What is symbolic interactionism

Symbolic interactionism is the social meanings constructed in society (different societies have different social meanings)

What are the core concepts of symbolic interactionism

Meaning, attachment, consensus, etc.

Representatives of symbolic interactionism

- Goffman - Cooley - George Mead - Simmel

Goffman

- Society is a theater: People must perform for others in order to fit in and avoid negative consequences - Failure to perform for others can results in isolation from peers

Frontstage versus backstage

- Frontstage is considered to be any public spaces - Backstage is considered to be any private spaces

Batch activities

Group gatherings

Cooley

- Proposed the idea of looking glass self - Our self image is determined by how others perceive us

George Mead

Spilt the self into two categories: Biological self, Social self

Biological self

Peoples behavior is based on their own desires (crime etc.)

Social self

- Peoples behave according to existing social expectations - People will either be rewarded or punished depending on their behavior

Simmel

- Split the idea of culture into two categories: Subjective, Objective - Trust is the linking factor between the two

Subjective culture

A culture that is unique and personal to each individual

Objective culture

- A culture that is shared by a group of people (can be anything two people have in common) - Objective culture is the driving force in people forming relationships with each other

Chicago school versus Iowa school

- Chicago school: No core self, demonstration of situations will be different (heterogeneity) - Iowa: Core self, human behavior can be easily predicted (homogeneity)