Social action basics

Question 1

What is symbolic interactionsm?

Answer 1

Theory developed by Mead (1934) and Blumer (1962) at the University of Chicago, sees people as actively working at relationships, creating and responding to symbols and ideas

Question 2

What are the three core ideas of symbolic interactionism?

Answer 2

The symbol, the self, and the interaction

Question 3

What is the ‘symbol’?

Answer 3

How we group things together into classified categories, all of which have some meaning and suggest a response (which may differ for each person)

Question 4

What is the ‘interaction’?

Answer 4

The point at which the symbol and the self come together with others - involves reading the meaning of the situation correctly and responding according to how you see your own personality

Question 5

What is the ‘self’?

Answer 5

Knowing one’s self in the world - being able to see ourselves through the eyes of others. Blumer suggests that we develop this notion of self in childhood, especially through play

Question 6

What is the dramaturgical approach?

Answer 6

Goffman’s exploration of how people perceive themselves and present themselves to others - people work out strategies, which are constantly adapted, for dealing with others. Social interaction can best be understood as a loosely scripted play in which people (actors) interpret their roles

Question 7

What are some evaluations of symbolic interactionism?

Answer 7

Limited in scope; as much psychological as sociological; fails to explore wider social factors that create the context in which symbol, self and identity all exist - does not explain how the symbolic meanings originated; fails to explore power differences