Sociology 545 Sociology 545 Fall 2005 Professor Schutte

Symbolic Interaction Theory Definition: “ The process by which individuals come to symbolically mediate their environment, predominantly through the use of language and other symbols, such that the cognitive, interactional and structural components of their existence take on extrinsic meaning” “ The process by which individuals come to symbolically mediate their environment, predominantly through the use of language and other symbols, such that the cognitive, interactional and structural components of their existence take on extrinsic meaning”

Symbolic Interaction Theory Four Tributaries: Philosophical: Hegel’s “Dialectic” Philosophical: Hegel’s “Dialectic” Psychological: Freud’s “Ego” Psychological: Freud’s “Ego” Anthropological: Linton’s “Role” Anthropological: Linton’s “Role” Sociological: Cooley’s “Self” Sociological: Cooley’s “Self”

Symbolic Interaction Theory Sociological Schools of Thought: The Chicago School: The Chicago School: Mead and Blumer The Iowa School: The Iowa School:Kuhn The Interpretive School: The Interpretive School: Turner and Goffman

Mead’s Approach Gestures and Significant Symbols Gestures and Significant Symbols Language as Syntax, Semantics and Paralinguistics Language as Syntax, Semantics and Paralinguistics The Relevance of the Whorf-Sapir Hypothesis The Relevance of the Whorf-Sapir Hypothesis

Mead’s Approach Play, Game and the Generalized Other Play, Game and the Generalized Other The relevance of Imitation The relevance of Imitation The Generalized Other in context The Generalized Other in context

Mead’s Approach The I and Me as components of Self The I and Me as components of Self The I as social vs. Bio-cognition The I as social vs. Bio-cognition The Me as contextual The Me as contextual

Kuhn’s Approach The Twenty Statements Test The Twenty Statements Test –Descriptive vs. Evaluative –Prominence vs. Salience –Status vs. Role (and Role Set)

The Interpretative Approach Role and Self Distinction Role and Self Distinction - Role as dynamic – role taking - Implies Self vs. Identity

Goffman’s Version The Stage Metaphor The Stage Metaphor –Regions Front Stage – Back Stage Front Stage – Back Stage Performer vs audience Performer vs audience

Goffman’s Approach Situational manipulation Situational manipulation –Working Consensus –Self Disclosure –Ingratiation and Altercasting