Symbolic Interactionism

1
Symbolic Interactionism

• Early interactionism influence of G. H. Mead and
  the Chicago School
• Herbert Blumer (1900-1987)
• Interaction gives social objects meaning
• Concept of joint actions
• Method empirical and inductive
• Important role for individuals

2
Erving Goffman (1922-1982)
3
Goffman

• Cf. Durkheim interest in norms, social order,
  threat of breakdown
• Look at violations to understand norms
• Cf. Simmel focus on interactions and everyday
  life
• Studying the interaction order (microsociology,
  microanalysis)

4
Two Goffman Studies

• The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life (1959)
• Asylums (1961)
• Deviant behavior results from context
• Labeling theory

5
Key Aspects of Goffmans Approach

• radical empiricism
• Actions and statuses as products of social
  interaction
• Reality itself is socially constructed through
  interaction

6
Basic Ideas and Assumptions

• Behavior is expressive/communicative as well as
  practical
• Extension of concept of ritual to everyday
  interactions
• Rituals as functionally necessary

7
Goffmans Central Metaphor

• Life as theater (dramaturgical sociology)
• Why this metaphor?
• High generality encompasses all of social life
• Need to define and maintain the definition of
  the situation (cf. actors on stage)
• Collective conscience is maintained concretely
  through everyday interaction

8
Key Elements of Theater Metaphor

• Roles
• Scenes
• Front and back regions (onstage and backstage)
• Definition of the situation
• Teams (roles are usually collective)
• NOTE Its just a metaphor!

9
Impression Management

• Defensive practices of performers (loyalty,
  discipline, circumspection)
• Protective practices of audience
• Tact regarding tact

10
Summary Goffmans Main Insights

• Reality is constructed through interaction
• Nature of social life consensual and cooperative
  (b/c interaction is risky!)
• Nature of self active, strategic, but no
  authentic self beneath performances (peg
  metaphor)

11
In-Class Writing

• What is Beckers main argument in the essay
  Becoming a Marihuana User?
• How does it relate to Goffmans ideas?

12
Discussion of Becker

• Main argument
• Three stages in process
• Applications to other substances used for
  pleasure?

13
Goffmans Theater Metaphor

• Roles
• Role distance
• Role conflicts
• Potential for alienation
• Scripts
• Costumes
• Stages/sets

14
Group Exercise

• List 5 different roles you play in your everyday
  life.
• Pick one role, and describe scripts, costumes,
  stages/sets associated with it.
• Conflicts within the role? Conflicts between any
  of the 5 roles?
• Your relationship to the role how much role
  distance?
• Think of a recent incident what happened?

15
Nature of Self

• Do you agree with Goffmans assertion that
  there is no true self beneath our various roles
  and performances?
• Can you think of any social situations in
  which your true self is operating, without any
  role or performance overlaying it?