Sociology 545 Fall 2005 Professor Schutte Symbolic Interaction

Sociology 545 Fall 2005 Professor Schutte

Symbolic Interaction Theory Definition: “The process by which individuals come to symbolically mediate their environment, predominantly through the use of language and other symbols, such that the cognitive, interactional and structural components of their existence take on extrinsic meaning”

Symbolic Interaction Theory Four Tributaries: n Philosophical: Hegel’s “Dialectic” n Psychological: Freud’s “Ego” n Anthropological: Linton’s “Role” n Sociological: Cooley’s “Self”

Symbolic Interaction Theory Sociological Schools of Thought: n The Chicago School: Mead and Blumer n The Iowa School: Kuhn n The Interpretive School: Turner and Goffman

Mead’s Approach n Gestures and Significant Symbols n Language as Syntax, Semantics and Paralinguistics n The Relevance of the Whorf-Sapir Hypothesis

Mead’s Approach n Play, Game and the Generalized Other n The relevance of Imitation n The Generalized Other in context

Mead’s Approach n The I and Me as components of Self n The I as social vs. Bio-cognition n The Me as contextual

Kuhn’s Approach n The Twenty Statements Test – Descriptive vs. Evaluative – Prominence vs. Salience – Status vs. Role (and Role Set)

The Interpretative Approach n Role and Self Distinction - Role as dynamic – role taking - Implies Self vs. Identity

Goffman’s Version n The Stage Metaphor – Regions n Front Stage – Back Stage n Performer vs audience

Goffman’s Approach n Situational manipulation – Working Consensus – Self Disclosure – Ingratiation and Altercasting