Social Interaction-1 PDF

Symbolic Interactionism Symbolic Interactionism is a theory based on the idea that social reality is constructed in each human interaction through the use of symbols. The most critical aspect of human development from the symbolic-interactionist perspective is the development of self, wh...

Symbolic Interactionism Symbolic Interactionism is a theory based on the idea that social reality is constructed in each human interaction through the use of symbols. The most critical aspect of human development from the symbolic-interactionist perspective is the development of self, which occurs through reflexive behavior. Reflexive behavior involves individuals observing, interpreting, and evaluating their own behaviors from the perspective of others. Learning to take the perspective of another is a fundamental aspect of the socialization process because this ability reflects the development of self.  Cooley believed that early childhood is a critical time in the development of self. For Cooley, however, primary group participation is very important for children, for it is within the primary group that children develop a sense of self. The self develops in a group context, and the group that Cooley called the primary group is the real seat of self-development. The self is part of how society makes us human. Looking glass self Cooley advanced the belief that we learn who we are by interacting with others. He coined (1902) the term looking-glass self. It contains 3 elements: We imagine how we appear to those around us We interpret others’ reactions. We come to conclusions how others evaluate us We develop a self-concept. How we interpret others’ reactions to us frames our feelings and ideas about ourselves. Mead: Stages of the Self George Herbert Mead’s development-of-self concept provides the most fundamental symbolic-interactionist theory of human development. G. H. Mead’s theory explains how young humans develop a sense of self. A key stage is learning to see yourself as others see you. Mead believed that the self was composed of two parts, the “I” and the “me.” The ‘Me’ is the social sense, able to judge behavior against social expectations. The ‘I’ is the spontaneous part of the self which responds to the ‘Me’.  The “I” represents the subjective (or egocentric) aspect of the self; it is impulsive, spontaneous, and creative. The “me” represents the objective (socialized) aspect of self and develops through interaction with others and the internalization of the norms and values of the greater community. The “me” reflects upon the self in relation to the expectations of society.  Mead believed that children learn to control their impulsive urges to respond to outside stimuli because of the expectations of others. Eventually, the “me” comes to dominate the “I,” and when this happens, human development has succeeded. Mead and role taking Mead pointed out how important play is as we develop a self. Role taking is the process of mentally assuming the perspective of another and responding from that imagined viewpoint.