Symbolic Interactionism

Main idea

People create and interpret meaning through social interactions, using symbols (like language, gestures, and shared norms)

• These meanings shape how individuals see themselves and behave in society

History

Pragmatists ideas:

• The world is always changing, not fixed or predetermined

• Social structure is dynamic, constantly developing over time

• Meaning comes from interactions with objects, not from the objects themselves

• Commitment to progress and democratic values (LaRossa and Reitzes, 1993)

First overarching theme

Meaning is at the core of human behavior

• People will react to something according to the meaning

• We learn about meaning through interactions with others

• People interpret and assign meaning as they encounter new things and experiences

Second overarching theme

Self-concept: to interact with others based on the meaning of a situation, humans need a sense of self

• A human infant is asocial - People are not born knowing who they are; they form their self-identity through interactions with others

• After developing a sense of self, people use it as motivation to guide their future behavior

Third overarching theme

Infants are not born into a social vacuum but into an environment already shaped by symbols and values

• Individuals are influenced by society; not only by their self-concept and family’s values, symbols, and beliefs, but also by the broader cultural norms and values of the society around them

• People learn society’s rules and values through daily interactions within their culture

Symbols

• Anything can be a symbol, with language being the most prominent example

• Symbols are created through social interactions

• Meanings of symbols are shaped by how others use them, not entirely by us

• A symbol’s meaning can change depending on the situation

Example: Wedding ring is a symbol of commitment and marriage, but meaning depends on social context

Interactions

• Interaction and symbols are closely linked—one cannot be fully understood without the other

• It’s a social behavior between 2 or more people where communication occurs

• Communication during interaction causes people to respond and adjust their behavior

• Can be verbal or nonverbal

Gestures

• A form of nonverbal communication that represents something else

• Gestures and symbols need someone to interpret them; they have no meaning on their own

• Interaction is essential for socialization because it gives meaning to gestures and symbols

Social Norms

• Social norms = expectations for how to behave in a situation

• Interacting with parents, friends, and other group teaches what behaviors are acceptable

• People adapt their behavior according to the social norms of each situation

Example: your behavior with friends may be different than your behavior with your parents

Rituals

• Rituals = family-specific norms for interactions, symbols, and gestures during events like holidays

• Conflicts can arise when married couples negotiate which family rituals to continue

• Many people assume their own family traditions will continue in their new household

Roles

• Role = set of social norms for a specific situation or “part'“

• expectations vary across different roles and even among people with the same role

• Each person defines what is appropriate behavior for the roles they play

Salience

• Salience = Importance of a role in a person’s life

• The more salient a role, the more time and energy we invest in it

• Individuals define behaviors for their roles, but social norms influence expectations

• Roles are not fixed; they can change over time, especially in families

Identity

• Identity is shaped by the roles that are most salient or important to us

• Our mental interpretations guide our behaviors

• We act based on what meanings are relevant to our identity

• Roles that define who we think we are prioritized in our lives

• We tend to engage most in interactions related to these key roles and strive to excel in them

Impression management

• impression management = shaping how others perceive us

• People adopt roles in public that align with social norms and the current situation

• We try to create the impression we want others to have during interactions

• Front-stage and back-stage performances are used to practice and enact roles

Glass (2014)