Interactionism

What is Goffman's (1983) concept of 'Interaction Order'?

Focuses on places where two or more people are physically in the same place (e.g., shops, parks, public transport) and have the potential to interact. Actions are ordered and follow rules. Goffman sees these interactions as a distinctive domain of social life, importing part of society's culture.

How does Goffman view 'Interactions as a domain of life'?

Goffman argues that the 'interaction order' is a distinctive sphere of social life in its own right, not simply effects of wider structures. This involves the analysis of the immediate presence of other people's body language, moods, and expressions.

According to Goffman, what are the two 'Types of identification' and how do they differ?

In interactions, knowing the person is 'individual identification'. If not, it's 'categoric identification', whereby individuals are categorized by age, ethnicity, gender, class, etc. Culture itself builds up through these categorizations in everyday encounters.

Explain Goffman's (1972) concept of 'Civil Inattention'.

Goffman (1972) discovered that everyday life situations are governed by a set of informal rules. For example, when walking in a busy street, we avoid constantly bumping into each other or staring at strangers, leading to meaningful interactions. This is known as 'civil inattention'.

What is Goffman's (1959) theory of 'Impression Management'?

Goffman (1959) argues that interaction is fundamentally a form of role-playing, where our social identity is displayed in public as a 'performance'. We 'manage' our performance according to who we are interacting with. This includes using physical props (uniforms), or clothing to give the impression of who we are, thus creating a 'front stage' during interaction.

Describe Becker's 'Labelling Theory' and its implications.

Becker's 'Labelling Theory' suggests that when teachers label pupils, their authority makes it difficult for pupils to escape the label. Students may feel the system no longer values them and start living up to the label, creating a 'self-fulfilling prophecy'. Some labels become a 'master status', leading to the labelled person becoming an outcast (deviant career) and often forming a subculture with others similarly labelled. However, some individuals may resist such labels.

According to Mead, how is human behavior shaped?

Mead argues that behavior is not shaped by pre-programmed instincts but by meanings we attach to actions, which we interpret by 'taking the role of the other' (putting ourselves in another person's place to understand their perspective).

What are the two components of Mead's 'Self' and how do they develop?

Mead's 'Self' consists of two parts:

• 'I': The active, decision-making aspect of the self (What I feel about myself).
• 'Me': The socialized aspect of the self (How I feel others view me).
  The 'Me' develops as we become aware of being separate from others, and the ability to see ourselves as others see us is crucial for identity.

Summarize Blumer's three key principles of interactionism, based on Mead's work.

Following Mead's death, Herbert Blumer systematized his thoughts into three key principles:

1. Our actions are based on the meanings we attach to situations, events, and people.
2. These meanings arise from the interaction process and are not fixed, but negotiable and changeable.
3. The meanings we give to situations result from interpretive procedures, such as 'taking the role of the other'.

Explain Cooley's 'Looking Glass Self' concept and provide an example of its impact.

Cooley's 'Looking Glass Self' describes how we 'see' ourselves reflected in the attitudes, behavior, and responses of others. We seek identity confirmation from others, which shapes our self-concept. If we believe a situation is real, it will affect our behavior and have real consequences. For example, if an individual believes relatives or psychiatrists view him as mentally ill, this 'Looking Glass Self' becomes a self-concept (a label like 'mental patient'), potentially leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy and real-world consequences like being transferred to a psychiatric hospital.