Symbolic

• Symbolic Interactionism


  A major approach in sociology that centers on social interactions in specific situations in society
• Symbolic Interactionism


  • Considered as a micro–level approach
• John Macionis and Linda Gerber: 'Symbolic interactionism "sees society as the product of the everyday interactions of individuals."'
• Symbolic interactionism


  Focuses on how symbols and their meanings affect individual actions and social interactions in our everyday lives
• Symbols


  Social objects used to represent whatever people agree they shall represent
• Symbols


  • Gestures
  • Language
  • Actions
  • Logos
  • Religious icons
• Symbols


  • Flags
  • Nationalism
• Learned Gender Roles


  Children "learn" the correct way of performing masculinity and femininity through social interactions
• Learned Religious 'Truths'


  Our social networks strongly influence our beliefs and perceptions
• Symbols


  • Emojis
  • Language
• Marriage And Family


  Social differences in concepts can be explained and explored through symbolic interactionism
• Looking Glass Self


  Our self-image is shaped by how we think others perceive us
• Herbert Blumer


  • Important figure in symbolic interactionism
  • Proposed the three basic premises of symbolic interactionism
• Interpretative process


  The act of "talking to oneself" as a way to process and handle meanings
• Max Weber


  • Important figure in symbolic interactionism
  • Verstehen or "interpretive understanding"
  • Action theory - the importance of subjective meaning
• Verstehen or "interpretive understanding"


  The need to understand how an individual makes sense of an action or experience
• Action theory


  The importance of subjective meaning
• Max Weber wrote other works considered important in sociology today, including The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Politics as a Vocation, and Economy and Society