Symbolic Interactionism: Does the Way Others See Us Effect Our Actions? By: Chasity Montgomery
George Herbert Mead was the father of the Symbolic Interactionism Theory. Within this theory, Mead concentrates on meanings people project onto others, the language people use in creating or shaping meaning, and how persons thought processes effect their interpretations. Mead believed that we as people can step outside ourselves and see how others perceive our behavior. I will illustrate this "looking-glass self" concept through the character of Sebastian in Cruel Intentions.
Sebastian is a rich boy that has a reputation for manipulating women. His step sister Katherine is usually his partner in crime. Those two care nothing of others feelings or lives. The only reason for either ones action is personal gain. One can see that through the eyes of Katherine, Sebastian is manipulative and deceitful. Katherine wants Sebastian to help her ruin a young girl's reputation, and Sebastian complies because his self concept is one of disregard for others personal feelings. He spends much of his time around Katherine and together the two create meanings of what is right or wrong. Typically, nothing is wrong(to them) when it comes to personal gain. She looks at Sebastian and sees him just as dishonorable and deceiving as she. And in return he acts accordingly.
However, throughout the movie Sebastian had a mission to manipulate Annette. Annette was a young girl who held high morals regarding premarital sex. Sebastian saw Annette as a way to further his reputation. Sebastian had to spend a lot of time with Annette to try to win her over. He used charm and deceit to get her to think of him as a great guy. Throughout their time together Annette saw him in a different way then his step sister. She stopped passing judgement on him and treated him like a friend. Only then did Sebastian change his ways of behaving. He could no longer see himself as uncaring or disregarding in the presence of Annette, although he still felt deceitful in Katherine's presence. Sebastian fell in love with Annette and started seeing himself through her eyes: as someone who cared and made a few past mistakes.
I believe that this movie shows that each person takes on the "character" that another believes him or her to have. It also shows Mead's importance regarding language. Mead believes that meaning is derived from our interactions with others, which in turn is characterized by the use of language. Sebastian interacted with Katherine and Annette on completely different sides of the spectrum. Each linguistic style shaped an inherently different meaning on what to talk about and how to react. Sebastian and Katherine spoke cruedly to one another and discussed plans of who to make miserable. They spoke only to one another when in need of help to carry out schemes of betrayal. The language the two used marked, not a friendship, but a partnership. On the other hand, Sebastian and Annette spoke to each other about feelings and ordinary day to day activities. Annette relaxed Sebastian and brought out his sense of humor. The language they used marked not only a friendship, but an intimate relationship as well.
