Wood Chapter 5 1 Wood Chapter 5 Lecture Theories About Symbolic Activity

Wood Chapter 5Wood Chapter 5 11

Wood Chapter 5 Lecture Wood Chapter 5 Lecture Theories About Symbolic Theories About Symbolic

ActivityActivity

22Wood Chapter 5Wood Chapter 5

Symbolic InteractionismSymbolic Interactionism

Mead regarded symbols as the foundation Mead regarded symbols as the foundation of both personal and social life (symbolic of both personal and social life (symbolic interactionism).interactionism).


Mind and self are acquired in the process Mind and self are acquired in the process of interacting with others.of interacting with others.

Mind is the ability to use symbols that Mind is the ability to use symbols that have common social meanings.have common social meanings.


SelfSelf

Self is the ability to reflect on ourselves Self is the ability to reflect on ourselves from the perspective of others.from the perspective of others.Looking glass self. Looking glass self. Symbolic interactionists explain that we Symbolic interactionists explain that we learn to see ourselves mirrored in others' learn to see ourselves mirrored in others' eyes. eyes. Our perception of how others see us are Our perception of how others see us are lenses through which we perceive lenses through which we perceive ourselves.ourselves.


Self-fulfilling prophecySelf-fulfilling prophecy

is when individuals live up to the labels is when individuals live up to the labels others impose on them. others impose on them.


Humans have the distinctive ability to be both the Humans have the distinctive ability to be both the

subjects and the objects of their experiencesubjects and the objects of their experience. .

I is impulsive, creative, spontaneous, and I is impulsive, creative, spontaneous, and generally unburdened by social generally unburdened by social individuality and of criminal and immoral individuality and of criminal and immoral behavior.behavior.

ME is the socially conscious part of the ME is the socially conscious part of the self, who reflects on the I's impulses and self, who reflects on the I's impulses and actions.actions.


Talk about it: Can you name examples Talk about it: Can you name examples of both your “I” and your “me”?of both your “I” and your “me”?

I is impulsive, creative, spontaneous, and I is impulsive, creative, spontaneous, and generally unburdened by social generally unburdened by social individuality and of criminal and immoral individuality and of criminal and immoral behavior.behavior.

ME is the socially conscious part of the ME is the socially conscious part of the self, who reflects on the I's impulses and self, who reflects on the I's impulses and actions.actions.


The ME is analytical, evaluative, and above all The ME is analytical, evaluative, and above all aware of social conventions, rules, and aware of social conventions, rules, and expectations.expectations.Mead saw the I and the ME as complementary.Mead saw the I and the ME as complementary.

Symbolic interactionists claim that our meanings Symbolic interactionists claim that our meanings for things for things reflect the perspectivesreflect the perspectives of both of both particular others and the generalized other. particular others and the generalized other. Individuals also use the perspective of the Individuals also use the perspective of the generalized other to decide what things mean.generalized other to decide what things mean.


HOW PEOPLE CREATE HOW PEOPLE CREATE MEANINGMEANING

People act on the basis of what things People act on the basis of what things mean to them. mean to them.

Thus, meanings are the basis of behavior, Thus, meanings are the basis of behavior, including communication.including communication.

Symbolic interactionist claim that Symbolic interactionist claim that meanings are formed in the process of meanings are formed in the process of interacting symbolically with others in a interacting symbolically with others in a society. society.


Symbolic interactionists believe that the Symbolic interactionists believe that the meanings individuals confer on meanings individuals confer on experiences, feelings, events, activities, experiences, feelings, events, activities, other people, and themselvesother people, and themselves reflect the reflect the internalized perspectives of particular internalized perspectives of particular others and the generalized other.others and the generalized other.


Symbolic interactionists believe that Symbolic interactionists believe that people act on the basis of what things people act on the basis of what things mean to them AND that meanings are mean to them AND that meanings are formed in the process of interacting formed in the process of interacting symbolically with others in a society.symbolically with others in a society.

Blumer insists that individuals construct Blumer insists that individuals construct their action through a process of personal their action through a process of personal interpretation.interpretation.


DRAMATISM - BurkeDRAMATISM - Burke

Life is a drama, which involves conflict and Life is a drama, which involves conflict and division that threatens some existing form division that threatens some existing form of order.of order.


IDENTIFICATIONIDENTIFICATION

All things have substance, which is the All things have substance, which is the general nature or essence of a thing.general nature or essence of a thing.

Consubstantiality is identification or Consubstantiality is identification or empathy with each other. empathy with each other.

We can understand one another only We can understand one another only because there is some overlap in because there is some overlap in individuals' substances (experiences, individuals' substances (experiences, language, goals). language, goals).


CommunicationCommunication

Communication can't be perfect, because Communication can't be perfect, because there are also differences and divisions there are also differences and divisions that keep individuals from being that keep individuals from being completely consubstantial (empathetic).completely consubstantial (empathetic).

Communication is the primary way that we Communication is the primary way that we increase our identification, or increase our identification, or consubstantiality, with others and diminish consubstantiality, with others and diminish our division, or separateness, from others.our division, or separateness, from others.


GUILTGUILT

Guilt is the central motive for human Guilt is the central motive for human action, specifically communication.action, specifically communication.Any tension, discomfort, sense of shame, Any tension, discomfort, sense of shame, or other unpleasant feeling that humans or other unpleasant feeling that humans experience is guilt. experience is guilt. In Burke's judgment, we continuously feel In Burke's judgment, we continuously feel guilt and are continually attempting to guilt and are continually attempting to purge ourselves of the discomfort it purge ourselves of the discomfort it causes.causes.


HIERARCHYHIERARCHY

Language allows us to create categories Language allows us to create categories and evaluations that are the basis of social and evaluations that are the basis of social hierarchies, such as socioeconomic hierarchies, such as socioeconomic classes, title in organizations, and degrees classes, title in organizations, and degrees of status and power. of status and power.


PERFECTIONPERFECTION

Our symbols allow us to conceive and Our symbols allow us to conceive and name perfect forms or name perfect forms or idealsideals that are at that are at the top of the hierarchy: the top of the hierarchy:

A flawless relationship, a completely A flawless relationship, a completely egalitarian society, your ideal weight, a egalitarian society, your ideal weight, a perfect LSAT score, a world free of war. perfect LSAT score, a world free of war.


THE NEGATIVETHE NEGATIVE

The moral capacity to say "no," "not," and The moral capacity to say "no," "not," and "thou shalt not." Moral judgments."thou shalt not." Moral judgments.


GuiltGuilt

arises because of the gap between what is arises because of the gap between what is in the case (personal shortcomings, in the case (personal shortcomings, imperfections in relationships, social imperfections in relationships, social inequities) and the perfection that we can inequities) and the perfection that we can imagine. imagine.


PURGING GUILTPURGING GUILT

Purging guilt becomes the principal goal of Purging guilt becomes the principal goal of communication.communication.First, we may engage in mortification, which is First, we may engage in mortification, which is blaming ourselves.blaming ourselves.Victimage is identifying an external source for Victimage is identifying an external source for some apparent failing or sin. some apparent failing or sin. Victimage often takes the form of scapegoating, Victimage often takes the form of scapegoating, the placing of sins into a sacrificial vessel whose the placing of sins into a sacrificial vessel whose destruction serves to cleanse an individual or destruction serves to cleanse an individual or group of sin.group of sin.


Talk about itTalk about it

What do you think is the connection What do you think is the connection between guilt and communication?between guilt and communication?


THE DRAMATISTIC PENTAD THE DRAMATISTIC PENTAD (HEXAD)(HEXAD)

ACT is what is done by a person. ACT is what is done by a person. SCENE is the context. SCENE is the context. AGENT is the individual or group that performs AGENT is the individual or group that performs an act. an act. AGENCY is the means an agent uses to AGENCY is the means an agent uses to accomplish an act (channel). accomplish an act (channel). PURPOSE is the goal of the act. PURPOSE is the goal of the act. ATTITUDE is how an actor positions herself or ATTITUDE is how an actor positions herself or himself relative to others and the contexts in himself relative to others and the contexts in which she or he operates. Added later, thus the which she or he operates. Added later, thus the hexad. hexad.


RATIORATIO

RATIO is a proportion that shows the RATIO is a proportion that shows the emphasis of an element in the pentad.emphasis of an element in the pentad.


NARRATIVE THEORYNARRATIVE THEORY Walter Walter

FisherFisher"Humans are by nature storytelling beings and "Humans are by nature storytelling beings and that the narrative capacity is what is most basic that the narrative capacity is what is most basic and most distinctive about humans. According and most distinctive about humans. According to Fisher, humans are storytelling animals. to Fisher, humans are storytelling animals. Fisher (1987) believed that we make sense of Fisher (1987) believed that we make sense of our experiences in life by transforming them into our experiences in life by transforming them into stories, or narrative form. . . . Storytelling, in stories, or narrative form. . . . Storytelling, in other words, is an ongoing human activity, one other words, is an ongoing human activity, one as natural and nearly as continuous breathing" as natural and nearly as continuous breathing" (Wood, 2004, p. 105).(Wood, 2004, p. 105).


Tell us a storyTell us a story

What does the story tell about the story-What does the story tell about the story-teller?teller?


"Humans are wonderfully creative and "Humans are wonderfully creative and imaginative beings. . . .We are able to imaginative beings. . . .We are able to invent and accept new stories when they invent and accept new stories when they better explain our lives or offer better better explain our lives or offer better directions for future living than the stories directions for future living than the stories we have grown up hearing and believing" we have grown up hearing and believing" (p. 113). (p. 113).


Assumptions of the Narrative Paradigm Assumptions of the Narrative Paradigm Do you agree or disagree?Do you agree or disagree?

People are basically storytelling beings. People are basically storytelling beings. We make decisions and form beliefs on the basis of We make decisions and form beliefs on the basis of good reasons. good reasons. What we consider good reasons depends on history, What we consider good reasons depends on history, culture, personal character, and biography. culture, personal character, and biography. Narrative rationality is evaluated by the coherence and Narrative rationality is evaluated by the coherence and fidelity of stories. fidelity of stories. Life is a set of stories, in choosing to accept some Life is a set of stories, in choosing to accept some stories and to reject others, we continuously re-create stories and to reject others, we continuously re-create our lives and ourselves. our lives and ourselves.


Or is this more like what you think? Or is this more like what you think? Assumptions of the Rational World Assumptions of the Rational World

ParadigmParadigmPeople are basically rational beings. People are basically rational beings.

We make decisions and form beliefs on the We make decisions and form beliefs on the basis of arguments. basis of arguments.

Arguments are determined by the nature of Arguments are determined by the nature of specific speaking situations. specific speaking situations.

Rationality is evaluated by the quality of Rationality is evaluated by the quality of knowledge and reasoning. knowledge and reasoning.

Life consists of logical relationships that can be Life consists of logical relationships that can be discovered through rational logic and reasoning. discovered through rational logic and reasoning.


NARRATIVE RATIONALITYNARRATIVE RATIONALITY

Not all stories are equally compelling. We Not all stories are equally compelling. We judge stories on the basis of a distinctively judge stories on the basis of a distinctively narrative form of rationality, thought to be narrative form of rationality, thought to be quite different from conventional criteria of quite different from conventional criteria of rationality. rationality.


NARRATIVE RATIONALITYNARRATIVE RATIONALITY

The two standards for assessing narrative The two standards for assessing narrative rationality are coherence and fidelity.rationality are coherence and fidelity.

COHERENCE: Do all parts of the story COHERENCE: Do all parts of the story seem to fit together as believable?seem to fit together as believable?

FIDELITY: The extent to which a story FIDELITY: The extent to which a story resonates with listeners' personal resonates with listeners' personal experiences and beliefs.experiences and beliefs.


Talk about itTalk about it

"Most of the major advances in social life "Most of the major advances in social life have come about because people told have come about because people told new stories that contested popular views new stories that contested popular views and established ideas about life" (Wood, and established ideas about life" (Wood, 2004, p. 113).2004, p. 113).

What do you think?!?!What do you think?!?!


Case 5 Thought and ReflectionCase 5 Thought and Reflection

How does Reece’s intrapersonal How does Reece’s intrapersonal communication about her weight affect her communication about her weight affect her self-esteem? What messages does she self-esteem? What messages does she send herself repeatedly that affect her self-send herself repeatedly that affect her self-esteem? Where do these messages come esteem? Where do these messages come from? from?


How does your communication with How does your communication with yourself and with others affect your yourself and with others affect your identity? What role does communication identity? What role does communication play in shaping your identity? play in shaping your identity?


Not all people feel the same pressure to Not all people feel the same pressure to be thin. How much pressure do you and be thin. How much pressure do you and your friends feel to be thin? Do you hear your friends feel to be thin? Do you hear people talking about wanting to be thin people talking about wanting to be thin and measuring themselves against and measuring themselves against impossible standards? What might impossible standards? What might account for some people feeling an account for some people feeling an intense amount of pressure and others not intense amount of pressure and others not feeling any pressure? feeling any pressure?


In this case, Reece strongly wants to lose In this case, Reece strongly wants to lose weight and expresses her willingness to weight and expresses her willingness to "do whatever it takes" to be thin. Do you "do whatever it takes" to be thin. Do you think her desire and her behavior are think her desire and her behavior are unhealthy? Does her friend Emma have a unhealthy? Does her friend Emma have a responsibility to say something to Reece responsibility to say something to Reece about her behavior? What do you thinkabout her behavior? What do you think


Emma should do to keep her friend from Emma should do to keep her friend from hurting herself? hurting herself?


What racial/ethnic differences in views What racial/ethnic differences in views toward weight can you see? toward weight can you see?

What might explain the racial/ethnic What might explain the racial/ethnic differences in views toward weight?differences in views toward weight?


Wood, J. T. (2004). Wood, J. T. (2004). Communication Communication theories in action: An introduction. theories in action: An introduction. Belmont, CA: Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.Wadsworth.

Braithewaite, D. O., & Wood, J. T. (2000). Braithewaite, D. O., & Wood, J. T. (2000). Case studies in interpersonal Case studies in interpersonal communication processes and problems.communication processes and problems. Belmont, CA: Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.Wadsworth.

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Wood Chapter 5 1 Wood Chapter 5 Lecture Theories About Symbolic Activity