1. Interactionist Approach
Chapter 4

2. The Interactionist Approach
Encounters at the bus stop
Behavior in small groups
Workers interacting around the water cooler/coffee pot
Hanging out with friends by the student center
Interactionist perspective generalizes about everyday forms of social interaction to explain society as a whole
For example: rising gas prices-> slugging->rules for slugging

3. The interactionist approach
Also called symbolic interactionism
Sociological framework
Human beings live in a world of meaningful objects (people, things, actions, symbols)
Symbols are important in interactionist approach- nonverbal communication
Symbols have a shared meaning in a particular culture and is understood by all members in society
For example- aftermath of 9/11, many first responders got tattoos of fallen comrades

4. What does this symbolize?

5. The Interactionist Approach
Functionalist and conflict perspectives- macro approaches
Interactionist perspective- micro approach
Interested in everyday interactions between people
People shape pop culture as much as pop culture shapes people
The united states is the most individualistic country
in the world (geert Hofstede)
This approach emphasizes how popular culture is
created, diffused, and consumed as an outcome of social interactions experienced among small groups of
individuals.
Who you are, your tastes and values are a product of those around you.
Your choice in pop culture is too.

6. The Interactionist approach
Our knowledge and experience of popular culture is conditioned by the social contexts in which we live and interact with others
Our consumer and cultural tastes—music we like, food we eat, clothes we wear—are deeply influenced by our peers, acquaintances and others who surround us in everyday life
Even though the production of most pop culture is done by a handful of corporations, the eventual success may depend on micro-level processes illustrative of how chattering individuals within small groups interact in everyday life.
The Interactionist approach

7. How Has your definition of you and pop culture been formed?
List some shows/music/movies/other media products you consume.
Who has affected your choice and taste in pop culture?
What has affected your choice and taste in pop culture?

8. History of the interactionist approach
First developed in the united states
George Herbert mead ( )
Studied psychology and economic theory
At University of Michigan, interested in Charles Horton
Cooley’s work (sociologist)
History of the interactionist approach

9. Cooley’s looking glass self
Early 1900’s
Charles Horton cooley
“I” is formed by interacting with others
Self is the product of social interactions
Process of developing self identity has three stages:
1) First, we imagine how we present ourselves to others
To relatives, friends, or even strangers on the street
2) Then we imagine how others evaluate us (attractive, intelligent,
shy, or strange).
3) Finally, we develop some sort of feeling about ourselves,
such as respect or shame, as a result of these impressions

10. Erving Goffman’s dramaturgical approach
many of our daily activities involve attempts to convey impressions of who we are
Early in life, the individual learns to slant his or her presentation of the self in order to create distinctive appearances and satisfy particular audiences
Impression management
Dramaturgical approach- people resemble performers in action
Appearing busier than you are/tripping and acting “cool”
Face work
Face saving behavior
Unemployment in japan

11. Mead’s theory of the self
the self begins at a privileged, central position in a person’s world
Young children picture themselves as the focus of everything around them and
find it difficult to consider the perspectives of others.
For example, mountain scene ->describe what an observer on the opposite side of the mountain might see (such as a lake or hikers) -> young children describe only objects visible from their vantage point
This childhood tendency to place ourselves at the center of events never disappears
Getting older->mature->we begin to consider others points of view

12. Max Weber We act based on how we interpret the world around us
The protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism
Protestant background-> capitalistic spirit and ventures in Germany
Protestant worldview->work is a calling->abstain from indulgences
->work has religious meaning

13. Creating a perspectives chart
Major names
premise
Micro or macro
Based in (continent)?
functionalist
conflict
interactionist

14. Analyzing….
Terrorism
Using the functionalist, conflict, and interactionist approaches

15. The Urinal game ()

16. Interactionist view and popular culture
How does being with family and friends promote our development of self?
What we know about and how we experience culture (popular, consumer) influenced by our interactions with others
Popular culture moguls might produce culture but how this is consumed is informed by interaction with those around us
For example: using media/social media such as youtube, twitter, and blogs to air our views, influence consumer choices
Groups do have some influence on culture/pop culture
Interactionist view and popular culture

17. The spread of fashion and fads and finding a job
Our sense of self comes from those around us- network
We tend to form relationships with those who are like us or we become alike
Interactions with those we are in a relationship with can impact our choices
Fashion
Media consumption
jobs
Number + types of people->how diverse is YOUR network?
Malcolm Gladwell- connectors- people with diverse networks
Paul revere- successful because of the number of people he knew and type of people he knew
Silversmith, health officer, coroner, founder of insurance company, member of masonic lodge, businessman, card player….

18. How does pop culture disseminate?
Word of mouth communication- traditional, face to face communication and digital communication
Volume- total number of conversations
Intensity- enthusiasm
Valence- positive or negative
Dispersal- reach
Duration- time
Negative word of mouth has stronger influence on consumer behavior- negative reviews on restaurants, books- more impact than positive reviews
Volume tends to impact sales more than valence- fifty shades of grey/da vinci code

19. Whose word of mouth matters?
Connectors- diverse network- wide reach
Opinion leaders- tend to be experts in particular field
Early adopters- first few people to adopt a new product/trend
Altruistic
Confirming pioneer status
Active and passive influence
Market maven- knowledge about many different products/fields
Actively seek to find information for others

20. Examples of pop culture and the interactionist approach
Fan fiction
Comic con
subcultures