symbolic interactionalsim

Symbolic interactionism

What are the core ideas of structural functionalism?- if it exists it's probably functional for society 

-concerned with the bigger structures in society the stability of society

-think that change should be gradual and slow 

-not paying attention to the individual experience of society, just the big societal systems

-inequality is necessary in society 

Conflict theory:

-

Remember weber?

  • Verstehen is foundational to symbolic interactionism:

    • Reality is constructed through interactions

    • To understand the cause of action, you have to understand the meaning individuals attach to it

Symbolic interactionist paradigm

  • Society is constructed and maintained through

    • Micro perspective (mostly)

  • Five key ideas:

    • Symbols

    • Interpretation

    • Interaction

    • Self

    • Change

Symbols:

  • People communicate and make sense of their world through symbols that allow them to interpret and navigate social situations

    • Gestures

    • Words

    • Objects 

  • Signified: the object that were trying to get to

  • Signifier: the words and language we are using to get to it 

Language and social meaning

  • De saussure: the connection between signifier and signified is arbitrary but our shared understanding of the connection is the basis for understanding our social world

  • Symbols are much more than language

    • Everything is communicating something, all of the objects in the room, the chairs, how many people are sitting there ect. 

Interpretation:

  • Reality is subject to interpretation

  • Every individual has their own ideas, feelings and thoughts on symbols in society

  • People act towards symbols based on the meanings they personally attach 

Interaction:

  • Meaning does not exist on its own-it is created through interaction 

  • Symbolic interaction theory

    • People negotiate meanings based on 

      • Their own experiences

      • The social context 

The self: who we perceive ourselves to be is not intrinsic or fixed. It evolves and adapts

Self concept is a dynamic:

  • Developed through interaction with others 

  • Shaped how we believe others perceive us 

    • The looking glass self 

Change

  • Social reality is

    • The meaning of symbols is not permanent 

    • Social life is always evolving

    • People participate in its construction every day

Dramaturgy

  • There is often a tension between what we want to do spontaneously and what people expect us to do

  • To cope with this an maintain a stable self image, people perform for their social audiences

    • Most performances are successful

    • Always vulnerable to 

    • Impression management strategies to avoid or deal with disruptions 

Front stage

  • The public facing part of the performance, functions in fixd/general ways to define the situation for those observing it