Symbolic interactionism

In sociology, there are three major theoretical perspectives – Functionalist, Conflict, and Interactionist. Each of these three standpoints demonstrate different outlooks and beliefs of why things socially occur in general. Essentially, it is a group fixed assumptions about societies that answers underlying questions we may ask ourselves. These perspectives are vital to our understanding and acknowledgment of the way we naturally interpret social interactions. Functionalist Perspective,…

Introduction The philosopher George H. Mead theories in the ‘Mind, Self and Society’ about the anatomy of the self as social structure and specifically about the development of assuming roles. The following summarizes the argument presented by Mead and draws comparisons between his ideas about the self as a social structure and a few theorists, in particular, those of Carl Rogers and Julie Hobson. In this critical analysis, I will initially recount in a summary on Meads main concept on…

Erving Goffman is a contemporary theorist whose work on understanding society through ‘Stage’, explains human behavior within different societal settings. Stage is a metaphor used to describe the self, which is defined as an individual’s performance that is created according to a specific impression or situation that is occuring. Presenting an image of oneself is necessary to establish social order, by manipulating the perceptions of other people on how we want them to see us and can become very…

While there may be many various explanations to the theory, involving the sociological imagination, C. Wright Mills explains it as one of the key ways, in which individuals can understand society and social change. (sociological imagination handout, pg3) It is similar to putting on a new pair of glasses, in this case, with sociological lenses. One may begin to see the world, society, behaviors, and everyday interactions in a distinctively different way. To apply the sociological imagination,…

perspective; it views society as if it was composed of different groups competing for power and resources. The final theory we will explore is the symbolic theory; this theory believes that human interaction and communication is aided by words, gestures, and other symbols that have obtained conventionalized meanings. I would say I position myself with the symbolic theory because…

Interactionism is the theoretical perspective that suggests our identity or sense of self is shaped by social interactions (Lamanna, M. A., & Riedmann, A. (2012)). There are many principles that are viewed by an Interactionist, such as the way people interpret and give meaning to behavior, the process of labeling, communication and understanding with and of others, etc. Through analyzation of the movie Silver Linings Playbook, the Interactionist’s perspective seemed most appropriate. The main…

In the modern world, individuals contain unique identities, and each identity is shaped by distinct background or classes. Throughout the history of humanity, human have been through “class struggles” (Marx, 62). There are three authors, and their writings contains their experiences and raise the awareness of the challenges they and the people faced. In “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave”, Douglass expresses the struggles of slavery, and he shares how learning helps…

Manifest and Latent Functions After the origin of structural functionalism, over time many sociologists were able to add their two cents to the paradigm. One such functionalist, Robert Merton, extended the theory by describing two possible outcomes of functionalism, these being manifest functions and latent functions. Manifest functions are simply the “intended functions of a social structure”, while latent functions are “the less obvious, perhaps unintended functions of a social structure”…

1. According to the text, self-presentation is something that we act out in response to the expectations of others. It is how one chooses to present themselves to an audience. Self- presentation is the cardinal decision that one chooses to make. For example, women may not generally come out and say their opinions or express their views on certain matters in the public eye due to its displeasing nature. Men, however, can voice their opinions on whatever subject and whenever they deem fit…

For this assignment, I will reflect on the following three articles, “The Study of Obedience” by Stanley Milgram ( ), “The Surprising Power of Neighborly Advice” by Daniel Gilbert ( ), and “Beyond the Banality of Evil: Three Different Dynamics of an Interactionist Social Psychology of Tyranny” by SA Haslam and S. Reicher ( ). I will first reflect on thoughts that were triggered in relation to my own personal life. Then, I will discuss how I see a particular article fitting into the field…