100 likes | 149 Views
George Herbert Mead. Students collaborated on Mind, Self, and Society (1934) Symbolic Interaction - coined by Herbert Blumer. Symbolic Interaction Theory (SIT). People act based on that arise in a situation
E N D
George Herbert Mead • Students collaborated on Mind, Self, and Society (1934) • Symbolic Interaction - coined by Herbert Blumer
Symbolic Interaction Theory (SIT) • People act based on that arise in a situation • Individuals are , participants in social context
Three central themes driving SI A. Importance of meanings for human behavior B. Importance of self-concept C. Relationship b/w individual & society These result in 7 assumptions of SIT…
Assumptions of SI A. Importance of meanings for human behavior • Assumptions: • Humans act towards others on the basis of meanings others have for them • Meaning created people • Meaning modified through process
Assumptions of SI (cont.) B. Importance of self-concept • Assumptions: • Individuals develop through interaction with others • Self-concepts provide important motive for behavior – self is a process
Assumptions of SI (cont.) C. Relationship b/w individual & society • Assumptions: • People & groups influenced by cultural & social processes • Social structure worked out through social interaction • We can modify situations; humans as choice makers
YOU Assess SI • Scope – breadth of behaviors covered • Logical consistency – concepts work together & show what results from their interactions • Parsimony – simplicity of explanation • Utility – usefulness or practicality • Testability – ability to investigate • Heurism – amount of new research/thinking stimulated • Test of Time
Scholarly Strengths of SI • Applications in a variety of contexts
Scholarly Criticisms of SI • Too vague & broad • Focuses too much on individual • Fails to explain emotions & self-esteem