The symbolic interaction
perspective, also called
symbolic interactionism, is
a major framework of
sociological theory. This
perspective relies on the
symbolic meaning that
people develop and rely
upon in the process of
social interaction.
• Symbolic interaction theory
analyzes society by addressing the
subjective meanings that people
impose on objects, events, and
behaviors. Subjective meanings
are given primacy because it is
believe that people behave based
on what they believe and not just
on what is objectively true.
Example: Superstitions and
behavior
• Symbolic interactionism
looks at individual and
group meaning-making,
focusing on human action
instead of large-scale
social structures.
Example: The meaning of
a wedding ring
George Herbert Mead
Pioneered the development
of symbolic interaction
perspective
He is the one who argued
that “people's selves are
social products, but that
these selves are also
purposive and creative.”
Example: Career choice and
identity
The Three Basic Premises
Herbert Blumer (1969) set out three basic premises of the
perspective:
• "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.
The first premise:
"Humans act toward things on the basis of the meanings they
ascribe to those things."
• includes everything that a human being may note in their
world, including physical objects, actions and concepts.
Essentially, individuals behave towards objects and others
based on the personal meanings that the individuals has
already given these items.
Example: A red light at a traffic signal
The second premise:
"The meaning of such things is derived from,
or arises out of, the social interaction that one
has with others and the society."
-arises out of, the social interaction that one
has with other humans. People interact with
each other by interpreting or defining each
other's actions instead of merely reacting to
each other's actions.
Example: Money and its value
The third premise:
"These meanings are handled in, and modified through,
an interpretative process used by the person in dealing with the things
he/she encounters."
We naturally talk to ourselves in order to sort out the meaning
of a difficult situation. But first, we need language. Before we
can think, we must be able to interact symbolically. emphasis
on symbols, negotiated meaning, and social construction of
society brought on attention to the roles people play.
Example: The meaning of "success"
Key points:
• Symbolic interaction has
roots in phenomenology, which
emphasizes the subjective
meaning of reality.
• Symbolic interactionism
proposes a social theory of the
self, or a looking glass self.
Example: A student’s self-image
in school
• Symbolic interactionists
study meaning and
communication; they tend to
use qualitative methods.
• Symbolic interactionism has
been criticized for failing to
take into account large-scale
macro social structures and
forces.
Example: Systemic inequality
and poverty
Studies find that teenagers are
well informed about the risks of
tobacco, but they also think
that smoking is cool, that they
themselves will be safe from
harm, and that smoking projects
a positive image to their peers.
So, the symbolic meaning of
smoking overrides that actual
facts regarding smoking and
risk.
