Symbolic Interactionism Essay - 1381 Words

Symbolic Interactionism On the surface, sociology is the study of society and human behavior; yet looking deeper, it is the study of humans in groups and how they interact with one another. Sociologists look at these groups by means of the sociological perspective. This involves looking at a certain behavior like it has never been looked at it before. When done right one can come to a deeper level of understanding about behavior. Using your sociological imagination you are able conceptualize how a person’s macro level, which consists of the larger aspects of life such as family and government, and their micro level, (which is the individual itself) combine in order form the person they are. Using my sociological†¦show more content†¦We chose a small square table on the first floor. To our left was a table of four girls, to our right was two guys and next to them was two small individual cubicles occupied by a male and a female. Leah and I began to unload our work; as she tries to get work done I began my observations. Each one of the four girls is diligently working almost as if the others do not exist. The two boys appear far from humorless as they read through magazines, laughing and making jokes about who is going to win the super bowl. My attention then drifts back to the girls on my left whom appear rejuvenated. As they get ready to leave they are filled with excitement about the night’s basketball game and the hottest players. Looking beyond the girls I notice some other tables in the distance occupied by a group of Korean guys who appear to be isolated from the library. They are tucked into the back of the room almost hidden. Glancing around, I now notice that all the people within site are Caucasian except for the Koreans and an African-American girl who is sitting alone in the cubicle. As I watch her I notice that every time she highlights something she will stop, stare off into the dis tance as if she is almost allowing the information to be properly stored. Leah interrupts my thoughts. She asks me the time. I tell her to buy a watch, expecting her to go back to work. She then demands me to listen to her paper. She reads me the paper and we begin to go off on extreme tangentsShow MoreRelatedSymbolic Interactionism1361 Words   |  6 PagesSymbolic Interactionism Symbolic interactionism is the way we learn to interpret and give meaning to the world through our interactions with others (LaRossa amp; Reitzes, 1993). Herbert Blumer was credited with the term â€Å"symbolic interactionism† in 1937. Blumer was a follower of George H. Mead, and was influenced by John Dewey. Dewey insisted that human beings are best understood in relation to their environment (The Society for More Creative Speech, 1996). With this as his approach, HerbertRead MoreSymbolic Interactionism In A Subculture1400 Words   |  6 Pagessubcultural career. Analyzing such subcultural careers from the symbolic interactionist perspective teaches one much about the interpretive and social dimensions of participation in a subculture. An understanding of the theoretical framework of symbolic interactionism and of the definitions of concepts such as subcultures and subcultural careers provides a framework for effectively analyzing my career in the Tylenol drug subcultur e. The symbolic interactionist perspective to interpreting subcultural careersRead MoreThe Theory Of Symbolic Interactionism878 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction The last theoretical perspective I have applied to my movie selection, Dead Man Walking, is the symbolic interaction theory. The theory was primarily established by American philosopher George Herbert Mead in the 1920’s and the term was later coined by American sociologist Herbert Blumer in the 1960’s (McClelland, 2000). Symbolic interactionism examines society on a small scale and focuses on interactions between individuals and how these relations impact social order (Brown, 2013).Read MoreSymbolic Interactionism And Social Psychology1407 Words   |  6 PagesThe application paper Symbolic interactionism is considered to be part of the building block of micro-sociological thinking, related to anthropology and social psychology that bases the understanding of the society in communication and has greatly influenced the studies on media. This theory suggest that human interaction and communication is facilitated by words, gesture and other symbols that have acquired conventionalized meaning (Dictioinary). Symbolic interaction is a range of ideas that discussRead MoreSymbolic Interactionism And Social Structure1190 Words   |  5 Pageseducation and living in extreme poverty everyday? Using the lens of symbolic interactionism, this essay will analyze Maria’s education, gang surroundings, and family conditions. In the beginning, I will define symbolic interactionism, then I will explain why Maria a fourteen year old girls conditions contain these elements. Finally I will explain how symbolic interactionism is integrated into her life. Symbolic interactionism can be easily described as the â€Å"interactions of individuals with theRead MoreSymbolic Interactionism Theory Of Smoking1213 Words   |  5 Pages Symbolic Interactionism Theory â€Å"sees interactions and meanings as central to society, and assumes that meanings are not inherent, but are created through interactions† (Chp. 1 Theory). An example of Symbolic Interactionism Theory is smoking (informal). Smoking is harmful to your health. A person may associate a meaning for smoking. They might use smoking for means as a way to meet a new friend. When two smokers meet, and one offers the other a cigarette, that is a way to become acquaintedRead MoreEssay about Symbolic Interactionism Theory1036 Words   |  5 PagesSymbolic Interactionism Theory George Herbert Mead studied and used an interactionist approach for many years. He was a philosophy professor at the university of Chicago. Mead thought that the true test to any theory is whether or not it is useful in solving complex social problems (EM Griffin, p.83). So Mead decided to study the procedures of communicating, specifically with symbols, the theory was titled Symbolic Interactionism. Mead declared that our gift of language, our ability to manipulateRead MoreSymbolic Interactionism: Studies of Social Construction4480 Words   |  18 PagesSymbolic Interactionism: Studies of Social Construction Hundreds of years before written word, theories have been made about words, the symbolism behind them, and root meanings assigned by social construction. William Shakespeare can be shown as example of this with posed questions by characters in his writings. In Romeo and Juliet, the character Juliet poses questions that reflect the symbolism of the name of her and her star-crossed lover Romeo. â€Å"O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo. DenyRead More Applications of Symbolic Interactionism Theory Essay696 Words   |  3 PagesApplications of Symbolic Interactionism Theory George Herbert Mead begins his discussion of symbolic interactionism (talking with others) by defining three core principles that deal with meaning, language, and thought. The theory states that meaning is the construction of social reality. Humans act toward people or things on the basis of the meanings they assign to those people or things. The second principle of symbolic interactionism is language, which is the source of meaning. MeaningRead MoreFunctionalism, Conflict Theory, And Symbolic Interactionism1183 Words   |  5 Pagesfirst explain functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. Secondly, I will explain the different causes of global poverty. Thirdly, I will collect my own data to explain poverty in one country. Finally, I will identify the idea of ethnocentric and culturally relative. First and foremost, there are three types of theories that can be applied to global poverty which are functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. To start off with functionalism is when a society