Symbolic Interaction Theory

interpretive process

communicators point out the things that have meaning communicators selecting, checking, and transforming the meanings in the context in which they find themselves

approach to knowing symbolic interaction theory

interpretive/hermeneutic

symbolic interaction theory communication context

intrapersonal, interpersonal

thought

an inner conversation

i

spontaneous impulsive creative self

particular others

individuals who are significant to us

seven central assumptions of symbolic interaction

1)Humans act toward others on the basis of the meanings those others have for them. 2)Meaning is created in interaction between people. 3)Meaning is modified through an interpretive process. 4)Individuals develop self concepts through interaction with others. 5)Self concepts provide an important motive for behavior. 6)People and groups are influenced by cultural and social processes. 7)Social structure is worked out through social interaction.

self fulfilling prophecy

a prediction about yourself causing you to behave in such a way that it comes true the self is a process not a structure

self concept

a relatively stable set of perceptions people hold about themselves develop through interaction with others provide important motive for behavior

language

a shared system of verbal and nonverbal symbols

symbols

arbitrary labels or representations for phenomena

significant symbol

those symbols that evoke basically the same meaning for many people

three assumptions of meaning

humans act toward others on the basis of the meanings those others have for them meaning is created in interaction between people meaning is modified through an interpretive process

self

imaging how we look to another person

pygmalion effect

living up to or down to another's expectations of us believing in potential simply creates potential people become how you treat them we can create what we want for self and others

looking glass self

our ability to see ourselves as another sees us

symbolic interaction George Herbert Mead

people are motivated to act based on the meanings they assign to people, things, and events. these meanings are created in the language that people use both in communicating with others (interpersonal context) and in self talk (intrapersonal context), or their own private thought. Language allows people to develop a sense of self and to interact with others in the community.

Approaches to knowing; how one sees and talks about the world influences how and what one chooses to research

positivist/empirical interpretive/hermeneutic approach critical approach

positivist/empirical

scientific example. objective truths can be uncovered about human interactions. research processes that can be proved to be value neutral natural scientific method, with control over variables goal is to construct general laws

Evaluation criteria of symbolic interaction theory

scope (too broad); utility(focuses too much on the individual, it ignores some important concepts, ignores physical reality,emotions and self esteem, testability); testability(broad scope renders its concepts vague. core concepts are not directly observable. General framework.

Symbolic interaction theory communication tradition

semiotic; phenomenological

role taking

the ability to put oneself in another's place

mind

the ability to use symbols with common social meaning. minds are developed through interaction with others.

generalized other

the attitude of the whole community

symbolic interaction theory's three central themes

the importance of meaning for human behavior the importance of the self-concept the relationship between the individual and society

me

the reflective, socially aware self

society

the web of social relationships humans create and respond to

critical approach

those in power shape knowledge that perpetuate the status quo, researchers seek to change the status quo, imbalances are often reproduced accidentally

interpretive approach

truth is subjective co created by the participants in the research process, complete objectivity is often impossible, the study of interaction is believed to be value relevant so researchers should monitor assumptions and inferences, no concern for control or generalizability, focus is providing rich description on research-theory