Symbolic Interactionism

George Herbert Mead was a profesor of philosophy at the University of Chicago for thirty years. In that time he developed many notes on an applied approach to knowledge but passed away before he could bring his notes together. Upon his death, his students decided to compile his works. One of his students, Herbert Blumer wrote the book Mind, Self, and Society summing up much of Mead's ideas and using the term Symbolic Interactionism.

In the article, "Symbolic Interaction: An Approach to Human Communication" written by Herbert Blumer he discusses the three premises of symbolic interactionism and the misconceptions that come with them. He defines symbolic interaction as, "interpretation of the action." He explains how meaning comes from objects, psychological ideas and also personal interpretation. He focuses on how symbolic interactionism allows people to view cultures, objects and society because we are able to interpret basic ideas through, what he calls "root images." The root images he identifies are: nature of human society, nature of social interation, nature of objects, the human being as an acting organism, nature of human action, and the interlinkage of action.

Root Images

Nature of Human Society

Blumer discusses that individuals in a situation can deal by acting individually, collectively or in the best interest of their group. He believes that what people do and how they act toward one another defines human society. People "engaging in action" is what structures society.

Nature of Social Interaction

Blumer goes into detail about how social interaction is seen through psychological and sociological perspectives as using outside factors, such as attitudes, psychological processes, norms, values, role demands, etc. Blumer believes that social interaction determines human conduct instead of being an expression of human conduct. In other words, one's actions are to be viewed as his actions and not a expression of what he wants to display. Blumer discusses the importance of social interaction in symbolic interaction. He says that how a person acts, whether it be individually, collectively or representing a group, the person needs to be able to act in his society and interpret other peoples actions. One person is accountable for interpreting the action of another. Having this need for interpretation makes symbolic interaction a process instead of an expression.

Nature of Objects

An object is defined by Blumer as, "anything that can be indicated or referred to." The interpretation of the object is in the eye of the beholder, so to speak, but indirectly it is a product of the group. If a person sees the object he identifies the object by how one acts toward it, how it is viewed, and how it is referred to. Therefore, an individual is allowed to determine his own interpretation of the object but the basis of how to interpret it comes from the group.

Another important point about objects is that it helps to identify people. By understanding how a person identifies with or interprets and object, one can begin to understand the person.

The Human Being As An Acting Organism

Blumer discusses how he viewes the human being as an object of the self. One's body is moved and molded by one's actions and defenitions. This is how role plays an important part in symbolic interactionism, because it allows a person to see himself/herself as others view him/her. Character is created by the ability of a human to direct and control his own actions.

Nature of Human Action

The human individual is created because of his ability to view himself/herself from the outside. Because of this, a person can identify themself as an individual in a group. This is also how a person is able to make their own interpretations of objects and therefore the rest of the world. Symbolic interactionism becomes unique to the individual with respect to the idea that the individual is based on the interpretation of the group.

Summary

Blumer sums up symbolic interaction by saying that individuals interact creating group interaction. The worlds that the groups live in are created by their objects and how they are interpreted. The objects are identified individually but, "sustained, weakened and transformed" by the interaction with one another. Different groups live in different "worlds" but the process of interpretation is still the same.
Works Cited
Blumer, Herbert.Approaches to Human Communication,"Symbolic Interaction: An Approach to Human Communication."(401-419)

Click here to read about the theory of coordinated management of meaning. This theory is related to symbolic interactionism because it also discusses how meaning is socially constructed.

Back to homepage.