pertinent (satisfying impulses or resolving problems) in an interactive setting and permit a preliminary organization of actions appropriate to the setting. Tentative definitions are tested and may be reformulated through ongoing experience.

How do people learn from others?

People learn, at least provisionally, what they can expect from others through role taking, a process of anticipating the responses of the others with whom one interacts. In effect, one puts oneself in the place of those people to see the world as they do, using prior experience with them, knowledge of the social categories in which they are located, and symbolic cues available in interaction. On such bases, tentative definitions of others' attitudes are formulated and then validated or reshaped in interaction. Role taking permits one to anticipate the consequences of one's own and others' plans of action, monitor the results of those plans as they are carried out behaviorally, and sustain or redirect one's behavior on the basis of the monitoring. Because roles often lack consistency and concreteness while actors must organize their behavior as if roles were unequivocal, interaction is also a matter of role making: creating and modifying roles by devising performances in response to roles imputed to others (Turner 1962).

What is the third premise of social organization?

The third premise is interpreted by some as denying that social organization and selves have sufficient constancy to permit generalized conceptualization or the development of useful a priori theory on the basis of any investigation that can carry over reasonably to any new investigation (Glaser and Strauss 1967). In the view of others, this premise does not deny that there is in social life a reasonable constancy that implies a sufficient constancy in both selves and social organization to permit the elaboration of useful theories employing general concepts that potentially are applicable to wide instances of social behaviors (Heise 1986). Some emphasize the behavioristic elements in their intellectual heritage from Mead, concentrating on how concerted lines of social action are constructed (Couch et al. 1986; McPhail and Wohlstein 1986), while others adopt a stance that attends primarily to the phenomenological worlds of the actors (or interactors) they study (Denzin 1984).

Is symbolic interactionist theory a theory?

Labeling the ideas of symbolic interactionism a "theory" is misleading. If one distinguishes between a systematic set of interrelated propositions about how a segment of the world is organized and functions and assumptions about and conceptualizations of the parts of that segment, symbolic interactionism has more the character of the latter than the former. That is, it is more a theoretical framework than a theory per se. While features of the framework appear to militate against attempts to formulate systematic theory by using it as a base and various proponents deny that possibility, a few sociologists have employed the framework in efforts to elaborate specific theories (e.g., Heise 1979; Stryker 1980, forthcoming; Stryker and Serpe 1982; Rosenberg 1984; Thoits 1983; MacKinnon 1994; Burke 1991). It is not possible to review such specific theories nor characterize the research that derives from that framework here. (For extensive references to classic literature and research literature before 1985, see Stryker and Statham [1985]. For more recent research, see one of the texts written from a symbolic interactionist perspective, such as Hewitt [1997], or Symbolic Interaction, a journal sponsored by the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction and devoted to work emanating from the framework.)

Why are symbolic interactionists criticized?

Symbolic interactionists are often criticized for being overly impressionistic in their research methods and somewhat unsystematic in their theories. It is argued that the theory is not one theory, but rather, the framework for many different theories. Additionally, some theorists have a problem with symbolic interaction theory due to its lack of testability. These objections, combined with the fairly narrow focus of interactionist research on small-group interactions and other social psychological issues, have relegated the interactionist camp to a minority position among sociologists (albeit a fairly substantial minority). Much of this criticism arose during the 1970s in the U.S. when quantitative approaches to sociology were dominant, and perhaps the best known of these is by Alvin Gouldner.

How does symbolic interactionism relate to social media?

This viewpoint of symbolic interactionism can be applied to the use of social networking sites and how one's identity is presented on those sites. With social networking sites, one can boast (or post) their identity through their newsfeed. The personal identity presents itself in the need for individuals to post milestones that one has achieved, in efforts to differentiate themselves. The social identity presents itself when individuals "tag" others in their posts, pictures, etc. Situated identities may be present in the need to defend something on social media or arguments that occur in comments, where one feels it necessary to "prove" themselves.

What is the meaning of communication in symbolic interaction?

Communication, especially in the form of symbolic interactionism is connected with language. Language initiates all forms of communication, verbal and non-verbal. Blumer defines this source of meaning as a connection that arises out of the social interaction that people have with each other.

What is the meaning of language?

Language is viewed as the source of all meaning. Blumer illuminates several key features about social interactionism. Most people interpret things based on assignment and purpose. The interaction occurs once the meaning of something has become identified. This concept of meaning is what starts to construct the framework of social reality. By aligning social reality, Blumer suggests that language is the meaning of interaction. Communication, especially in the form of symbolic interactionism is connected with language. Language initiates all forms of communication, verbal and non-verbal. Blumer defines this source of meaning as a connection that arises out of the social interaction that people have with each other.

How many central ideas are there in symbolic interaction?

There are five central ideas to symbolic interactionism according to Joel M. Charon (2004):

What is symbolic interaction?

Symbolic interactionism is a sociological theory that develops from practical considerations and alludes to particular effects of communication and interaction in people to make images and normal implications, for deduction and correspondence with others. In other words, it is a frame of reference to better understand how individuals interact with one another to create symbolic worlds, and in return, how these worlds shape individual behaviors. It is a framework that helps understand how society is preserved and created through repeated interactions between individuals. The interpretation process that occurs between interactions helps create and recreate meaning. It is the shared understanding and interpretations of meaning that affect the interaction between individuals. Individuals act on the premise of a shared understanding of meaning within their social context. Thus, interaction and behavior is framed through the shared meaning that objects and concepts have attached to them. From this view, people live in both natural and symbolic environments.

Why is the frame of reference important?

In other words, it is a frame of reference to better understand how individuals interact with one another to create symbolic worlds, and in return, how these worlds shape individual behaviors . It is a framework that helps understand how society is preserved and created through repeated interactions between individuals.

What is symbolic interaction theory?

Those adjustments that you're making can be explained by symbolic interaction theory, also called symbolic interactionism , a theory about social behavior and interaction.

What is the micro level theory of self?

We learned that this is a micro-level theory because it deals with individuals and their relations to groups. We discussed George Herbert Mead's concept of self as a dynamic organism that is organized into two phases: I (the unorganized response of the self to the attitudes of others) and me (a set of organized attitudes of others that the individual assumes in response). We connected this discussion to Charles H. Cooley's concept of the 'looking glass self,' which reiterates how our definition of self is constructed based on what we think others think of us. Lastly, we discussed Herbert Blumer's contribution to symbolic interactionism, which is a culmination of these two elements and adds a clarification of how individuals assign meaning to behavior based on interactions with others.

What is Blumer's theory of behavior?

Blumer argued that people's behavior is based on the meaning those behaviors have to them. Those meanings are based on and derived from interactions an individual has with others. It's important to note that these meanings are subject to change based on an individual's interpretation.

What is the meaning of "I am not what I think I am"?

This means that we as individuals define how we perceive ourselves by how we think others perceive us.

What does it mean to enroll in a course?

Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams.

What is the me in the context of the self?

The me, in contrast, is a set of organized attitudes of others that the individual assumes in response - that is, those perspectives on the self that the individual has interpreted from others

Is symbolic interaction theory a sociological theory?

As this theory focuses on the behavior of individuals as opposed to the collective behavior of people as a group (a macro-level approach to social theory), symbolic interactionism is considered to be a micro-level sociological theory.

What Are Examples of Symbolic Interaction Theory?

The example of a symbolic interactionist perspective is one from the game “The Sims”. In this version of reality, you make all decisions about where your characters live, what they do, and who they interact with (This is an oversimplification!). The characters also have autonomy, which means that you can’t control their thoughts or actions.

What Was the Purpose of Symbolic Interactionism?

Symbolic interactionism focuses its attention on people’s everyday lives and how culture is created from shared meanings.

How Are Symbolic Interactions Defined?

According to sociologist Clifford R. Shaw, symbolic interactionism is a perspective in which human beings create reality through their interactions with others.

What is the Reason Why Labeling is Important to Understand Symbolic Interactionism?

In theory, if person A interacts with person B and gives them a label based on their behavior toward that person, then when another person (C) interacts with the same person (B), they will use the label A gave to understand B’s behavior.

What is a Theory?

A theory is a formal way of viewing the world that can be applied to specific situations. In theory, you could have many different theories about how people interact in social life.

What are symbolic interactionists interested in?

These scholars are interested in the social interactions that create and shape these things.

What is interactionist theory?

Interactionist theory is a sociological framework that views humans as active agents who cause change within society. Unlike other sociological perspectives, which focus on the macro-level of society (e.g., social institutions), interactionism considers the ‘micro’ level to examine behavior between individuals.

What are the components of symbolic interaction?

There are two components of symbolic interactionism – symbol and interaction.

How do children learn gender roles?

Gender roles are often performative and discursively learned. This means that children “learn” the correct way of performing masculinity and femininity through social interactions. Interestingly, different societies have different understandings of masculinity and femininity.

What is symbolic interaction theory?

The symbolic interaction theory states that social interaction shapes the meaning we ascribe to objects, processes, and systems in society.

What are the symbols of nationalism?

Flags have for ages been symbolic of the collective values of a society. With the advent of modern nation-states from the 17th century onwards, flags have become potent symbols of nationalism. They evoke intense feelings of patriotism, passion, and nationalistic fervour among the citizenry.

Why are there differences in reactions?

The differences in reactions is because of their experiences of growing up in a society in which the flag of the “enemy” is a symbol that has, through the process of social interaction, come to acquire connotations of undesirability.

How do we perceive the world?

We perceive the world through language. If certain words in certain languages carry specific connotations, we tend to internalize them and apply them to other categories.

What religions associate cows with food?

Here’s another example. A mid-western American Christian might associate a cow with food. But a devout Hindu villager in India may have feelings of devotion to the cow on account of the animal being considered sacred in their religion.

What is the labeling theory?

Labeling theory was the first to address both individual criminality and the impact of social reaction on criminal behaviors. Kobrin (1976, p. 245) wrote that labeling is an intrinsic feature of all human interaction.

What are the two main lines of inquiry in sociology?

Two primary lines of inquiry came from this school: (1) human ecology and (2) symbolic interactionism . The different assumptions that underlie each of these theoretical models and the different focuses of each (the macro vs. the micro, respectively) would lead each theory to grow in its own directions. Human ecology would be applied to crime almost immediately in the form of social disorganization research, but it would not be until the 1960s that research applying symbolic interaction theory to criminality would occur in the form of the labeling theory.

What is the key aspect of crime that had largely been neglected by criminologists?

The example of Prohibition highlights a key aspect of crime that had largely been neglected by criminologists: the reaction to criminal behavior. Although consensus criminology was concerned with the etiology of criminality, it did not confront the role of societal reaction on social control in the criminal process.

When did human ecology become applied to crime?

Human ecology would be applied to crime almost immediately in the form of social disorganization research, but it would not be until the 1960s that research applying symbolic interaction theory to criminality would occur in the form of the labeling theory.

Who developed the labeling perspective?

The labeling perspective was developed over many years by a number of different social scientists (Becker, 1963; Cohen, 1995; Kitsuse, 1962; Lemert, 1951, 1967; Tannenbaum, 1938). This research paper examines the evolution of the labeling perspective and its contributions to the field of criminology.

Was it illegal to possess alcohol during prohibition?

For instance, in the Prohibition era it was illegal to possess, manufacture, or distribute alcohol. Up to this time point and after Prohibition had ended, individuals who possessed, manufactured, or distributed alcohol were thus deemed “criminal” by a society attempting to right its moral compass.

Overview

Society For The Study Of Symbolic Interaction

Criticisms

History

Five Central Ideas

Central Interactionist Themes

New Media

Self

Basic Premises And Approach

Further Reading