Symbolic

Interactionism
INTRODUCTION
Symbolic interactionism, also known as
symbolic interaction perspective, refers to a
key framework of sociological theory which
depends on the symbolic meaning developed
by people in the process of interaction.
Symbolic interactionism, society is examined
by concentrating on the SUBJECTIVE
meanings that people impose on things,
incidents, and actions.
SUBJECTIVE meanings are prioritized
because of the belief that people behave based
on what they perceive to be true and not on
what are OBJECTIVELY true.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Symbolic interactionism was a reaction to
behaviorism of psychological theories.
In the symbolic interactionism, humans are
different from animals who merely react to
their environment, because humans have the
ability to disrupt the process of stimulus and
response.
Symbolic interactionism is also rooted in
phenomenology, for its asserts that the
objective world has NO reality for humans,
only objects which are subjectively identified
have meaning.
Meanings are not units that are given to
individuals and learned by training.
They can be modified through the ingenuity of
humans who may have some bearing on the
many meanings that form their society,
making human society a social product
KEY CONCEPTS OF SYMBOLIC
INTERACTIONISM
Symbolic interactionism is a social science
approach which depends on the symbolic
meaning developed by people in the process
of intearction.
One of the concepts important in this
approach is that of SYMBOLS, which refers
to the means by which people extensively and
creatively communicate.
SYMBOLS are culturally derived social
objects having shared meanings that are
created and maintained social interaction.
Symbolic Interactionism is not only concerned
with the individual or with society, but with
interaction, or the cooperative acts through
which lives are systematized and societies are
brought together.
Society is also important concept in symbolic
interactionism.
It distinguishes infrahuman and human life.
In human life, collaboration is cognitive and
conscious while in infrahuman life,
cooperation is determined physiologically.
Human cooperation can only be made possible
by each individual determining the purpose of
other people’s actions, and each individual
choosing his/her own reaction based on the
purpose.
Another difference between humans and
infrahuman would be the types of
communication used.
Infrahuman communication is based on
gestures, which takes place right away without
any disruption of the act of interpretation,
while human must interpret gestures and
assign them meaning, and it can only be
possible when there is general agreement in
meaning.
Meaning for symbols must be shared, and
shared meaning inevitably occurs through role
taking: for the completion of an act, the actor
must put himself/herself in the situation of
other person.
The SELF is another important concept, it
refers to the conscious, contemplative
personality of individual. It is the being nature
of a person one imagines when he/she thinks
who he/she is.
The development of self is made possible
through role taking: in order to take the role
of another, which in turns allows you to
contemplate upon your own self.
Mead classifies three steps in the development
of the self: Preparatory age, Play stage, Game
stage. The Self consist of ME and I, I refers to
the spontaneous and unorganized inclination
of individual. ME is the integrated other
within individual, or the generalized other
which provides a structured set of outlooks
and explanations, insights, and prospects.
The MIND or the mental aspects of individual
which materializes from human
communication. The mind becomes evident
when significant symbols are being used in
communication.
It becomes apparent whenever the individual
is interacting with himself/herself using
significant symbols. It also serves as the
aspects of the individual which disrupts
stimuli responses.