W11.2 May 17（Friday）JIA YUAN

 1、summary

Symbolic interactionism is a sociological theoretical framework that holds that society is the product of everyday interactions of individuals. It emphasizes that through language and symbols, people create and re-create meaning in their interactions. The theory was proposed by George Herbert Mead and further developed by Herbert Bloomer. Symbolic interactionism holds that individuals act according to the meanings given to things, which are derived from social interactions and modified by interpretation. The theory has been influential in microsociology and social psychology, exploring aspects of social interaction and the individual self through qualitative research methods such as participative observation. The core ideas of symbolic interactionism include the following five aspects: 1) Human beings are social beings, and their behavior is influenced by social interaction; 2) Humans are thinking beings whose behavior is determined by internal interactions; 3) Humans perceive the world by defining the environment; 4) The reason for the behavior lies in the current interaction and thinking; 5) Humans actively participate and shape the environment. Blumer's three propositions emphasize that behavior is based on meaning, which is formed through social interaction and managed and changed through interpretive processes. Critics argue that the theory of symbolic interactionism is too impressionistic and difficult to test, but its framework has wide applications in understanding social roles, identities, and interactions.

2、Interesting place

Symbolic interactionism is interesting in that it focuses on the process by which humans construct social reality through symbolic and linguistic interactions. This theory emphasizes that human behavior and self-concept are formed through social interactions and the definition of the environment. It reveals the ways in which humans assign meaning to things and how those meanings affect our behavior and social relationships, demonstrating the dynamics of individual and social relationships and the complex connections between thought, language and behavior.

3、problem

To what extent does the theory ignore the influence of individual emotion, motivation and mental state on the interaction process?



Comments

  1. 계해운 JIHAIYUNMay 19, 2024 at 5:23 PM

    Symbolic interactionism tends to overlook the extent to which individual emotions, motivations, and psychological states influence the interaction process. While it emphasizes the role of social interaction in shaping meaning and identity, it may not fully account for the internal cognitive and emotional factors that also play a significant role in shaping human behavior within social contexts.

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