SYMBOLIC INTERACTION THEORY

Symbolic interaction - also known as interactionism, is a sociological theory that places emphasis on micro-scale social interaction to provide subjective meaning in human behavior, the social process and pragmatism. - is the way we learn to interpret and give meaning to the world though our interactions with others MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS George Herbert Mead (1934) - often cited as the main contributor to symbolic interactionism - never published his theory - Meaning evolves from gestures (an action which produces a response in another) - Language is a set of shared meaning - Taking the role of the generalized other defined as the ability to extend interpersonal meanings to an entire group Herbert Blumer (1969) Mead s Student - credited with the term symbolic interactionism. He also summarized the basic assumptions of symbolic interaction from Mead s earlier work

3 MAJOR PREMISES OF SYMBOLIC INTERACTION THEORY

1. Human beings act toward things on the basis of the meaning they have y These things do not have an inherent or unvarying meaning y Rather, their meanings differ depending on how we define and respond to them y how we define, or give meaning to the things we encounter will shape our actions toward them y Therefore, if we wish to understand human behavior we must know how people define the things objects, events, individuals, groups, structures they encounter in their environment 2. The meaning attributed to those things arises out of social interaction with others y We are not born knowing the meanings of things y We don t learn these meanings simply through individual experiences, but rather through the interactions with others 3. These meanings are modified through an interpretive process y the meanings of the things we encounter, though formed by social interaction, are altered through our understandings y An individual s interpretation of the meaning will guide and determine action

The I and the Me The 'I' and the 'me' are terms central to the social philosophy of George Herbert Mead, one of the key influences on the development of the branch of sociology called symbolic-interactionism. The terms refer to the psychology of the individual, where in Mead's understanding, the "me" is the socialized aspect of the person the "I"is the active aspect of the person. In other words, the "I" is the response of an individual to the attitudes of others, while the "me" is the organized set of attitudes of others which an individual assumes.

7 Major Assumptions of Symbolic Interactionism Theory

y 1. People are unique creatures because of their ability to use symbols. y 2. People become distinctively human through their interaction with others. y 3. People are conscious and self-reflective beings who actively shape their own behavior. y 4. People are purposeful creatures who act in and toward situations. y 5. Human society consists of people engaging in symbolic interaction. y 6. The social act should be the fundamental unit of social psychological analysis. y 7. To understand peoples social acts, we need to use methods that enable us to discern the meanings they attribute to these acts.