Questions and Answers
What is Symbolic Convergence Theory?
Ernest Bormann studied newly formed groups to analyze leadership emergence, decision making, norms, cohesiveness, and other features. The premise of the theory is that sharing group fantasies creates symbolic convergence.
Who is the theorist behind Symbolic Convergence Theory?
Ernest Bormann
What tradition does Symbolic Convergence Theory belong to?
socio-psychological and rhetorical
What is the Objective/Interpretive placement of Symbolic Convergence Theory?
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What is a major difference between Symbolic Convergence Theory and the functional perspective?
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What is a dramatizing message?
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For Bormann, what is a fantasy?
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What happens in a group when they pick up on a fantasy and begin to chain it out?
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What is a fantasy chain? Give an example.
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What is a fantasy theme? Give an example.
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What is a symbolic cue? Give an example.
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What is a fantasy type? Give an example.
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What is symbolic convergence? How does it happen? What happens after it has occurred?
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How did Bormann expand SCT beyond small groups?
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What is fantasy theme analysis? When would someone use it?
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What are the strengths of SCT?
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What are critiques of SCT?
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Study Notes
Symbolic Convergence Theory
- Developed by Ernest Bormann to explore how group fantasies foster shared meanings and cohesiveness.
- Examines the emergence of leadership, decision-making processes, and group norms within newly formed groups.
Theorist
- Ernest Bormann is the key figure behind Symbolic Convergence Theory.
Theoretical Framework
- Falls within socio-psychological and rhetorical traditions.
- Positioned between objective and interpretive methodologies.
Comparison to Functional Perspective
- Unlike Hirokawa and Gouran's functional perspective, which focuses on task-oriented rational comments, SCT emphasizes the importance of dramatizing messages that originate outside formal group discussions.
- Dramatizing messages are seen as beneficial for group dynamics by fostering informal communication.
Dramatizing Messages
- Defined as imaginative language used by group members that describe significant past, future, or external events.
- They play a crucial role in creating a shared group experience.
Fantasy
- For Bormann, a fantasy is a dramatizing message that receives enthusiastic support from the entire group, although this is not the case for most such messages.
Fantasy Chaining
- When a fantasy resonates with group members, it triggers lively participation and communication, leading to symbolic convergence.
- Both verbal and non-verbal interactions contribute to this chaining process.
Fantasy Chain
- A fantasy chain represents a vigorous agreement in response to a dramatizing message.
- Example: Applause that grows louder as more individuals join in.
Fantasy Theme
- A fantasy theme is a collective narrative that is commonly believed and internalized within a group.
- These themes are the foundational units of SCT analysis, encompassing meanings, motives, emotions, and actions.
Symbolic Cue
- A symbolic cue is a trigger that evokes responses aligned with a shared fantasy.
- Example: Auburn's pregame video serves as a trigger for collective enthusiasm.
Fantasy Type
- Represents a grouping of related themes that evolve when shared meanings become implicit within a community.
Symbolic Convergence
- Occurs when distinct individual symbol worlds align or overlap, creating shared realities.
- This convergence promotes group cohesion and enhances collective consciousness.
Expansion Beyond Small Groups
- Bormann introduced "rhetorical vision" to describe how small group fantasies expand to encompass larger communities, forming a shared symbolic reality.
Fantasy Theme Analysis
- A method of rhetorical criticism used to identify and evaluate fantasy themes and rhetorical visions by analyzing characters, plotlines, scenes, and sanctioning agents.
- Useful for evaluating digital narratives such as websites.
Strengths of SCT
- Founded on a universal principle applicable to all people, providing predictive insights into group dynamics and clarifying values.
Critiques of SCT
- Criticized for not fulfilling essential criteria of a robust theory, specifically regarding objective testing and interpretative clarity.
- Challenges exist in predicting when a fantasy chain reaction may initiate and concerns about member characterization within rhetorical communities.
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Description
Test your knowledge on Chapter 18 of Symbolic Convergence Theory. Delve into the definitions and key concepts presented by theorist Ernest Bormann, including the emergence of leadership and group dynamics. This quiz will help reinforce your understanding of how shared group fantasies contribute to cohesion within groups.