Symbolic Interactionism George Herbert Mead

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INTRODUCTION Symbolic interactionism is a micro-level theoretical framework and perspective in sociology. It addresses how society is created and maintained through repeated interactions among individuals. The perspective emerged in the mid-twentieth century from a variety of influences, including the Scottish Moralist and American Pragmatist philosophers – its greatest influence being American philosopher George Herbert Mead and his theories about the relationship between self and society. George Herbert mead was born on February 21, 1863 in South Hadley, Massachusetts and he died on April 26, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois. He was an influential philosophy professor in University in Chicago but never published his ideas. So, after he died, his students publish his teaching in mind, self and society. BODY According to George Herbert mead, symbolic interactionism is a theory that …show more content…

Those meanings are the product of social interaction between people -- they are social and cultural constructs. Culture is one of the most important concepts within sociology because sociologists recognize that it plays a crucial role in shaping social relationships, maintaining and challenging social order, determining how we make sense of the world and our place in it, and in shaping our everyday actions and experiences in society. Culture also is learned from generation to generation so, practically there is symbolic interaction going on. For example, every race in Malaysia such as Malay, Chinese and Indian have their own way of taking care women who are pregnant, or we call it ‘adat berpantang’. In the tradition, the one who taking care of the women are midwives who experienced and have the knowledge of it. Some of them are even their own mother in which the knowledge is passed down through their ancestors. Just like the regular lessons in schools, there must be interaction between teachers and

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