Throughout our interaction, we have used symbols in order to communicate with other people. Humans act based on symbolic meanings they find within any given situation. We interact with the symbols, forming relationships. The goals of our interactions with one another are to create shared meaning. Language itself is a symbolic form used to anchor meanings to the symbols. We try to interpret these symbols based on a theory. This theory is called Symbolic Interactionism.
Symbolic Interaction was a theory by George Herbert Mead, and later written by his student named Herbert Blumer. With symbolic interactionalism, you look at things, interpret what they mean, and then determine the effects they have. There are many non verbal cues both good and bad that people exchange and there are also facial expressions in reaction to an event or statement that a symbolic interactionalist would look at.
According to this theory, humans are very different from the lower animals. Humans have the ability to distinguish between a set of situations and respond differently depending on the surroundings, where lower animals voluntarily respond to the environment without any interruptions. The meanings assigned to things can be changed recurrently by the creative capabilities of humans which can influence the society. The theory says that the humans ascribe meanings to only defined objects. This theory focuses on the level referring to the ability of humans to think about others’ opinion of them and, evaluate their own conduct by comparing themselves with others.
As i read the theory, it allowed me to glimpse into realizing that you could learn a lot about someone by just watching him or her. Their behavior is highly representative of the person they are; yet we cannot assume what specific reactions imply. Through the use of imagination, any individual can be able to gain a deeper understanding of behavior and how it is influenced by the surroundings or environment.
In studying symbolic interactionism and its emphasis on the topics of society, psychology and culture within our everyday lives, one can have a greater understanding of Mead’s intentions
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