Throughout our interaction, we have used symbols in order to communicate with other people. Humans act based on symbolic meanings they find within any given situation. We interact with the symbols, forming relationships. The goals of our interactions with one another are to create shared meaning. Language itself is a symbolic form used to anchor meanings to the symbols. We try to interpret these symbols based on a theory. This theory is called Symbolic Interactionism.
Symbolic Interaction was a theory by George Herbert Mead, and later written by his student named Herbert Blumer. With symbolic interactionalism, you look at things, interpret what they mean, and then determine the effects they have. There are many non verbal cues both good and bad that people exchange and there are also facial expressions in reaction to an event or statement that a symbolic interactionalist would look at.
According to this theory, humans are very different from the lower animals. Humans have the ability to distinguish between a set of situations and respond differently depending on the surroundings, where lower animals voluntarily respond to the environment without any interruptions. The meanings assigned to things can be changed recurrently by the creative capabilities of humans which can influence the society. The theory says that the humans ascribe meanings to only defined objects. This theory focuses on the level referring to the ability of humans to think about others’ opinion of them and, evaluate their own conduct by comparing themselves with others.
As i read the theory, it allowed me to glimpse into realizing that you could learn a lot about someone by just watching him or her. Their behavior is highly representative of the person they are; yet we cannot assume what specific reactions imply. Through the use of imagination, any individual can be able to gain a deeper understanding of behavior and how it is influenced by the surroundings or environment.
In studying symbolic interactionism and its emphasis on the topics of society, psychology and culture within our everyday lives, one can have a greater understanding of Mead’s intentions
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Symbolic Interaction studies society through interactions within individual and small groups. It’s also represented through shared symbols, gestures, and nonverbal communications. But, how do these meanings influence people to interact the way they do around other people? It’s all based on “words”. Words are the biggest symbols our society uses, and is the foundation of learning and communicating. People act the way they do around their peers because they understand each other, but once they don’t it's hard to respond to one's actions.…
- 579 Words
- 3 Pages
Powerful Essays -
After I realized most I would not have access to most of the settings I decided to observe students at the student center. While observing I noticed certain interaction with students, I observed the high level of interaction between fellow black students and the different interaction they had between students of other races. This brought me to wonder if people change their behavior when interacting with certain people. I aim to understand if McMaster students take on a different role when they are around people of their races and other races. Is there a relationship between the society and the self? Do McMaster students take on different roles due to how they are labeled in the society? Do McMaster students feel the need to conduct themselves…
- 734 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
People often use nonverbal communication through meaningful objects or behaviors such as facial expressions, gestures, body language, symbols, clothing articles, and posture standings to interact and communicate his or her idea or opinion. These meaningful objects and behaviors are viewed as a sociological framework called symbolic interactionism. The receiving party observes the objects or behaviors to interpret the meaning. For example, wearing a suit and tie to a new job interview is to illustrate professionalism and impress the interviewer. Symbolic interactionism is prevalent in today’s culture and media. Symbolic interactionism is in magazines, newspapers, print ads, the Internet, and on the television. Symbolic interactionism can significantly influence or manipulate a person’s thoughts or opinions.…
- 704 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
This book shows Symbolic Interactionism because it is the story of Frank Meeink and everything and everyone he has ever encountered. Most of the time Frank is either having a one on one conversation or he is just narrating what is going on. Frank is constantly interacting with people from the start of his story to the end he is rarely by himself even his time in prison he was still surrounded by people he could talk to. I believe Frank accomplished his goals when he wrote this book he wanted everyone to know his story that he really is and what he went through. Frank grew up having nothing and being irrelevant to people to now having been on TV shows going on interviews. Frank is considered a celebrity he may not be as popular but the people…
- 391 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Symbolic Interaction theory refers to the ongoing language or gestures that can affect a conversation. Within this conversation it has a symbolic meaning which affects how one reacts to the conversation within a family. Sign Language is a very popular form of the symbolic interaction theory, because when using sign language you are demonstrating different gestures to communicate with another person. Symbolic Interactions theory was a very popular theory seen throughout the movie, as far as the many interactions that are involved in a drug trade and between Lucas and his family. In one of the scenes in “American Gangster” Frank and his cousin get into it at a party because his cousin starts acting up in front of everyone. Frank gets angry and punches him in the face and then slams his head in the piano. This is a part of the symbolic interaction theory because Frank’s cousin basically turns on him because of his addiction to crack and Frank was fed up with it a forced to take some action and in that he beats him up.…
- 564 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
In stories such as Jungle Book or Tarzan, both Mowgli and Tarzan have a sense of self. According the theory of Symbolic Interactionism, this is both true and not true. This is because they have a sense of the “I”, a subjective self, but not the sense of “Me”, the objective self. The reason being is because the “I” is self-created because of how we respond to others, and the “Me” is a created self-image that was created by society and taking in that role (Griffin 63).…
- 224 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
Symbolic Interactionism is the analysis of an individual’s interaction while in another person’s presence (face-to-face) and the usage of symbols created in social life. With different groups of people fighting for equality in the most recent years same-sex couples have been fighting for the rights of being legally married to their partners.…
- 408 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
The symbolic interactionist perspective uses symbols and face to face contact to interact with each other. Sociologists consider the symbols and details of everyday life, what these symbols mean, and how people interact with each other. George H. Mead was the one who introduced this perspective to us. With the use of this perspective the sociologist is looking for symbols that people attach meaning to, they act according to their subject interpretations of these symbols. The symbolic approach functions on a micro level that way you are just dealing with a few people at one time and not all of society. Critics claim that symbolic interactionism neglects the macro level of social interpretation the “big picture.”…
- 546 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Babb, P., Butcher, H., Church, J., and Zealy, L. (eds) (2006) Social Trends No. 36.…
- 85566 Words
- 331 Pages
Powerful Essays -
One characteristic of human communication is that it is symbolic. This means that meanings are located in:…
- 3865 Words
- 16 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Symbolic interactionism illustrates that interacting with others and meaning behind words and gestures is what creates society in the first place. From this perspective people act toward things based on the meanings those things have for them. These meanings are derived from social interaction and modified through interpretation. Symbolic interactionism sees face to face interaction as the building blocks of everything else in society. Without interactions we could not construct a meaningful reality within society.…
- 327 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
When George Mead invented the Symbolic Interactionism Theory, he coined it with three specific that made up “the core” of what Symbolic Interactionism was: Meaning, Language, and Thought. Professor Duncan, who is an author of a book called Symbols and Social Theory acknowledges Mead as probably doing the “best job at explaining social as an action”. Duncan also goes to say that because of the issue of environment and the ways in which actions and events happen, it is also worthy of considering for an arguable spot in the form of Symbolic Interactionism.…
- 1471 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
The human thoughts, behavior and the overall physical nature, have been described as an invincible part of the existence of humanity. The manner in which individuals and people conduct themselves within the society or in a specific community is best explained through the use of various psychological theories. The latter is a sociological part of a study that picks up one human trait and studies it in discrete detail. One classic example is the behavioral theory that is applied when attempting to explain and demonstrate new behaviors and tendencies within a given group of people. The majority of these psychological theories are included within the learning curriculum since they tremendously contribute to the understanding and appreciation of…
- 1893 Words
- 8 Pages
Powerful Essays -
This concept suggests that Symbolic Interactionism is a construction of people’s social reality. It also implies that from a realistic point of view, the interpretations that are being made will not make much difference. When the reality of a situation is defined, the situation becomes a meaningful reality.…
- 302 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Symbolic interactionism focuses on the effect of language and behavior and how it affects and is affected by groups, organizations, and society.. We created the rules we live by, and, importantly, we re-create these rules everyday through our interactions with one another. Symbolic interactionism focus upon the way we create or construct the many aspects of our world by way of individuals continually acting and reacting to each other.…
- 335 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays