Symbolic Interactionism : An Introduction, an Interpretation, an Integration

by Charon, Joel M.

• ISBN13: 9780130259721
• ISBN10: 0130259721
• Edition: 7th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

For sophomore/junior-level courses in Social Psychology or Social Theory in departments of Sociology; and for Senior seminar courses that examine the symbolic interactionist perspective. Using a unique step-by-step, integrated approach, this text organizes the basic concepts of symbolic interactionism in such a way that students understand them clearly and are able to apply them to their own lives. It emphasizes the active side of human beingshumans as definers and users of the environment, humans as problem solvers and in control of their own actionsand it shows students how society makes us, and how we in turn shape society. Each chapter examines a single concept, but relates that concept to the whole perspective and to other concepts in the perspective.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
The Nature of Perspective	1	(12)
New Perspective Mean New Realities	6	(2)
Perspectives Are Socially Created	8	(1)
Is There a Best Perspective?	9	(1)
Summary	10	(1)
Some Examples of Perspectives: Informal and Formal Perspectives	10	(2)
References	12	(1)
The Perspective of Social Science	13	(14)
Social Science As a Perspective	15	(10)
Sociology As a Perspective	17	(2)
Psychology As a Perspective	19	(1)
Commonalities and Differences between Sociology and Psychology	20	(1)
The Perspective of Social Psychology in Psychology	21	(2)
The Perspective of Social Psychology in Sociology	23	(2)
Summary	25	(1)
References	26	(1)
Symbolic Interactionism As a Perspective	27	(14)
Introduction: Five Central Ideas	27	(1)
General Historical Background of Symbolic Interactionism	28	(5)
Mead and Pragmatism	29	(2)
Mead and Darwin	31	(2)
Mead and Behaviorism	33	(1)
A Contrast With Other Perspectives: Warriner	33	(2)
Shibutani: References Groups As Perspectives	35	(2)
Attitudes Versus Perspectives	37	(2)
Summary	39	(1)
References	40	(1)
The Meaning of the Symbol	41	(19)
The Nature of Reality	42	(2)
Importance of a Social Defined Reality	43	(1)
Objects As ``Social Objects''	44	(2)
Symbols---A Class of Social Objects	46	(1)
Symbols Are Social, Meaningful, and Significant	47	(4)
Language	51	(2)
Words As Categories	52	(1)
Symbols, Perspectives, and Interaction	53	(1)
Humans and ``Infrahumans''	54	(3)
How Animals Approach Environment	55	(1)
Symbols versus Signs	56	(1)
Summary	57	(1)
References	58	(2)
The Importance of the Symbol	60	(12)
Symbols and Social Reality	60	(1)
Symbols and Human Social Life	61	(3)
Symbols and the Individual	64	(5)
Naming, Memory, Categorizing	64	(1)
Perception	65	(1)
Thinking	65	(1)
Deliberation and Problem Solving	66	(1)
Transcendence of Space and Time	66	(1)
Transcendence of One's Own Person	67	(1)
Abstract Reality	67	(1)
Creativity	68	(1)
Self-Direction	69	(1)
The Importance of Symbols: A Summary	69	(2)
References	71	(1)
The Nature of the Self	72	(25)
Self As a Social Object	72	(2)
Self As Social: Four Social Stages of Self-Development	74	(4)
The Preparatory Stage	75	(1)
The Play Stage	75	(1)
The Game Stage	76	(1)
The Reference Group Stage	77	(1)
Selves as Ever-Changing Social Objects	78	(1)
Self As Object	79	(11)
Action Toward Self: Self-Communication	80	(1)
Action Toward Self: Self-Perception	81	(1)
Self-Perception: Assessment of Our Own Action	81	(1)
Self-Perception: The Development of Self-Concept	82	(1)
Self-Perception: Self-Judgment, One Aspect of Self-Concept	82	(4)
Self-Perception: Identity, One Aspect of Self-Concept	86	(2)
Action Toward Self: Self-Control	88	(2)
Central Ideas About the Self	90	(1)
The Self and the Symbolic Interactionist Perspective	91	(1)
The ``I'' and the ``Me''	92	(2)
Summary	94	(1)
References	94	(3)
The Human Mind	97	(12)
The Meaning of Mind: Symbolic Interaction Toward Self	97	(2)
Mind Action: Making Indications Toward Self	99	(1)
Mind Action: The Ability to Control Overt Action	100	(2)
Mind Action: The Ability to Problem Solve	102	(2)
Mind Action Is Part of All Social Interaction	104	(2)
Summary	106	(1)
References	107	(2)
Taking the Role of the Other	109	(15)
Description of the Concept	109	(2)
Role Taking's Relationship to Self, Mind, and Symbols	111	(3)
Self	112	(1)
Mind	112	(1)
Symbols	113	(1)
Role Taking	113	(1)
The Importance of Role Taking	114	(5)
Its Central Place in All Social Interaction	114	(1)
Nine Ways Role Taking Is Central to All Human Life	115	(4)
And If We Don't Role Take---So What?	119	(1)
Summary	120	(2)
References	122	(2)
Human Action	124	(25)
The ``Stream of Action''	124	(2)
The Act	126	(2)
Action, Goals, and Social Objects	128	(2)
Mead's Four Stages of the Act	130	(3)
Impulse	130	(1)
Perception	131	(1)
Manipulation	131	(1)
Consummation	132	(1)
A Brief Look at the Four Stages	132	(1)
Locating the ``Cause'' of Human Action	133	(3)
The Definition of the Situation	136	(1)
Habitual Action	137	(1)
The Role of the Past in Human Action	138	(1)
The Role of the Future in Human Action	139	(1)
Action and Motives	140	(2)
Action and Emotions	142	(3)
Action and Choice	145	(1)
Summary	145	(1)
References	146	(3)
Social Interaction	149	(19)
Social Action	149	(1)
The Meaning of Social Interaction	150	(3)
Mutual Social Action	150	(1)
Social Interaction Is Symbolic	151	(2)
Social Interaction Involves Role Taking	153	(1)
The General Importance of Social Interaction	153	(12)
Social Interaction Forms Our Basic Human Qualities	154	(1)
Social Interaction Is an Important Cause of Human Action	155	(5)
Social Interaction Shapes Identities	160	(1)
We Label One Another in Social Interaction	160	(1)
We Attempt to Shape Identities in Social Interaction	161	(3)
We Shape Our Own Identities in Social Interaction	164	(1)
Social Interaction Creates Society	165	(1)
Summary	165	(1)
References	166	(2)
Society	168	(19)
Groups, Organizations, Social Worlds, and Societies	169	(10)
Society Is Symbolic Interaction	170	(1)
Society Is Symbolic Interaction That Is Characterized by Cooperative Action	171	(4)
Society Is Social Interaction That Is Symbolic, That Is Characterized by Cooperation, and That Develops Culture	175	(1)
Culture Is a Shared Perspective	175	(1)
Culture Is a Generalized Other	175	(1)
Culture Maintains Society	176	(2)
Culture Is Ever Changing	178	(1)
The Individual Exists Within Many Societies	179	(3)
The Active Human Being in Society	182	(2)
Summary	184	(1)
References	185	(2)
Erving Goffman	187	(15)
Spencer Cahill
Goffman and Symbolic Interactionism	187	(1)
Drama in Interaction	188	(4)
Impressions and Performance	188	(2)
Performance Teams	190	(1)
Reaction to Goffman's Dramaturgical View	191	(1)
The Self of Social Interaction	192	(3)
Goffman's View of Self	192	(1)
Social Control and Self	192	(3)
Rituals of Interaction	195	(3)
The Meaning of Ritual	195	(1)
The Importance of Ritual	196	(2)
The Environments of Social Interaction	198	(2)
Summary	200	(1)
References	201	(1)
Symbolic Interactionism: A Final Assessment	202	(29)
Symbolic Interactionism and Human Freedom: A Review	203	(3)
Symbolic Interactionism and Science	206	(3)
Symbolic Interactionism: Some Representative Studies	209	(7)
A Study of Pregnant Drug Users	209	(2)
A Study of Sam's Definition of Pain and Injury	211	(1)
A Study of Identity Formation in a Maximum Security Prison	212	(1)
A Study of Orthodox Synagogue Life	213	(2)
A Study of Little League Baseball	215	(1)
A Study of Bachelorhood and Conversion	215	(1)
Symbolic Interactionism: Some Examples of Application	216	(11)
An Understanding of Society	218	(1)
An Understanding of Racism in Society	218	(3)
An Understanding of Gender Differences	221	(1)
An Understanding of Dating, Marriage, and Family	222	(1)
An Understanding of Childhood Socialization	223	(2)
Symbolic Interactionism: A View of the College Experience	225	(1)
Symbolic Interactionism: A Final Look at Application	226	(1)
The Importance of the Symbolic Interactionist Perspective	227	(2)
Summary	229	(1)
References	230	(1)
Index	231