Communication Theories Khaled Aref Reza For Dr. Shujun

 Framework of sociological theory  Relies on the symbolic meaning that people develop and rely upon in the process of social interaction

 Philosophy professor at the University of Chicago  A book titled ‘Mind, Self and Society’ was published after his death in his name  He was the founder of the concept of this theory before it was named ‘Symbolic Interactionism’ by his student Herbert Blumer

 Humans act toward things on the basis of the meanings they ascribe to those things  The meaning of such things is derived from, or arises out of, the social interaction that one has with others and the society  These meanings are handled in, and modified through, an interpretative process used by the person in dealing with the things he/she encounters

“Communication is the most human and humanizing activity in which people are engaged.” -Herbert Blumer Underlying Principles: - Meaning, Language and Thought

Meaning: Assigned explanations and how to act toward it Language: The means by which Meaning is expressed Thought: Interpretation of meanings based on one’s thought process

Youth who are smokers!  They know that cigarettes kill  They know that it has ill effects  But they think of it as something cool  They think it projects them well to their peers And therefore: Meaning of Smoking > Facts about Smoking

 Self is a social emergent  Selves are the products of social interaction and not the logical or biological preconditions of an interaction  Capacity built through: – Language – Play – Game [ex. Roleplay]

 Mingling in a society or a community is absolutely key in the finding of one’s true self  It is only then that we can find a basis for our own improvement and self judgement, through the eyes of others. This is also known as the looking-glass self

 The human being must be understood as a social person  The human being must be understood as a thinking being  Humans do not sense their environment directly, instead, humans define the situation they are in

 The cause of human action is the result of what is occurring in our present situation  Human beings are described as active beings in relation to their environment

 Overly impressionistic in their research methods  Unsystematic in their theories  The theory is not one theory but it is also the framework for many different theories  May miss the larger issues of society by focusing too closely on the “trees” rather than the “forest”

Nell, 1994

Interact and socialize; you will see the world unfold before your eyes.

  M8IRZU  al-Theory/a/Symbolic-Interaction- Theory.htm  teractionism  /George-Herbert-Mead.htm