1. Symbolic Interactionism
Haley Hutton
Nick Larsen
Soc 401

2. Background Term "Symbolic Interactionism" coined by Herbert Blumer
Wanted to clarify how social psych. was largely interested in the social development of the individual
Central task is to study how individuals develop socially as a result of participating in group life
Focuses on issue of "self" and small group interactions

3. Intellectual Influences
Charles Darwin's Evolution
Led Symbolic Interactionists to believe behavior is not accidental, but formed by interaction with others in social environments
Scottish Moralists
Believed "mind" and "self" were social products of individuals actions with others

4. Intellectual Influences cont.
German Idealism
Humans construct their own realities
All consciousness is conscious of something, therefore the subject and object are inevitably related
Pragmatism
One "true reality" does not exist
Reality is actively created by human beings
The meaning placed depends on the purpose of the act, context in which it's performed, and the reaction of others to the act

5. Intellectual Influences cont.
Behaviorism
Need to find as simple an approach to the study of the experience of individuals from the point of view of their conduct

6. What is Symbolic Interactionism?
Based on the idea that social reality is constructed in each human interaction through the use of symbols - words, gestures, and communicating through language
Studying social interaction is key to understanding human behavior
Ability of actors to modify their behaviors to meet the needs of the present and immediate environment

7. Erving Goffman (1922-1982) Canadian-born sociologist and writer
The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life (1959)
Heavily Influenced by Durkheim, Freud, Mead, Simmel

8. Erving Goffman cont. Presentation of Self
Focus on the individual as active and reflective
Individual determines how the self should be presented in social situations
Society is viewed as a stage, and humans are actors performing for audiences

9. Erving Goffman cont. Stigma Mark of disgrace or dishonor
Person lacks social acceptance and their self identity is negatively affected by the label
Example: Arabs & Muslims after 9/11

10. Herbert Blumer ( )
Symbolic Interactionist and Social Researcher
Played pro football while getting his doctorate!
Huge proponent of Mead, and
believed the creation of reality
is a continuous process
"Humans act toward things on
the basics of meanings"

11. Herbert Blumer Methodology
Naturalistic Approach - Study of conduct and group life, as these occur naturally in the everyday existence of people.
Need for exploratory studies...
A great deal of human group life is hidden from immediate notice
Social scientists generally do not have first hand, intimate familiarity with the group life they propose to study
Focuses on the importance of in-depth knowledge of the group using interviews and observations, and steering away from vagueness when defining concepts

12. Arlie Russell Hochschild
American sociologist
Bachelors, Masters and PH.D from Berkley
The Unexpected Community
The Managed Heart
The Time Bind: When work becomes home and home becomes work
Founder of the sociology of emotions
Emotions are a biologically given sense
Means by which we know about our relation to the world
Critical for survival of humans in group life

13. Arlie Russell Hochschild cont
Emotion Work
Trying to change, in degree or quality, an emotion or feeling
Emotion Culture
Consists of a series of ideas about how and what people are supposed to experience in given situations
Individuals are often put in situations where emotion work needs to be performed
Culture is filled with ideologies about the behaviors, attitudes and feelings that members should share

14. Criticism of Symbolic Interactionism
Overly committed the study of everyday life and social formation of the self, while ignoring social structure
Overlooked class relations and constraints in favor of a more optimistic view of an open society