2. Classical Sociological Theory #1 - Symbolic Interactionism
Symbolic Interactionism
Symbolic interactionism is a social psychological theory developed from the work of Charles Horton Cooley and George Herbert Mead in the early part of the twentieth century (the actual name of the theory comes from Herbert Blumer, one of Mead's students). According to this theory, people inhabit a world that is in large part socially constructed. In particular, the meaning of objects, events, and behaviors comes from the interpretation people give them, and interpretations vary from one group to another. Cooley, in his theory of a "looking glass self," argued that the way we think about ourselves is particularly apt to be a reflection of other people's appraisals (or more accurately, our imagining of other people's appraisals) and that our self-concepts are built up in the intimate groups that he called "primary groups." Mead emphasized that human beings do not react directly to events; they act based on their interpretation of the meaning of events.
- Video explanation
- An example
- "The Looking-Glass Self"
- What is a "social construction?"
3. What categories/social labels do we have at TA? What meanings and expectations do those labels carry?
HW: Assignment #3 - Social Labels and Categories
1. Choose a category/social label of people at TA
2. Write a paragraph describing what the expectations of this group are at TA.
3. Identify at category that you think others might place you in.
- What are the expectations of people in this group?
- To what extent do you meet those expectations?
- Do you every feel pressure to act a certain way (or restricted) because you placed in this category?
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