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Symbolic Interactionism

Symbolic Interactionism. Early interactionism: influence of G. H. Mead and the Chicago School Herbert Blumer (1900-1987) Interaction gives social objects meaning Concept of “joint actions” Method: empirical and inductive Important role for individuals. Erving Goffman (1922-1982). Goffman.

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Symbolic Interactionism

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  1. Symbolic Interactionism • Early interactionism: influence of G. H. Mead and the Chicago School • Herbert Blumer (1900-1987) • Interaction gives social objects meaning • Concept of “joint actions” • Method: empirical and inductive • Important role for individuals

  2. Erving Goffman (1922-1982)

  3. Goffman • Cf. Durkheim: interest in norms, social order, threat of breakdown • Look at violations to understand norms • Cf. Simmel: focus on interactions and everyday life • Studying the interaction order (microsociology, microanalysis)

  4. Two Goffman Studies • The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life (1959) • Asylums (1961) • Deviant behavior results from context • Labeling theory

  5. Key Aspects of Goffman’s Approach • “radical empiricism” • Actions and statuses as products of social interaction • Reality itself is socially constructed through interaction

  6. Basic Ideas and Assumptions • Behavior is expressive/communicative as well as practical • Extension of concept of ritual to everyday interactions • Rituals as functionally necessary

  7. Goffman’s Central Metaphor • Life as theater (“dramaturgical sociology”) • Why this metaphor? • High generality – encompasses all of social life • Need to define and maintain “the definition of the situation” (cf. actors on stage) • “Collective conscience” is maintained concretely through everyday interaction

  8. Key Elements of Theater Metaphor • Roles • Scenes • Front and back regions (onstage and backstage) • Definition of the situation • Teams (roles are usually collective) • NOTE: It’s just a metaphor!

  9. Impression Management • Defensive practices of performers (loyalty, discipline, circumspection) • Protective practices of audience • Tact regarding tact

  10. Summary: Goffman’s Main Insights • Reality is constructed through interaction • Nature of social life: consensual and cooperative (b/c interaction is risky!) • Nature of self: active, strategic, but no authentic self beneath performances (“peg” metaphor)

  11. In-Class Writing What is Becker’s main argument in the essay “Becoming a Marihuana User”? How does it relate to Goffman’s ideas?

  12. Discussion of Becker • Main argument • Three stages in process • Applications to other substances used for pleasure?

  13. Goffman’s Theater Metaphor • Roles • Role distance • Role conflicts • Potential for alienation • Scripts • Costumes • Stages/sets

  14. Group Exercise • List 5 different roles you play in your everyday life. • Pick one role, and describe scripts, costumes, stages/sets associated with it. • Conflicts within the role? Conflicts between any of the 5 roles? • Your relationship to the role – how much role distance? • Think of a recent “incident” – what happened?

  15. Nature of Self Do you agree with Goffman’s assertion that there is no true self beneath our various roles and performances? Can you think of any social situations in which your true self is operating, without any role or performance overlaying it?

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