Symbolic Interactionism and Role Theory in Sociology

George Herbert Mead

Sociologist known for symbolic interactionism.

Mind, Self and Society

Mead's most famous work on self and society.

Pragmatism

Individuals create their own interpretation of reality.

Behaviorism

Behavior shaped by stimulus-response conditioning.

John B. Watson

Mead's student; emphasized behaviorism in psychology.

Darwinism

Humans adapt to environments through conscious thought.

Social Realism

Social environment shapes individual development and behavior.

Psychological Nominalism

Individuals actively construct their own reality.

Social Behaviorist

Mead's self-identification blending social realism and behaviorism.

Theory of the Act

Sequence: impulse, perception, manipulation, consummation.

Social Acts

Acts involving multiple individuals and interactions.

Conversations of Gestures

Non-verbal communication examples like animal sounds.

Significant Symbols

Symbols eliciting the same response in sender and receiver.

Conscious Thought

Thought process enabled by significant symbols.

Shared Meaning

Common understanding developed through social interaction.

Symbolic Interaction

Interaction based on shared symbols and meanings.

Role-Taking

Understanding others by adopting their perspectives.

Triadic Matrix

Basic unit of interaction: emission, response, adjustment.

Self Development

Self emerges from social interactions and processes.

Social Process

Self as a product of ongoing social interactions.

Social Structure

Self as a structured entity within society.

Impulse

Initial drive prompting an action or response.

Perception

Interpretation of stimuli leading to understanding.

Manipulation

Active engagement with the environment or others.

Consummation

Completion or fulfillment of an act.

Role-taking

Ability to understand others' perspectives.

Play stage

Role-taking with one significant other.

Game stage

Role-taking with several roles simultaneously.

Generalized other

Community attitudes influencing individual behavior.

I

Impulsive, spontaneous part of the self.

Me

Structured, reflective part of the self.

Reflected appraisals

Self-knowledge derived from others' perceptions.

Looking-glass self

Self-image shaped by others' judgments.

Internalized conversation

Self-talk that reflects self-awareness.

Imaginative rehearsal

Mental practice of social interactions.

Process of self-reflection

Evaluating oneself based on experiences.

Symbolic interactionism

Meaning derived from social interactions.

Joint action

Collaborative process of meaning-making.

Structural symbolic interactionism

Focus on social structures in identity.

Salience hierarchy

Importance of identities based on commitment.

Commitment

Dedication to a specific identity.

Social structures

Frameworks influencing individual behavior.

Culture

Shared beliefs shaping social interactions.

Herbert Blumer

Coined the term 'symbolic interactionism'.

Manford Kuhn

Developed structured identity models.

Twenty Statements Test

Assessment of self-concept through identity statements.

Identity performance

Acting out roles based on identity salience.

Social life

Influenced by negotiated meanings and interpretations.

Weak influence

Limited impact of structures on individuals.

Chicago School

Tradition emphasizing process in interactionism.

Iowa School

Focus on structured aspects of interactionism.

Indeterminacy

Social interaction as a fluid, ongoing process.

Determinacy

Structured nature of social interactions.

Role-taking

Process of assuming roles in social contexts.

Role-playing

Acting out roles in social situations.

Status-role complex

Combination of statuses and roles individuals occupy.

Status set

All statuses held by an individual.

Role set

Expectations linked to a specific status.

Role-strain

Tension within roles of a single status.

Role-conflict

Tension between roles of different statuses.

Role performance

Enactment of roles in social interactions.

Role repertoire

Collection of roles an individual can play.

Role-person merger

Identification of roles with individual identity.

Role-distance

Emotional detachment from a role.

Role-segregation

Keeping roles separate to avoid conflict.

Role-embracement

Strong identification with a role.

Role-reciprocity

Mutual expectations between interacting roles.

Core self

Stable identity carried across different situations.

Fluid self

Self that changes based on context.

Social structure

Framework of statuses and roles in society.

Expectations of others

Social norms influencing individual behavior.

Social interaction

Dynamic process of communication and role-taking.

Human agency

Individuals actively interpret and shape social life.

Talcott Parsons

Key theorist in role theory and social structure.

Ralph Turner

Prominent theorist in role theory.

George Herbert Mead

Influential thinker on role-taking concepts.

Parent Role

A role dependent on the existence of a child role.

Student Role

A role that requires a corresponding teacher role.

Erving Goffman

Sociologist known for theories on self and roles.

Self-Presentations

How individuals present themselves in social contexts.

Role-Performances

Actions taken to fulfill social roles.

Social Life as Theatre

Concept that social interactions mimic theatrical performances.

Social Script

Guidelines for behavior in social situations.

Performances

Actions that convey roles in social interactions.

Actors and Roles

Individuals embodying specific roles in social settings.

Front-Stage Region

Public self presented to others.

Back-Stage Region

Private self hidden from public view.

Impression Management

Controlling how one is perceived by others.

Mystification

Creating an aura of mystery around oneself.

Role-Exit

Transition from one social role to another.

Role-Residuals

Remaining effects of a previous role after exit.

Social Reactions

Responses from others based on social roles.

Intimate Groups

Close-knit social circles formed through new roles.

Interaction Rituals

Structured exchanges that reinforce social bonds.

Sacred Symbolic Object

The social self as a central element in rituals.

Inner Consciousness

Self-awareness shaped by social interactions.

Emotional Labor

Managing emotions to meet job expectations.

Surface Acting

Faking emotions without changing internal feelings.

Deep Acting

Modifying internal feelings to align with expectations.

Emotional Dissonance

Conflict between felt and displayed emotions.