Ch.6 Symbolic Interactionism

1
Ch.6 Symbolic Interactionism

• Principles
• Conceptions of the self
• Labeling Theory
• Primary Secondary Deviance
• Neutralizing Deviant identities
• Master Status
• Social Policy Implications

2
S.I. Principles

• Microsocial society is the sum of interactions
• Symbols are used to construct social world
• People define redefine reality

3
Conceptions of the Self

• George Herbert Mead
• Sense of self comes through social experience
• I me

4
Stages of Personality Development

• Me develops over 3 stages
• 1. Preparatory imitation
• 2. Play Stage role playing
• 3. Game Stage understanding context
• The Generalized Other

5
Cooley the looking-glass self

• We imagine how we appear to others
• We imagine how others respond to us
• We form a self-concept based on these
  interpretations

6
Labelling Theory

• Powerful apply labels to less powerful
• Every generation labels behavior differently
  (Tannenbaums Dramatization of Evil)
• Labels are often difficult to remove

7
Primary Secondary Deviance

• Primary concealed private
• Secondary out of the closet

8
Sykes Matza Techniques to Neutralize Deviance

• Deny personal responsibility
• Deny injury
• Blame the victim
• Condemn the condemner
• Appeal to a higher loyalty

9
Howard Becker

• The career model of deviance
• Master Status

10
Social Policy

• Decriminalization addresses the problem of
  stigma
• Re-integrative Shaming