Sociology 230 Midterm Exam - Symbolic Interactionism and Self

This document presents a comprehensive response to a sociology midterm exam, addressing two key questions. The first question explores the symbolic interactionist perspective, emphasizing how humans construct meaning through symbols. It provides a detailed explanation of the process and illustrates it with a unique example, discussing the key features of meaning as a socially created phenomenon. The second question delves into George Herbert Mead's theory of self, examining how individuals imagine themselves through the eyes of others to achieve shared meaning and behavioral alignment. It explains the process of self, including the concepts of 'I' and 'Me', and provides an original example to illustrate the concepts. The essay incorporates relevant sociological concepts, including the impact of race and gender, and references the work of Mead and other theorists to provide a well-supported analysis of the topics.

Running head: SOCIOLOGY
Sociology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Question One
Symbolic interactionism theory is one of the very important theories for the development
of the subjective meanings regarding development of human beings. There are various
dispositions that are attached to this theory. This framework has been used in the sociological
concepts and theorists believe that social interaction can be one of the most crucial processes that
will ultimately lead to the overall development of the people (Sandstrom, 2014). The viewpoints
of Max Weber will also be discussed in this paper. The phenomenon created by the society in
accordance with the symbolic interactionsim will also be discussed in this context as well.
According to the theorists, symbolic interactionism comes under the sociological
concepts. It has been claimed by them that human beings will go on to act according to the ways
they will interpret their world. Their behaviors will also depend on these interactions and
interpretations. This perspective of sociology had already been introduced in the American
sociology by the sociologist named George Herbert Mead.
Through this process, objects are entitled to the various objects and events. Various
behaviors of the human beings will also depend on the subjective meanings that will be imposed
on these subjects precisely (Sandstrom, 2014). The subjective meanings are of primary
importance since people behave on the things or knowledge they have about some events or
objects. Their behavior is not limited within the objective truths of various events. The structure
of the society is made through the various interpretations of human beings.
These interpretations are based on various symbols within the society. Critics believe that
human beings will look to behave based on the things they see and believe. These symbols that
they witness are mostly subjective (Sandstrom, 2014). People tend to think about the behaviors

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of each other and this forms the basis for the social bonding. The situations are different at
several times but their interpretation of the scenario completely depends on their ways of
interpretation.
The social experiences and identities of the human beings generally depend on issues like
race and gender. The differences between these perspectives must be interpreted by all the
human beings. These factors could definitely be understood through the symbolic interactionism
perspectives (Sandstrom, 2014). People look to judge the people based on what they look like.
Therefore, it is completely a matter of function based identity and this does not have any kind of
biological basis. The meanings of gender and race are completely based on the social
construction. This works as the very basis for the human beings to make the decision with whom
they will interact. This is completely dependent on the racial group or gender of the concerned
person. The truth about the people is sometimes believed through their identity or appearance.
One example can be given in this scenario i.e. about smoking. The habit of smoking is
objectively wrong for the health. This affects the health system (Sandstrom, 2014). On the other
hand, young people believe smoking to be very cool habit. This coolness is derived from the
interpretation of the young people and this is completely their opinion.
This interpretive meaning of smoking is the outcome of its symbolic meaning and it has
overshadowed the actual meaning of smoking regarding various health risks. The symbolic
interactionists believe this is completely a phenomenon that has been created through the
symbols present in the society. The key features of this meaning are the things that people
witness in front of them (Sandstrom, 2014). They do not want to go deeper to discover the actual
meanings of the events. These meanings are generally interpreted by sociological theorists and
common people tend to ignore all these meanings. It is indeed very important to discover the

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actual meanings of the events or objects. The symbols are to be interpreted properly by
comparing and contrasting with the actual meanings.
The behaviors and actions of the people are reflects the social constructs that have been
interpreted by the common people. People do not think about the actual ethnic contexts of people
but only judge the capabilities of the people based on their skin color. This often happens with
the black skinned African Americans and people from Latin America (Sandstrom, 2014). This
color politics is done because of the beliefs of the common people who think black colored
people do not belong to the civilized society. The symbolic interpretations between men and
women have also existed in this scenario because people do not believe in the objective truth. All
the actions by the common people are based on their beliefs. The pay inequality between men
and women is also a matter of symbolic interactionism that has been socially constructed
(Sandstrom, 2014). All these factors are notable for construction of the society. The symbolic
factors regarding man and woman are completely symbolic perspectives.
In the conclusion of this question, it must be mentioned that the symbolic interactionism
occupies the central space in the sociological perspectives. The beliefs of the human beings are
socially constructed and it should gain an insight through the objective truths. The sociological
perspectives should be understood from both the points indeed. Human beings must not only
depend on the things they see but they should go down deeper to find out the important
perspectives of the objective truths that are inherent within the society. The meanings through
symbols sometimes are not that much effective in dealing with issues.

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Question Two
The imagining of self is a very essential factor for the understanding of the human beings.
It has been argued and explained by George Herbert Mead that human beings generally see
themselves through the eyes of other people. This prevents them from understanding the self
reality. This is why Mead has also asserted on the fact that human beings are merely conformists.
This psychology of the human beings is somewhat important from various points of views. Still,
it is equally significant for all the human beings to understand themselves first (Sandstrom,
2014). All these issues will be discussed in this paper since various sociological concepts of
Mead will be evaluated here.
The social identity of self by George Herbert Mead has been studies across various
people at different times. This issue has been widely criticized and talked about because of its
relevance in the modern society. The concept of ‘me’ and ‘not-me’ has been kept under the lens
and the dichotomy attached to it is very rigid indeed. The difference between the private and the
public has also been discussed in the descriptions by Mead. George Herbert Mead was a famous
sociologist who lived in the 1800s. This theory of social self has been attributed to find out the
actual descriptions on the self (Sandstrom, 2014). He has argued on the fact that perspectives
from one’s self will emerge from the interactions within the society. The process of interaction
with others will lead a person understand himself or herself in a better manner. It will also
depend on the process of observing a person.
Sociological critics are of the opinion that social interaction is the firm basis for all the
human beings to engage with one another. This is how a person will observe a trait among others
and highlight these traits. Most people are not able to understand the dominating traits in their
characters until someone highlight it to them (Sandstrom, 2014). Therefore, they will learn the

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process of identifying everything about the self- both their strengths and weaknesses. This
process is highly needed for every person since they must form an idea about their capabilities
within the society and how much they can contribute for the society and develop it properly.
When a person highlights some features or traits, it is only then that the person on the other side
must response proactively (Sandstrom, 2014). If he makes the response properly, this will signify
they have understood their ‘self’. This aspect of ‘self’ is highly important because most
psychologists were of the opinion that this idea of self was based on the biological concepts
indeed.
In the views of Mead, it can be said that the development of self can be made by the use
of language properly. The other activities that are needed for the development of self are games
and play. All these aspects are major contributors for self-development. If human beings
understand their capabilities through the eyes of others, it will not at all be effective enough. That
particular person will not always be with the concerned person so he can point out all the
strengths and weaknesses of that person. The concepts of ‘self’, ‘I’ and ‘Me’ are interconnected
with each other to establish the proper meaning of the self (Sandstrom, 2014). Mead here argues
over the issue that the concept of ‘self’ does not exist from the birth of a person. Rather it is
developed through the social surroundings and mixing up with all people. The perspective of the
‘looking glass self’ has also been attributed regarding self.
In the criticism of Mead’s works, it has often been said that Mead was not able to
describe upon the comprehensive thought of the self. Mead has very effectively discussed on the
roles that empathy play in the overall development of the common people. From his viewpoint, it
can be said that ‘self’ is also a very crucial instrument because it is a social emergent
(Sandstrom, 2014). The social theory of self according to Mead is based upon the individualistic

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theoretical beliefs of the self. He also asserts his viewpoint through the observation that the
human beings will be processed through the act of social interaction. Definitely, these social
interactions are quite essential for the observation of human beings in the particular way. The
society model that Mead followed was completely an organic model. Therefore, a person will
gather better experiences after he or she will mix with various persons. Apart from that, some
critics have also claimed Mead to be a conformist. Still, Mead’s ideas are basically his own and
he has worked on from his experiences from the human experiences several times (Sandstrom,
2014). Though his ideas are somewhat similar to that of ‘censor’ by Freud, but his approach on
the perspective on ‘self’ is very unique in nature. The social interactions between different
people have played a huge role in this context.
In the concluding section, it can be said that the arguments of Mead are quite essential for
the understanding of common people. Mead emphasized that people will not be able to
understand their real self until they came in social contact with others. This social contact would
completely enable them to know about their capacities, strengths and weaknesses. The concepts
of the individual self will definitely make up for the social identity of self. These attributes of the
human beings will work for their overall social identities and help them to recognize their self.

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References
Sandstrom, K. (2014). Symbols, selves, and social reality (4th ed.). Oxford [ etc.]: Oxford
University Press.