W11.2 May 17 (Fri)

1. Summary

Symbolic interactionism, developed by George Herbert Mead and Charles Horton Cooley and expanded by figures like Erving Goffman and Herbert Blumer, posits that society is constructed through everyday interactions where individuals create and interpret symbolic meanings. This theory emphasizes that people act based on the meanings they ascribe to objects, events, and behaviors, with these meanings evolving through social interactions and interpretive processes. Mead's concept of the "self" underscores that identities are shaped by how individuals perceive others' views of them, while Blumer highlighted the influence of social interactions on human behavior. Key principles identified by David A. Snow include human agency, interactive determination, symbolization, and emergence, which are essential for analyzing social phenomena. The framework, employing primarily qualitative methods, is applied to understand identity formation, social roles, and relationships, particularly in contexts like social media and mental health. Despite criticisms regarding its empirical testability and focus on micro-level interactions, symbolic interactionism remains influential. The Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction (SSSI) supports this field by organizing conferences, offering scholarships, and publishing the journal "Symbolic Interaction."

2. Interesting Points

  1. Foundational Theorists: The theory was developed by George Herbert Mead and Charles Horton Cooley and expanded by figures like Erving Goffman and Herbert Blumer.

  2. Core Concept: Society is constructed through everyday interactions where individuals create and interpret symbolic meanings, emphasizing the fluid and dynamic nature of social reality.


3. Some Questions / Discussions

I think we can discuss about Qualitative methods. The use of qualitative research methods in symbolic interactionism can be examined, discussing the strengths and limitations of these methods in capturing the nuances of social interactions.

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