Symbolic Interactionism

George Herbert Mead believed that symbols were the basis of individual identity and social life. In his opinion, individuals can aquire identity only through interacting with others. By doing this, we learn the language of our social lives. Since Mead regarded symbols as the foundation of both personal and social life, the theory he developed is called Symbolic Interactionism. Although Mead died before naming his theory, Herbert Blumer, a student of his, came up with the name. Blumer stated that Mead's theory consisted of three key concepts, meaning, language, and thought.

1. Meaning : The Construction of Social Meaning.

Humans naturaly assign meaning to people and things. With these meanings assigned,we act

accordingly.

2. Language : The Source of Meaning.

Meaning emerges from social interaction and the language used. Meanings come from people

not objects.

3. Thought : Taking the Role of the Other.

One's own thought process is used to develop his or her own interpretation of symbols.

In addition, the process of role taking shapes one's understanding of others and

their self.

Mead based symbolic interactionism on how humans identify symbols. As infants grow, they start interacting with others and aquire their own mind and self. They mirror others' behaviors, and develop unique ways to communicate symbolically with increasing interactions.

Click here to view a web page from a different class created by me Hardware. Click here to view one of my other communication theory pages Relational Dialectics. Click here to view another one of my other communication theory pages Critical Theory.

To learn more about Symbolic Interactionism, view these links created by my group members:

Click here for Shannon's research report. Click here to read Mike's application. Click here to check out my own critique. Click here to view another groups page on Symbolic Interactionism.