Symbolic Interactionism

Authors

George Herbert Mead, Herbert Blumer

three core principles of symbolic interactionism

concerned with meaning, language and thinking.

Self-fulfilling prophecy

1. Each of us affects how others view themselves. 2. Our expectations evoke responses that confirm what we originally anticipated, resulting in a self-fulfilling prophecy. ex: kid practices instrument, thought he was getting good at it. Teacher gave him re-enforcing feedback and he though "yah I am good"

Critique:

1. Mead meets clarification of values, offers a new understanding of people, uses ethnographic research, and has generated a community of agreement. 2. Mead does not call for a reform of society. In fact, he says little about power, domination, or emotion. The theory has fluid boundaries, vague concepts, and an undisciplined approach that lacks aesthetic appeal. 3. Mead overstates his case when he maintains that language is the distinguishing factor between humans and other animals.

Naming.

1. Name-calling can be devastating because it forces us to view ourselves through a warped mirror. 2. These grotesque images are not easily dispelled.

minding

1. Symbolic interactionists describe thinking as an inner conversation 2. Minding is a reflective pause. 3. We naturally talk to ourselves in order to sort out meaning. Ex: you think about the reasons your friend is acting stand-offish toward you

Society: The socializing effect of others' expectations.

1. The composite mental image of others in a community, their expectations, and possible responses is referred to as the generalized other. 2. The generalized other shapes how we think and interact with the community. 3. The "me" is formed through continual symbolic interaction. 4. The "me" is the organized community within the individual.

Meaning

1. The construction of social reality. First principle: Humans act toward people or things on the basis of the meanings they assign to those people or things. 2. Once people define a situation as real, it's very real in its consequences. Ex: I want to be healthy, I'm going to eat an apple because apples are healthy

Defenition/description

Humans act toward people, things, and events on the basis of the meanings they assign to them. Once people define a situation as real, it has very real consequences. Without language there would be no thought, no sense of self, and no socializing presence of society within the individual.

Interpretive or objective

Interpretive

Self is an ongoing process combining the "I" and the "me.

Once your "I" is known, it becomes your "me." ex: once you are aware of your "I" your "I" transforms to your "me"

Language

Second principle: Meaning arises out of the social interaction people have with each other. 1. As human beings, we have the ability to name things. 2. Symbols, including names, are arbitrary signs. 3. By talking with others, we ascribe meaning to words and develop a universe of discourse. 4. Symbolic naming is the basis for society—the extent of knowing is dependent on the extent of naming. Ex: you see a snake, that is snake

Tradition

Socio-cultural Because: communication as the creation and enactment of social reality

Thinking:

Third principle: An individual's interpretation of symbols is modified by his or her own thought process. Ex: if you see someone acting stand-offish you think that they might be mad at you

symbolic interaction

refers to language and gestures a person used in anticipation of the way others will respond ex: someone approaches you with arms out, this means they want a hug

The self: Reflections in a looking glass

self cannot be found through introspection, but instead through taking the role of the other and imaging how we look from the other's perspective. This mental image is called the looking-glass self and is socially constructed, or as the Mead-Cooley hypothesis claims, "individuals' self-conceptions result from assimilating the judgments of significant others." ex: parents say that you are a good writer, so you pursue writing

Symbol manipulation

symbols can galvanize people into united action ex: people interpret symbols in the same way they react the same way

"me"

the objective self—is the image of self seen through the looking glass of other people's reactions. ex: You wear something that is not socially acceptable and you have lower self confidence throughout the day

"I"

the subjective self—sponsors what is novel, unpredictable, and unorganized about the self. ex: ranting to your best friend at your house

Generalized other

the tragic potential of symbolic interaction: Negative responses can consequently reduce a person to nothing. (transparent reality)