¶ … Theoretical Treatments of Symbolic Interactionism
In order to develop a deeper understanding of sociological theories designed to describe the complexities of the cognitive process, it is essential to identify tangible examples of these as they are manifested in the real world. The concept of symbolic interactionism, while carrying varying connotations depending on the distinct school of sociological thought one embraces, is generally agreed to describe the empirical analysis of three simple premises, "that human beings act toward things on the basis of the meanings that the things have for them & #8230; that the meaning of such things is derived from, or arises out of, the social interaction that one has with his environment & #8230; (and) that these meanings are handled in, and modified through, an interpretive process used by the person in dealing with the things he encounters" (Blumer, 1986). While this technical definition is sufficient in relating the scope and intent of this branch of sociological thought, truly understanding the import of symbolic interactionism as it pertains to societal behavior requires a deeper investigation into the observable implications of the theory. By examining the predominant theoretical treatments associated with symbolic interactionism through the lens of an extremely prevalent and well-documented example of the phenomenon which occurs daily in the real world -- the biased manipulation and false interpretation of news media reports -- one can gain a clearer comprehension of the ways in which this foundational branch of sociological theory dictates relations between races, classes and other social constructs.
Whenever the average person views media content produced and delivered by major news networks, including ABC, CBS, NBC, and their locally affiliated stations, there is a tacit expectation that all broadcasted content is ostensibly objective and clear of prejudice or bias. While the ascendency of opinion-based "news" debate programs has resulted in sharp increase in the rate of editorializing performed by the era's major news networks, traditional "hard" news reporters are still expected to depict and discuss current events while refraining from the temptation to inject the broadcast with their own personal views. A comprehensive random content analysis of television news programming -- conducted by researchers Travis...
Symbolic Interactionism The objective of this study is to contrast and compare the work of Simmel and Mead on Symbolic Interactionism. Toward this end, a review of literature in this area of inquiry will be conducted. Symbolic interactionism is a primary sociological perspective that George Herbert Mead advanced through bringing "rigorous substance to this emergent micro-level analysis." (Bloch, nd) From the view of symbolic interactionism, "society is the sum total of the
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,
Symbolic Interactionism Healthcare sociological theory Symbolic interaction theory: Healthcare (Obesity prevention) Symbolic interaction theory "focuses attention on the way that people interact through symbols: words, gestures, rules, and roles" (Plunkett n.d.). The definition of health is an important component of the cultural language in which we operate. Although our definition of health sometimes seems self-evident, like something unchanging and unwavering across the eras, it is a culturally-constructed notion. This can be seen in
Within this sidewalk culture, patterns of interaction emerge. An example would be Hasan's role not only as a vendor, but also as a conversationalist for his customers, discussing topics that pertain to or about the merchandise that he sells, which are second-hand books. A second feature that reflects symbolic interactionism in sidewalk culture as determined by the author is the assignment of specific roles by its members, and this is
When meanings are shared, they are concordant. However since people may assign different meanings to the same entity, a disconnect can occur that can result in deviant behaviors. Principle 2: Language Language is, of course, at the core of communication, as well as miscommunication. In symbolic interactionism, language acts as a navigation tool that guides individuals through the often meandering conduit of meaning, using language to identify symbolic representation. Principle 3: Thought Thought
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
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