According to symbolic interactionism, an individual's personality is formed within society, i.e., a human community. A central characteristic of human communities is interaction, among other things with the help of symbols. By constantly acting and interacting, social norms and values are created..
For example, think of all the money spent to upgrade popular Facebook games like Candy Crush. And notice that whenever you become a “fan,” you likely receive product updates and special deals that promote online and real-world consumerism. It is unlikely that millions of people want to be “friends” with Pampers.
One example of social interactionist theory is that a person may behave differently in a work meeting than at a company picnic. In the office, the person may have a professional, formal demeanor, but they become warm and communicative at the picnic.
Simple Symbolic Interactionism Examples in Everyday Life
An image of a stick figure with a dress means woman.
An image of a stick figure without a dress means man.
A drawing of a heart means love.
A bald eagle means freedom and America.
A stick figure sitting in a chair with a large wheel means handicapped.
10 Examples of Symbolic Interaction Theory
1. Flags and Nationalism
Flags have for ages been symbolic of the collective values of a society
Bloomer’s Three Tenets of Social Interactionism
While it was George Herbert Mead who started the theory, it was Herbert Blumer who came up with the term ‘symbolic interactionism’
Conclusion
Symbolic interactionism is a powerful social process theorythat is used for understanding the world around us
References
Conway, J.K. (1998) When memory speaks: Reflections on autobiography. Alfred A. Knopf. Cooley, C.H. (1902)Human nature and the social order
How many schools of symbolic interaction are there?
There are three main schools of Symbolic Interactionism: the Chicago School, the Iowa School, and the Indiana School
These schools stem from the work of Herbert Blumer, Manford Kuhn, and Sheldon Stryker, respectively
Blumer invented the term “Symbolic Interactionism” and created a theory and methodology to test Mead’s ideas
What are some examples of symbolic interactionism?
Check out a few different society examples of symbolic interactionism
The American flag to some is a symbol of freedom, hope, and pride
However, for others, the American flag can be seen as a symbol of oppression
Depending on your interaction with the American flag, the meaning behind it will be different
Who developed symbolic interaction theory?
Key theorists in the development of symbolic interaction theory have been George Herbert Mead (1863-1961), Herbert Blumer (1900-1987), and Charles Horton Cooley (1864-1929)
George Herbert’s Mead book, Mind, Self, and Society is considered the foundational text of symbolic interactionism
1 Flags and Nationalism
Examples of Symbolic Interactionism in Society
American Flag The American flag to some is a symbol of freedom, hope, and pride. ...
Gender Gender can be understood through symbolic interactionism because gender is a sociological construct. ...
10 Examples of Symbolic Interaction Theory
1. Flags and Nationalism Flags have for ages been symbolic of the collective values of a society. ...
2. Learned Gender Roles Gender roles are often performative and discursively learned. ...
More itemsSome examples of symbolic interactionism are the meaning of marriage, the meaning of divorce, the meaning of parenthood, and the meaning of love. Symbols may include wedding bands, vows of life‐long commitment, a white bridal dress, a wedding cake, a Church ceremony, and flowers and music.As humans and as members of a society, we learn to understand through our interaction with symbols, including the letters of our language that make up words. For example, the word "cat" does not have meaning in and of itself. However, we understand what "cat" means through our social interactions with others and with actual "cats."
Society examples of symbolic interactionism
In sociology, symbolic ethnicity is a nostalgic allegiance to, love for, and pride in a cultural tradition that can be felt and lived without having to be incorporated to the person's everyday behavior; as such, a symbolic ethnic identity usually is composed of images from mass communications media.
Sociological concept
The concept of symbolic power, also known as symbolic domination or symbolic violence, was first introduced by French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu to account for the tacit, almost unconscious modes of cultural/social domination occurring within the everyday social habits maintained over conscious subjects. Symbolic power accounts for discipline used against another to confirm that individual's placement in a social hierarchy, at times in individual relations but most basically through system institutions also.
