Concept
Symbolic interactionism
Overview
Symbolic interactionism is a sociological theory that develops from practical considerations and alludes to humans' particular use of shared language to create common symbols and meanings, for use in both intra- and interpersonal communication.
It is particularly important in microsociology and social psychology. It is derived from the American philosophy of pragmatism and particularly from the work of George Herbert Mead, as a pragmatic method to interpret social interactions.
According to Mead, symbolic interactionism is "The ongoing use of language and gestures in anticipation of how the other will react; a conversation". Symbolic interactionism is "a framework for building theory that sees society as the product of everyday interactions of individuals". In other words, it is a frame of reference to better understand how individuals interact with one another to create symbolic worlds, and in return, how these worlds shape individual behaviors. It is a framework that helps understand how society is preserved and created through repeated interactions between individuals. The interpretation process that occurs between interactions helps create and recreate meaning. It is the shared understanding and interpretations of meaning that affect the interaction between individuals. Individuals act on the premise of a shared understanding of meaning within their social context. Thus, interaction and behavior are framed through the shared meaning that objects and concepts have attached to them. Symbolic Interactionism refers to both verbal and nonverbal communication. From this view, people live in both natural and symbolic environments.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
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But the wingèd words of conversation in immediate intercourse have a vital import lacking in the fixed and frozen words of written speech. Systematic and continuous inquiry into all the conditions which affect association and their dissemination in print is a precondition of the creation of a true public. But it and its results are but tools after all. Their final actuality is accomplished in face-to-face…
John Dewey, The public and its problems
States what Symbolic interactionism is; the author is tied to Symbolic interactionism in the knowledge graph.
From this point of view training which renders them useful to others is an abnormal constraint; one which profoundly modifies them through deliberate nurture is corrupting. But when we recognize that natural activities mean native activities which develop only through the uses in which they are nurtured, the conflict disappears. Similarly a social efficiency which is defined in terms of rendering external service to…
John Dewey, Democracy and Education
States what Symbolic interactionism is; the author is tied to Symbolic interactionism in the knowledge graph.
The meaning is vague but insistent. Its insistence plays the part of hypnotizing the individual to complete the specific action associated with the symbol. In the whole transaction, the elements which are clear-cut and definite are the specific symbols and the actions which should issue from the symbols. But in themselves the symbols are barren facts whose direct associative force would be insufficient to procure…
Alfred North Whitehead, Symbolism, its meaning and effect
States what Symbolic interactionism is.
Philosophers who discussed Symbolic interactionism
Related ideas
- Empiricism
- Falsifiability
- Power (social and political)
- John Dewey
- Springer Publishing
- Sociology
- Max Weber
- Social relation
- Testability
- Structuralism
- Semantics
- Social class
- Theory
- Social theory
- George Herbert Mead
- Qualitative research
- Emergence
- Quantitative research
- Free will
- Action theory (philosophy)
- Behaviorism
- Prentice Hall
- Sign (semiotics)
- Social structure
Opposing perspectives
Place in the tradition
Part of American philosophy.