The Influence Of Symbolic Interactionism And The Social...

In his book ‘The Presentation of self in everyday life’, Erving Goffman states â€Å"We are all just actors trying to control and manage our public image, we act based on how others might see us.† This is a pinnacle viewpoint of the sociological theory Symbolical Interactionism which is â€Å"a study of human group life and conduct which holds meaning central to human behaviour† (Blumer, 1992; Ray, L 2017: npg). This essay will critically evaluate this statement and its sociological significance. In order to critically evaluate this, the essay will break down the quote into two parts. This first half of this essay will explore one of the main ideas presented in Goffman’s above statement: the notion of dramaturgical metaphor. The second part will†¦show more content†¦These meanings only arise from interactions with other individuals and with society, and are sustained and recreated through this same process of interaction (Blumer, 1969 cite d in Carter and Fuller, 2015) Goffman is argued to be the most influential micro-sociologist during the 1960s and 1970s (Gale, 2008: npg). He operated against grand theories and their followers such as Parsononian theory which dominated sociology at that time. Social interactionism is said to have opened the box of Parsons’ concept of latency – the taken for granted ways we conduct social life – and explore it in more detail. Through micro-sociological analysis and focus on unconventional subject matters, Goffman pursued to provide a more refined account of how social roles are acquired and enacted (Ray, 2017: npg). He not only examined the intricate nature of individual identity. But he also observed interactions within a group, the effects of one’s surroundings, and the movement and interactive meaning of information. Thus, echoing Blumer’s basic tenets of symbolic interactionism state. According to Barnhart, (1994: npg) Goffman’s â€Å"perspective though limited in sc ope, provides new insight into the nature of social interaction and the psychology of the individual.† Furthermore, by moving away from the structures of systematic theories, whereShow MoreRelatedSymbolic Interactionism: Studies of Social Construction4480 Words   |  18 PagesSymbolic Interactionism: Studies of Social Construction Hundreds of years before written word, theories have been made about words, the symbolism behind them, and root meanings assigned by social construction. William Shakespeare can be shown as example of this with posed questions by characters in his writings. 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