Preview

Symbolic Interaction Theory Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
819 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Symbolic Interaction Theory Essay
Symbolic interaction theory is based on a person’s perspective of meaning he/she places on objects, ideas, and people. A symbolic interaction theory stems from a person’s culture. During this theory children especially learn the roles and behaviors of socialization. Children especially will seek out role models to help learn social behaviors. Symbolic interaction theory thinks that the role of having a role model is important, but the key idea for a symbolic theorist is the power of perspective. A person learns to be concerned or wonder how he/she is being perceived by other people. This is a time of reflection for most people to figure out how he/she is being perceived in the world and self-concepts are formed.
As an extension of
…show more content…
A feminist may view our society as being dominated by male power and not enough power is distributed to women in our society. The conflict theory is everywhere in our society. The maximum prison facilities started on the notion of conflict theorist ideas. There are the prisoners that have no power and the guard/ warren that control the facility. The conflict theory is still practiced in today’s world and it is easy to see throughout our society. Many military training camps are based on the conflict theory in order to be able to train new cadets. Being in the service and experiencing this first hand was a mental mind blowing experience. I walked in feeling like a million dollars and walked out feeling like a servant to my superiors.
The three different sociological theories are very different in their views on concepts. If the issue of women’s equal pay for the same job was up for debate based on the three sociological theorist there would be very contrasting views. The Conflict theorist would view this as a change in social pattern and try to fight against the issue. The Conflict theorist would try to maintain the same order that is it currently has over the women in society. There would need to be a division of power in order for the society to work

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Feminists believe that male dominance can lead the wife to feel less superior and under a lot of pressure to fulfil the role of a stereotypical and traditional wife. Due to changes in society, it is more acceptable now for the woman to work and women and men are now supposed to be equal in society. However, society has changed but the traditional role of a wife has not leading to the woman in the marriage to do the cooking, cleaning, childcare and work a full time job which leads to the breakdown of marriage because of the resentment felt towards their husband.…

    • 631 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Symbolic Interactionism is the analysis of an individual’s interaction while in another person’s presence (face-to-face) and the usage of symbols created in social life. With different groups of people fighting for equality in the most recent years same-sex couples have been fighting for the rights of being legally married to their partners.…

    • 408 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Best Essays

    Obesity in Scotland

    • 1412 Words
    • 6 Pages

    As a macro theory, Radical Feminist argued that being a woman is a positive thing but not approved in patriarchal society where women are oppressed. Women are seen as being exploited by men in a patriarchal society, so feminists argue that the solution to this is ought to be separatism. Patriarchy produces this gender conflict using the biological determinant (woman) as a social tool leading to the social construction of feminine roles.…

    • 1412 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    2. Social-Conflict Paradigm-The Conflict paradigm describes the inequalities that exist in all societies around the globe. Conflict is particularly interested in the inequalities that exist based on all of the various aspects of master status—race or ethnicity, sex or gender, age, religion, ability or disability, and socioeconomic status and is comprised of the combined effects of income, education, and occupation. The core question:…

    • 422 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The social-conflict theory claims that society is in a state of perpetual conflict and competition for limited resources, which has led to different social classes in society. Conflict theories stress on social, political and material inequality of social groups, which is the opposite of the functional approach which stresses solidarity and stability in society. The conflict theory impacts the family institution, as families are not as stable due to constant conflict from limited resources, power and difference in interests.…

    • 382 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    This view is held by Radical feminists, they believe that patriarchy is society is the reason that women are oppressed and exploited by men, and Marxists for example hold the view that the capitalist system is the reason for the gender inequality. Feminists believe that women are unequal to men, and as a result society benefits men whilst exploiting men. Feminist investigate the effects that this inequality has on women’s power, status, roles and life chances. They believe that gender inequality is socially constructed an example is gender roles; these are taught to children at very young ages and encourage these gender inequalities to become part of society’s norms. The different type of feminists believe different reasons for gender inequality, there are liberal, radical Marxist and postmodern feminists, radical are arguably the most extreme and controversial feminist group.…

    • 1208 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Feminist sociologists believe that society is patriarchial – which means that a system of society or government is controlled purely by male figures. Feminist sociologist try to get women more involved in the community and try to enforce gender equality or even make the females more superior to men. Feminists believe there are several differences in society between men and women who they would like to make equal. One of these differences is – Gender oppression. Gender oppression is a theory that women are actively oppressed and even abused by men. They believe that power is a key part that can be changed in the two main theories of gender oppression.…

    • 601 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Feminism is a conflict theory and views society as being patriarchal. They believe that functional parts of society such as, education, family and religion are used as tools of women subordination. However, there are 3 types of feminists that have different conflicting views on this, often resulting in the weakening of the overall arguments of feminism.…

    • 697 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Feminists agree with the claim that society discriminates people more than it brings people together because of Patriarchy, which is a male dominated society that discriminates against women. Feminists as the conflict theory agree that society does that in any way work together because of male dominance in our society. Socialisation teaches us that women are inferior in society.…

    • 596 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sociology

    • 560 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Symbolic interactionism focuses on communication and meaning. According to symbolic interactionsim, how is a meaningful reality created? Symbolic interactionism illustrates that interacting with others and meaning behind words and gestures is what creates society in the first place. From this perspective people act toward things based on the meanings those things have for them. These meanings are derived from social interaction and modified through interpretation. Symbolic interactionism sees face to face interaction as the building blocks of everything else in society. Without interactions we could not construct a meaningful reality within society.…

    • 560 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Feminism examines society particularly from the viewpoint of women, and argues that mainstream sociology has been focused on the concerns of men, and failed to consider the unequal position of women. It is a conflict theory, and the basic assumption is that women suffer certain injustices on account of their sex.…

    • 648 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Symbolic Interactionsim

    • 1471 Words
    • 5 Pages

    When George Mead invented the Symbolic Interactionism Theory, he coined it with three specific that made up “the core” of what Symbolic Interactionism was: Meaning, Language, and Thought. Professor Duncan, who is an author of a book called Symbols and Social Theory acknowledges Mead as probably doing the “best job at explaining social as an action”. Duncan also goes to say that because of the issue of environment and the ways in which actions and events happen, it is also worthy of considering for an arguable spot in the form of Symbolic Interactionism.…

    • 1471 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    House MD: Meaning

    • 1308 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Theories are tools used to explain and predict different circumstances. Symbolic interactionism is a theory that people use to explain and predict. Using this theory, the clip House MD: Meaning can analyzed. However, it is important to note that theories do have weaknesses as well as strengths.…

    • 1308 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    If I was a sociologist I would prefer to use the symbolic interactionism perspective. Symbolic Interactionism is a psychological theory that attempts to explain how individuals choose how they act based on their perceptions of themselves and of others. Every time we speak to someone, look at them this is symbolic interaction. symbols are the key to how we view the world and communicate with others and build relationship. These day the use of symbols is very important where us as a people we define each other by the incorporation of symbols.…

    • 194 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gender Wage Gap

    • 439 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The feminist theory emphasizes equality between men and women and wants to see women’s lives and experiences represented in sociological studies. (29, Conley). The conflict theory states the idea that conflict between competing interests is the basic, animating force of social change and society in general. (28, Conley). The feminist and conflict theory apply to the gender wage gap by the feminist stating that men and women should have equal rights. Therefore women think they should make the same amount as men do. However, the conflict comes when the traditional role of women as homemakers left them under paid and requiring a spouse to strive. Even in the United States an average women make less than men. Conflict also happens when women who are more educated are unwilling to accept the dominance of men and they strive for more power. (Tonella)…

    • 439 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays