Communication Theories Khaled Aref Reza 201250296 For Dr

Communication Theories Khaled Aref Reza - 201250296 - For Dr. Shujun

� Framework � Relies of sociological theory on the symbolic meaning that people develop and rely upon in the process of social interaction

� Philosophy professor at the University of Chicago �A book titled ‘Mind, Self and Society’ was published after his death in his name � He was the founder of the concept of this theory before it was named ‘Symbolic Interactionism’ by his student Herbert Blumer

� Humans act toward things on the basis of the meanings they ascribe to those things � The meaning of such things is derived from, or arises out of, the social interaction that one has with others and the society � These meanings are handled in, and modified through, an interpretative process used by the person in dealing with the things he/she encounters

“Communication is the most human and humanizing activity in which people are engaged. ” -Herbert Blumer Underlying Principles: - Meaning, Language and Thought

Meaning: Assigned explanations and how to act toward it Language: The means by which Meaning is expressed Thought: Interpretation of meanings based on one’s thought process

Youth who are smokers! � They know that cigarettes kill � They know that it has ill effects � But they think of it as something cool � They think it projects them well to their peers And therefore: Meaning of Smoking > Facts about Smoking

� Self is a social emergent � Selves are the products of social interaction and not the logical or biological preconditions of an interaction � Capacity built through: – Language – Play – Game [ex. Roleplay]

� Mingling in a society or a community is absolutely key in the finding of one’s true self � It is only then that we can find a basis for our own improvement and self judgement, through the eyes of others. This is also known as the looking-glass self

� The human being must be understood as a social person � The human being must be understood as a thinking being � Humans do not sense their environment directly, instead, humans define the situation they are in

� The cause of human action is the result of what is occurring in our present situation � Human beings are described as active beings in relation to their environment

� Overly impressionistic in their research methods � Unsystematic in their theories � The theory is not one theory but it is also the framework for many different theories � May miss the larger issues of society by focusing too closely on the “trees” rather than the “forest”

Nell, 1994

Interact and socialize; you will see the world unfold before your eyes.

� www. google. com � http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=j. FQII M 8 IRZU � http: //sociology. about. com/od/Sociologi cal-Theory/a/Symbolic-Interaction. Theory. htm � http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Symbolic_in teractionism � http: //sociology. about. com/od/Profiles/ p/George-Herbert-Mead. htm