Symbolic Interaction Theory

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Texas State University - San Marcos | Symbolic Interaction Theory | Interpersonal Communication Studies 2315 | Antonial Barnes Ahmet Clayton Turhanoglu | | 4/19/2013 | | Symbolic Interaction Theory, founded by Max Weber and George Herbert Mead in the 1920’s, modified the way sociologist and human communication professors take a more subjective perspective upon society, the self, the communication process, and the use of symbols. George Herbert Mead, a professor at the University of Chicago, was the founder of this theory in the American perspective on sociology; which became the most popular interpretation of this theory. This theory was published by his student after his death in 1934. George Herbert Mead’s perspective on symbolic Interaction theory states: Symbolic Interaction Theory analyzes society by addressing the subjective meanings that people impose on objects, events, and behaviors. (www.about.com) These subjective meanings are a belief that the majority of people act on their cultural beliefs as opposed to the objective truths. This is imposing that culture facilitates or can generate society, depending on your subjective beliefs. Symbolic Interaction Theory, Symbolic Interactionism, explains that society functions and also adjusts through social interaction with others which also creates social norms and, to a huge extent, is a primary function for both the institution of religion and education. The institution of religion uses symbolic interactionism to teach morals and rituals to those currently participating in or those who wish to participate in that religious practice. In many religions usually there is a leader, or leaders, who make a hierarchy system in which he or she would preach to the mass or congregation about morals, truths, and rituals. Usually these religions involve some sort of sacred text or totem that people
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