Blummer, Symbolic interactionism

symbolic interactionism - study

study human group life and human conduct

meaning

the basis on which people act towards things

arises from interaction and handeled through interpretation

three premises of symbolic interactionism

1. people act toward things on the basis of the meaning the things have for them

2. these meanings are derived from, arise out ot the social interaction one has with fellows

3. handled + modified through an interpretive process

interpretation

not automatic

1. actor indicated to himself the things toward which he is acting

2. selects + transforms meaning in the light of the situation and directs action

meaning modification

meanings used and revised

shared world of meaning

mutual interaction - common objects (same meaning for dif ppl)

non-symbolic interaction

responding directly to another’s action without interpretation

reflexes

symbolic interaction

involves interpreting the other’s action

Triadic nature of meaning

meaning of gestures

1. what the person addressed it to do

2. what gesturer plans to do

3. the joint action arising from both

nature of objects

anything that can be indicated / referred to

• physical

• social

• abstract

self indication

making ind to oneself

identified as an object

communicating with oneself

Role taking

seeing things from another’s standpoint

development of the self

emerges from social interactions

• playstage

• game stade

• generalised other

joint action

separate acts of participants into smth with a distinctive character in its right