Sociology
Symbolic-interactionism is a dynamic theory of society that emphasizes process and change over institution and structure. In Symbolic Interactionism, Joel Charon describes the theory and applies it to a more general study of sociology. In Terrorism and the Politics of Fear, David Altheide applies various theories of sociology including symbolic-interactionism toward understanding how a society collectively agrees upon fear-based symbols and messages.
In Chapter 11, "Society," Joel M. Charon defines society from a symbolic-interactionism perspective. The symbolic-interactionism perspective defines society as "individuals in action," as opposed to a static entity (p. 152). Emphasizing the interactions between individuals, or between individuals and entities, the symbolic-interactionism approach stresses factors like social processes and social change. According to Charon, there are three qualities of society that make it viable from a symbolic-interactionism perspective. These three qualities include ongoing social symbolic interaction; cooperation or interdependence; and culture.
Ongoing social symbolic interaction refers to the symbolic means of communication that are critical to any social organization, even the smallest and loosest relationships. Communication is symbolic in the sense that words, actions, and other symbols impart a collective meaning. There are agreements as to what words and actions mean, and the act and result of that agreement is the solidification of society. A culture could not exist without ongoing symbolic interaction. Symbolic interaction includes role definition and role taking by individual members of the society. Roles are highly symbolic.
Cooperation and cooperative action refer to the fulfillment of either individual or collective goals via individual action. The goals do not have to be shared in precisely the same way, and the individuals participating in the society might have different goals. Yet the individuals in the society are willing to pool resources including information and energy, so that together they can accomplish individual goals. There are certainly shared values that enable cooperative action. Society is viable when individuals "work together despite their personal differences" (Charon p. 155). Societies are formed when individuals act cooperatively and interdependently. Cooperation requires ongoing communication (such as ongoing social symbolic interaction), mutual role taking (also a form of symbolic interaction), defining others as social objects,...
Herbert Blumer, having coined the term Symbolic Interactionism, is the person who was instrumental in the development of the Symbolic Interactionism perspective. Blumer was a student of George Herbert Mead. More than writing, publishing, and popularizing Mead's ideas, Blumer built on Mead's ideas and further developed. He believed and theorized that "there was more to human behavior than influences on it by outside forces or uncontrollable psychological factors" (Bandy, Foley,
Sociology Waitress Functionalism Serving customers food and drinks is a fundamental function in restaurant operations. However, serving customers food and drinks constitutes the manifest function of a waitress. The manifest functions of the restaurant itself include feeding people and making a profit for its owner. The restaurant's latent functions include promoting the brand identity of its celebrity chef, and contributing to the quality of life in the community. Latent functions of a
Sociology: Changing Societies in a Diverse World (Fourth Edition) George J. Bryjak & Michael P. Soroka Chapter One Summary of Key Concepts Sociology is the field of study which seeks to "describe, explain, and predict human social patterns" from a scientific perspective. And though Sociology is part of the social sciences (such as psychology and anthropology), it is quite set apart from the other disciplines in social science; that is because it emphasizes
Sociology and Feminist Theories on Gender Studies Postmodern Feminism in "Cherrie Moraga and Chicana Lesbianism" In the article entitled, "Cherrie Moraga and Chicana Lesbianism," author Tomas Almaguer analyzes and studies the dynamics behind Moraga's feminist reading of the Chicano culture and society that she originated from. In the article, Almaguer focuses on three elements that influenced Moraga's social reality as she was growing up: the powerful effect of the Chicano culture, patriarchal
Interpretive sociology does not agree with the thought that behavior is related to society as effect is related to cause since this entire idea is dysfunctional with that which composes social life in reality. Interpretive sociology holds that understanding of our fellow man should be the pursuit of each day as sense is made of their individual societal existence. Seeking to understand is the concept held in interpretive sociology
Social Order: Institutions, Socializations, And the Performance of Social Roles Erving Goffman dramaturgical theory is a seminal theory in the field of sociology. An example of "micro-sociological analysis," it forced sociological analysis back into the examination of things which actually exist, individual behavior, instead of mere concepts. Goffman demonstrated that the examination of real things can not only clarify existing lines of thought, but open up new avenues for the study
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now