Sociology of Everyday Life Sociology is considered as the study of human social life in the context of individuals, groups, and societies. In fostering the various aspects of sociology, sociologists came up with various theories that expound of human relationships in their day-to-day activities. This essay aims at identifying the relationship existing between the symbolic interactionism theory and the ground of routine activities, ethnomethodology as portrayed by Harold Garfinkel and Herbert Blumer. Harold confers on ethnomethodology as a way through which people make sense and find ways in which to act in their daily routine activities. He considers the various settings, which dictate stable features of daily activities. First, he …show more content…
70). These aspects of human interactions are crucial to accomplishing the goals of ethnomethodology, which is to maintain social order in society. Therefore, by understanding symbolic interactionism in society, one can disrupt the social order of society in a bid to conceptualize have an understanding of the society in ethnomethodology. The relationship between these two concepts is evidenced in the purpose of their study. Symbolic interactionism seeks to understand the constituents that define human interactions through social order. Ethnomethodology studies the unremarkable techniques that people use to attach meaning to their interactions by discarding the context. In the deeper understanding of ethnomethodology and social order, the aspect of context is discarded since one only gets meanings of everyday activities by violating the norms that maintain social order(Garfinkel, 1968, p. 278). These conceptions enact a fundamental role in understanding the extent to which human interactions and activities remain meaningful to individuals in society. They provide a basis through which sociological theories and perspectives can be used to study human interactions. While interactions occur in every social organization, there is the need to look into those activities that are considered common to a certain social group. There arises the need to look into these activities as part of human interaction through symbolic
Symbolic Interactionalism: One of the three perspectives of sociology is Symbolic Interactionalism, this is a microlevel theory that concerns
Lastly I will discuss the elements of Symbolic Interaction. This theory was brought to sociology by Charles Horton Cooley (1864-1929), William I. Thomas (1863-1947) and George Herbert Mead (1863-1931). They believed that symbols, things with meaning and face to face interactions are how society views the world and communicate with each other , without symbols our social life would have no meaning. Symbolic interactionists analyzed how our social life depends on the way we define ourselves and others, for example with out symbols we would have no mom, dad, teachers, brothers and sisters. We would not know who we should respect and whom we are obligated too.
The last sociological perspective and the most challenging to recognize is symbolic interaction. Symbolic interaction focuses on how human beings interpret symbols and communicate and forge a sense of self ( Halperin, 2/13/15). Symbolic interaction has five/six questions that need to be answered “What communication is taking place? What symbols are being used &/or how is the communication taking place? How does the communication shape perception? How are the parties being influenced by their interaction with one another? What social roles are being played out? (Halperin. 2/13/15).
Symbolic interactionism of sociology is defined in our book as “a theoretical perspective in which society is viewed and composed of symbols that people use to establish meaning, develop their views of the world, and communicate with one another (Henslin Pg 162)”. In medical terms, this means that illness and health are merely social constructs constructed by doctors and physicians. The concept of an illness or medical condition only exist if it is accepted by a society.
According to Griffiths & et. al (2015), symbolic interactionism is a micro-level theory that focuses on the relationships among individuals within a society. Symbolic interactionism theory focuses on the way individuals communicate and interact with one another, which help them understand their environment and society. An example of symbolic interactionism can be viewed by what kind of mobile phone you have, what car you drive, or where you went to college. These are all types of symbols that our society uses to symbolize a person status or wealth. Another example is the social networking website FaceBook, which can serve as an online platform for users to create and spread their "symbolic" group with like minded individuals that view the world from the same lens.
Symbolic Interaction focuses on a micro view of society. It focuses on a small scale perspective of interaction between individuals. Imagine you`re with a friend instead of looking at large scale structures like education or law, since we are looking at the small scale symbolic interaction explains the individual in a society and their interactions with others and through that it can explain social order and change.
Even in the movies, sociology can be found. Most people think sociology is limited to just worldly problems, but it can be it can be a very broad term. Symbolic Interaction is a communication theory that states society and individuals are created based upon the interactions between each other. One Disney movie that stands out is Aladdin. I feel this movie does a great job of providing examples of symbolic interactionism. My plan is to discuss symbolic interaction and provide examples of the theory.
Interactionist perspective in sociology, also known as symbolic interactionism, is "a theoretical framework that sees society as the product of individuals interacting with one another" (Macionis 13). In other words, daily interactions among people define their behavior. This theory also posits that the interactions involve symbols, gestures, facial expressions, and movements that can help us make generalizations about a larger society. Unlike other sociological perspectives, interactionist perspective looks at micro-sociology, focusing on smaller groups and activities. Based on understanding of micro activities, interactionist perspective
Symbolic interactionism focuses on the language and symbols that help us give meaning to the experiences in life. It also studies how people discuss the meaning of social life during interactions
The symbolic interactionism is an excellent sociological perspective that allows us to focus on micro activities and to analyze our society which is the product of everyday’s life. Tuesdays with Morrie is more than a simple book, more than a romance one; it is a great book that teaches us many of life’s greatest lessons. An analysis of this book using the SI perspective and concepts such as meaning making, status, impression management, looking-glass self, role taking, role making, and self-presentation helps us understand the real meaning of Morrie’s words and lessons.
Social conflict also focuses on macro-sociology. Symbolic interaction paradigm says society functions well through interactions. Communication is spreaded through symbols created by society. Social interaction is important, because it causes social change. Many variables such as behavior events are explained through social contact with others. The people are the ones who determine what is reality, and what is not reality. Life works in a dramatization point of view. Symbolic interaction paradigm focuses on the small issues that affect communities in society, therefore making it a micro-level orientation. Functionalist paradigm sees society as a well integrated, self-regulating system that meets people’s needs. While Social conflict views society having many groups that are self reliant, with their own goals and needs. Symbolic interaction explains society is shaped, and constructed through interaction, and communication with others.
The Symbolic Interaction theory refers to ways in which a family or society attaches meaning to verbal communication, non-verbal communication, people, and objects. We are taught from a young age communication using verbal language and accepted ways to express our needs. The theory represents perception of objects or actions (Macionis, 2007, p.17).
Symbolic Interactionism Theory “sees interactions and meanings as central to society, and assumes that meanings are not inherent, but are created through interactions” (Chp. 1 Theory). An example of Symbolic Interactionism Theory is smoking (informal). Smoking is harmful to your health. A person may associate a meaning for smoking. They might use smoking for means as a way to meet a new friend. When two smokers meet, and one offers the other a cigarette, that is a way to become acquainted with someone. The gesture here is the offer of a cigarette from one person to another. This gesture is positively sanctioned because the person makes a new friend. The negative sanction is the harmful effects that a cigarette has on a person’s
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.
Symbolic interactionist’s Conflict sociological perspective is a micro level of analysis, it explains individual aspects broadly, it is concerned with interactions in small groups. It suggests that couples’ behaviours are shaped by the way they interact with each other. They develop their self-concept by looking at how they are seen by society and making reflections on themselves.