Symbolic Interactionism

Symbolic Interactionism Communication Theories Khaled Aref Reza - 201250296 - For Dr. Shujun

General Pointers • Framework of sociological theory • Relies on the symbolic meaning that people develop and rely upon in the process of social interaction

George Herbert Mead • Philosophy professor at the University of Chicago • A book titled ‘Mind, Self and Society’ was published after his death in his name • He was the founder of the concept of this theory before it was named ‘Symbolic Interactionism’ by his student Herbert Blumer

Mead and Blumer

Mead’s Three Principles • Humans act toward things on the basis of the meanings they ascribe to those things • The meaning of such things is derived from, or arises out of, the social interaction that one has with others and the society • These meanings are handled in, and modified through, an interpretative process used by the person in dealing with the things he/she encounters

Symbolic Interactionism “Communication is the most human and humanizing activity in which people are engaged.” -Herbert Blumer Underlying Principles: - Meaning, Language and Thought

The 3 Principles Meaning: Assigned explanations and how to act toward it Language: The means by which Meaning is expressed Thought: Interpretation of meanings based on one’s thought process

Example of Symbolic Interactionism Youth who are smokers! • They know that cigarettes kill • They know that it has ill effects • But they think of it as something cool • They think it projects them well to their peers And therefore: Meaning of Smoking > Facts about Smoking

The Self • Self is a social emergent • Selves are the products of social interaction and not the logical or biological preconditions of an interaction • Capacity built through: – Language – Play – Game [ex. Roleplay]

The Self • Mingling in a society or a community is absolutely key in the finding of one’s true self • It is only then that we can find a basis for our own improvement and self judgement, through the eyes of others. This is also known as the looking-glass self

Five central ideas behind Symbolic Interactionism • The human being must be understood as a social person • The human being must be understood as a thinking being • Humans do not sense their environment directly, instead, humans define the situation they are in

Five central ideas behind Symbolic Interactionism • The cause of human action is the result of what is occurring in our present situation • Human beings are described as active beings in relation to their environment

Criticism on Symbolic Interactionists • Overly impressionistic in their research methods • Unsystematic in their theories • The theory is not one theory but it is also the framework for many different theories • May miss the larger issues of society by focusing too closely on the “trees” rather than the “forest”

Brief Movie Commentary Nell, 1994

What meaning would you assign to these?

Thank You For Your Attention! Interact and socialize; you will see the world unfold before your eyes.

References • www.google.com • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFQIIM8IRZU • http://sociology.about.com/od/Sociological-Theory/a/Symbolic-Interaction-Theory.htm • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolic_interactionism • http://sociology.about.com/od/Profiles/p/George-Herbert-Mead.htm

Symbolic Interactionism