Symbolic-Convergence Theory

Simply put, symbolic convergence occurs in groups through the sharing of stories. Group members interpret these stories through a common fantasy. Stories with a similar topic are said to make up the fantasy theme. A fantasy theme appears when group members respond to, rather than dismiss, a fantasy creating a fantasy chain reaction. Use of the fantasy by group members to explain, justify, or understand situations outside the group shows the group’s rhetorical vision.

Roxane Gay’s essay explores the topic of triggers and why they may not be as useful as people will like to think. Because of Gay’s topic choice, her essay is a work of non-fiction. It uses Gay’s own experiences and thoughts to educate the audience of her stance on triggers and why she thinks that. She also uses a variety of metaphors, analogies, and real life examples to persuade her audience.

In other words, this theory is based on how the external factors of society affect individuals and their behavior.

motivation. Theory X represents a negative view on of human nature that assumes individuals generally

Mythic tales like the Iliad tend to ignore the smaller, detailed stories within it; the narrative sweeps along in epic proportions and can be described as a saga. By structuring the story into five parts:

The ideology, theory is a collection of beliefs held by an individual, group or society. It is a set of conscious or unconscious ideas which make up one’s

The Symbolic Convergence Theory was developed by University of Minnesota Professor Ernest Bormann in 1972, along with his colleagues John Cragan and Donald Shields. It emerged from studies conducted in small-group communication, and is a message-centred theory that explores symbolic facts in communication (Shields, 2008). This theory was also based upon previous work from social psychologist Robert Bales, who established the concept of small-group fantasies and shared symbolic themes (Vaughan, 2009, 944). The University of Minnesota researchers saw a theme emerge in group communication of a shared symbolic consciousness through common meanings, values, emotions and experiences (Shields, 2008). Based on these empirical findings, as well as the work of Robert Bales, Bormann established a theory of rhetorical analysis called The Symbolic Convergence Theory (Vaughan, 2009, 944). The Symbolic Convergence Theory is a three-faceted theory. Firstly, it handles the discovery of these recurring communicative forms and patterns. It then describes the factors and events in a group that explain the emergence of a group consciousness. This addresses the ‘how’ of the theory. And finally, the question of ‘why’. Why do these patterns emerge in group communication; why do people share fantasies (Bormann, 1996, p.88 ). This theory works upon the assumptions that reality is created by communication, as well as that individuals can share symbolic meanings and realities (Vaughan, 2008).

The word myth is used most popularly in tales and stories. These tales and stories have been passed

The common hero myth format that we see in films such as The Wonderful Wizards Of Oz, Stars Wars, and The Hobbit. The hero, also known as the protagonist, is in a world that they feel out of place. When they escape this world they venture into a new world that is odd. They must leave their parents, friends, family and home in the process. Once the task is complete the hero returns home, but things at home doesn’t remain the same. Joseph Campbell, the American mythological researcher, calls this process a monomyth in his article called “The Hero’s Journey.” Carl Jung referred to these hero myths as archetypical patterns. He says that “infantile attachments must die and a more mature and productive life” is born in place. It is the evolution of consciousness that babies start to experiences around five months of differentiation. Both Campbell and Jung believe that mythology is a symbolic utterance of patterns of development of our consciousness as human beings. This doesn’t mean that our lives are myths. It just means that myths are the emergence of truths and that it is based on experience. We all go through monomyth in our lives and that we can relate to heros displayed on big screens. Similar to the main function of hero myths, we all have a story and it involves discovering yourself and developing your individual

It is interesting to see how some folktales are similar to each other even though they can be from a different region of the world. An example of this happening is the stories of Odysseus and Sinbad. Both of these folktales have much in common but on is from the Middle East while the other from Greece. The way their travels are similar, how their adventures are being told, and how their personalities are alike prove this concept. These tales were told as entertainment and educate people about growth and perseverance.

The cognitive theory argues that behavior is based on knowing about a situation in which the

All stories consist of a few common structural elements found universally in myths, fairy tales, dreams, and movies. They are known collectively as The Hero’s Journey. Understanding these elements and their use in modern writing is the object of our quest. Used wisely, these ancient tools of the storytellers craft still have tremendous power to heal our people and make the world a better place (xxvii).

The traditions of storytelling have long been used as a means to impart wisdom and life lessons to others. One of the most effective ways in which this is done is through the use of archetypes. While it is possible to look at these images in a general way, one may also focus an analysis on a single tale. In this way it is possible to explore the particular images used and their significance in a given situation, (often a coming of age rite of

Symbolic interactionism helps explain both of our individual personalities and the ways the human society is linked together (p.27). It also helps us differentiate social order and change through a process. The teachings of symbolic interactionism comes mostly from George Herbert Mead But,George was not the only one that influenced the thoughts and ideas of symbolic interactionism. Symbolic interaction is theoretical perspective so it is still changing and evolving. It also has four kinds of understandings in the population and environment. One of the understandings is that symbolic interactionism is to understand why people engage or do not engage in social growth of the population . Symbolic Interactionism assumes that people from different social backgrounds, and different cultures may see different social issues within their social community. George Mead,Charles Cooley and Herbert Blumer shaped symbolic interactionism on the predictions of yourself causing you to behave a certain way so it becomes true.

Ernest Bormann's Symbolic Convergence Theory offers a promising method of looking at small group interaction and cohesiveness. When individuals who are not familiar with each other come together for the sake of achieving a common goal, be it a group in an organization or students working on a school project, the symbolic convergence theory presents an understandable and generally accurate stance on how cohesiveness within the group is attained.