symbolic interaction

Question 1

symbolic interaction

Answer 1

humans actively create social environment

• -we react towards things on the basis of the meanings they have for us
• we learn meanings in social interaction – especially symbols

Question 2

symbol

Answer 2

shared meaning based completely on the fact that a community of people agree to let something represent something else
–can be a word, gesture or object

Question 3

defnition of the situation

Answer 3

as we go through life we learn the names and ways we associate with a vast array of symbols and we store them in our common stockof knowledge
–if no pre determined definition of the situation then we must construct it

Question 4

robert stebbins - definition of the definition of the situation (famous article)

Answer 4

1) says we enter situations with goals and interactions
2) in order for interaction to proceed we must define our own social identity and identity of the ither person – then we negotiate a role

3) role categories and associated expectations are going to influence our actions but do not completelu determine them
4) therefore we must deevise our performance on the bis if the imputed (who we think we are) role other