Self and Society: A Symbolic Interactionist Social Psychology

by Hewitt, John P.

• ISBN13: 9780205373581
• ISBN10: 0205373585
• Edition: 9th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

Self and Society is a clearly written, up-to-date, and authoritative introduction to the symbolic interactionist perspective in social psychology and in sociology as a whole. Filled with examples, this book has been used not only in the classroom, but also cited in literature as an authoritative source. Self and Society is not a distillation of textbook knowledge, but rather, a thoughtful, well-organized presentation that makes its own contribution to the advancement of symbolic interactionism.

Table of Contents

Each chapter concludes with “Keywords” and/or “Endnotes.”

Preface.

1. Social Psychology and Symbolic Interactionism.
What Is Social Psychology?
What Is Symbolic Interactionism?
Other Theoretical Approaches.
Major Tenets of Symbolic Interactionism.

2. Basic Concepts of Symbolic Interactionism.
Symbols.
Objects.
Acts and Social Acts.
Self and the Control of Behavior.
Roles and the Definition of Situations.
The Place of Emotions.

3. The Self and Its Social Setting.
The Acquisition of Self.
The Nature of the Person.
Identity.
Self-Esteem.
The Self and Motivation.
The Self and the Social Order.

4. Social Interaction and the Formation of Conduct.
The Definition of the Situation.
Aligning Actions.
Emotions and Social Interaction.
Constraint and Social Interaction.

5. Social Psychology and Social Order.
Society and Its Structure.
Social Order as a Constructed Reality.
Social Order as Coordinated Activity.
Institutional and Collective Behavior.

6. Deviance and the Social Order.
Defining Deviance.
Variable Responses to Similar Acts.
The Causes of Deviance.

7. The Value of Social Psychology.
The Significance of Symbols.
The Uses of Knowledge.

Index.