Research Paper on Symbolic Interactionism Theory
One of the three major theoretical perspectives
used in sociology is the Symbolic Interactionism. The concept of the theory was
first used by Max Weber and George Mead. They both gave importance to the
subjective meaning of social processes and human behavior. While Weber and Mead
are the first to develop the theory, it was Herbert Blumer who coined the term
“symbolic interactionism”. Symbolic Interactionism as a theory allows us to
observe the world and see it in a different light by using the symbols around
us. It is an interpretive theory that tends to understand things by focusing on
the micro level of the society.
Symbols are very important in Symbolic
Interactionism Theory. In the theory, the use of symbols helps us assign
meanings to things, events and people and later on help us give interpretations
with those symbols. The use of the theory means seeing things and understanding
what they mean and later on determine their effects. The theory proposes that
we live in a symbolic world and we as individuals have different meanings for
symbols. For us to be able to understand human behavior, we have to be able to
know the meaning of a certain behavior for a person. It also suggests that it
is through interactions with others that we are able to learn about ourselves
through others. With these interactions,
we developed personal feelings towards others and see how other people react to
our behaviors. Lastly, based on the theory, individuals have a mind that is
able to acquire process and reflect information. It is a perspective that sees
individuals as active agents in making meaning and using their interpretations
in creating social order. In general, symbolic interactionism as a theory helps
us understand that symbols and interactions in social processes affect the
individual and vice versa.
Most Affordable Essay Writing Service
Symbolic Interactionism may be very helpful in
understanding the meanings we put in people, events and things but as a theory,
it also received several criticisms. First, critics of the theory said that it
works very well in a micro level like understanding individual behaviors but
can’t be much of a use in macrolevel like in understanding group behavior.
Another criticism is that it does not permit a prediction how human will behave
because it will be hard to define how a certain individual perceive a symbol.
In terms of using it in research, it is criticized as unsystematic and
generalist.
This is a sample Research Paper on Symbolic Interactionism Theory from smartessaywriters.com – the leading provider of reliable and affordable essay writing services and research paper writing services in the United States and the United Kingdom
No comments:
Post a Comment