Symbolic interactionism

Question 1

Is symbolic interactionism a micro or macro perspective?

Answer 1

micro

Question 2

Is symbolic interactionism a bottom up or top down perspective?

Answer 2

Bottom up (society and social oder is created and maintained though repeated interactions)

Question 3

Who came up with symbolic interactionism?

Answer 3

Herbert Blumer (1900-1987)

Question 4

What were Blumer’s three core principles?

Answer 4

1. Actions have meanings
2. Meanings derive from social interaction
3. Meanings are modified though an interpretive process during encounters

Question 5

What is the interpretive process?

Answer 5

how one interprets a situation - this is based on your perception of others, your own background, experiences and mood

Question 6

What is a symbol?

Answer 6

• a socially constructed sign
• meanings that are socially shared and undersign
• evoke a responce

Question 7

Who came up with the term ‘significant symbol’?

Answer 7

Mead

Question 8

What is a significant symbol?

Answer 8

Anything with a shared meaning to a group of people (e.g gestures). However, meanings are socially situated and change over time. Also, meanings are socially shared but interpretation depends on the context/situation.

Question 9

What is a social object?

Answer 9

a goal - reached through actions

Question 10

What is an act?

Answer 10

a meaningful unit of conduct, oriented towards an object or goal)

Question 11

What is ‘interaction order’?

Answer 11

Wider structure of moral order, shared norm expectations

Question 12

Outline Mead’s ‘I’ and ‘Me’

Answer 12

'I' = impulsive behaviour 
'Me' = taking into account the perspective of the other

Question 13

What is the looking glass self?

Answer 13

We imagine how we appear to others and we imagine their reaction to our appearance. This results in an emotion being created (a self feeling)

Question 14

Who came up with the looking glass self?

Answer 14

Cooley

Question 15

According to Goffman, what is a total institution?

Answer 15

an institution where someone becomes enclosed in the environment and the institution becomes their whole world

Question 16

Outline Hamlett and Hawkins (2013) study of Victorian asylums

Answer 16

• own clothing taken away and people are issued with standard dress = loss of identity (institutionalised identity)
• chance for agency or resistance: customising clothing, shaving, making jewellery
• jewellery, watches, glasses etc. all part of ‘identity kits’

Question 17

Outline Scott’s 5 features of the self/identity

Answer 17

The self is:

1. relational
2. processual
3. performative
4. negotiated
5. reflexive

Question 18

How does Hoschild critique Goffman?

Answer 18

Argues that we manage our inner emotions not just our outer appearance

Question 19

Positives of symbolic interactionism (3)

Answer 19

• examines individuals with the same importance as society as a whole
• dynamic view of society (it takes into account change as it looks ar how society can change through being created and re-created though social interactions)
• offers ways of researching and analysing the everyday