Symbolic Interactionism: How Reality is Created Symbolic interactionism emphasizes the micro-processes through which people construct meanings, identities, and joint acts. In doing so it accentuates how symbols, interaction, and human agency serve as the cornerstones of social life. Is a theorical approach to understanding the relationship between humans and Society. The basic notion of symbolic interactionism is that human action and interaction are understandable only through the exchange of meaningful communication or symbols. In this approach, humans are portrayed as acting as opposed to being acted upon.
The cultural aspect of the sociological imagination involves the “learned ideas, values, knowledge, rules and customs shared by members of a collectivity” (Holmes et al, 2003, pg 11). Culture in the sociological imagination allows the comprehension of why people hold certain ideas and values, and follows certain rules and customs. The critical aspect of the sociological imagination stipulates the initiative to analyze. Although it is, by human nature, to assume the meaning of actions carried out by people, C. Wright Mills claims that assumptions are not enough. Through assumptions, many things are taken for granted and the true meaning is not revealed.
Social Action Theories Micro Theories Anti-positivist This approach rejects the idea that social behaviour is constrained or a product of external forces over which they have no control. People are not puppets of society. Social action theorists argue that the attitudes and actions of others influence the way people think and behave. Society is a product of people interacting in social groups and making sense of their behaviour. They suggest norms and values are flexible guidelines.
Process theory holds that if an outcome is to be duplicated, so too must the process which originally created it, and that there are certain constant necessary conditions for the outcome to be reached. When the phrase is used in connection with human motivation, process theory attempts to explain the mechanism by which human needs changes. Some of the theories that fall in this category are expectancy theory, equity theory, and goal setting[1] In management research, process theory provides an explanation for 'how' something happens and a variance theory explains 'why'. [2] Some theorists claim that all natural processes have complex phases in which the output state of the process is not determined by the input states of the processes. The condition is defined by Robert Rosen as being "complex".
Mill believes customs hinder individual liberty. He thinks customs are not conductive to good moral development, individual creativity, or decision-making skills. Mill clearly states “to conform to custom…does not educate or develop in him any of the qualities…of a distinct…human being” (pg. 60). Words like “distinct” help us understand what Mill is trying to get at.
His field theory states that "one’s behavior is related both to one’s personal characteristics and to the social situation in which one finds oneself." LEWIN"S CHANGE THEORY His most influencial theory was his model of the change process in human systems. Kurt Lewin theorized a three-stage model of change that is known as the unfreezing-change-refreeze model that requires prior learning to be rejected and replaced. Lewin's theory states behavior as "a dynamic balance of forces working in opposing directions. " CONCEPTS Driving forces Driving forces are forces that push in a direction that causes change to occur.
ATTRIBUTION THEORY: “Attribution theory deals with how the social perceiver uses information to arrive at causal explanations for events. It examines what information is gathered and how it is combined to form a causal judgment” (Fiske & Taylor, 1991) In simpler words, it means how and why ordinary people explain events like they do. Heider (1858) believed that people are pretty much naïve psychologists who are trying to make sense of the world. People have a habit of seeing cause and effect even when there is none. By cause he means WHY something happens and by effect he means WHAT happens.
These descriptive believe and meanings are nothing but interpretations given by the people thus the theory suggest that society is based on the interpretations of the people. The people interpret each other’s behavior and a social bond is thus created which is grounded on this interpretation. These interpretations are often called “definition of the situation” because they just define the situations. This theory says how humans develop a complex set of symbols that gives meaning to the world in their perspective. The
A term he coined to describe phenomena that have an existence in and of themselves, are not bound to the actions of individuals, but have a coercive influence upon them. Durkheim stated that “collective conscience governs what it is that we believe and the values and principles we have”. Collective conscience comes about because of our capacity to be moral, (ability to do what is right) and to look beyond our own selfish needs. As a group of people, we had recognized that we depend on society and that we need to maintain social order. This recognition promotes unity and consensus; it is done through institutions, such as religion and the education system.
Structural functionalism is a theory that is used to describe a society that functions on a few key assumptions. First, society is constructed by interdependent system of parts. Second, no part can be understood individually, that is to say that the system as a whole cannot be understood if one part is missing. Third, social order between individuals and organizations of society has to share norms and values in order for society to function properly. Fourth, social change does not occur rapidly, instead it is a regulated process which ensures that citizens and organizations adapt to social change properly.