Symbolic Interactionism In Australia

Symbolic interactionalism theory perspective of binge drinking in Australia

This essay will discuss the social problem of binge drinking in Australia and will argue that the symbolic interactionalism theory can be used to explain the impact that Australia’s drinking culture has on the individual’s choice to binge drink. First this essay will prove that this issue is a social problem by discussing the nature and extent of binge drinking within Australia using relevant statistics and research. This essay will then show a thorough understanding of the theory by explaining the symbolic interactionalism theory as a whole; then will delve deeper into the key concepts of this theory. Finally, this essay will discuss how the symbolic interactionalism

To prove this theory can be applied to the issue of binge drinking this essay will be discussing two of the key concepts of this theory by Charles Cooley and George Herbert Mead and how they can be applied. The first concept is Charles Cooley’s theory of the looking glass self. This theory suggests that the members of society work as a “social mirror”. This means that people see themselves in way that they imagine they would look from the eyes of someone else. Individuals then make judgments and change things about themselves according to these hypothetical perspectives (O'Brien, 2011). In the case of binge drinking it is considered to be apart of the Australian social culture and can be considered a norm and or a rite of passage especially for young Australians. Using the looking glass self theory, individuals may believe that heavy drinking will bring approval and acceptance from other members of society thus bringing higher self-worth through the perceived ‘social mirror”. Studies conducted in regard to peer influence on high risk behaviour has shown that young people are more likely to engage in high risk behaviour such as binge or excessive drink if their peers and close friends are also participating (Jaccard, Blanton and Dodge, 2005). This suggests that individuals are likely to engage in actions that they believe will gain approval it the eyes of their peers, therefore this study supports the argument that the looking glass concept can be applied to the issue of binge drinking. The second theory that can be used to apply the theory to binge drinking is George Herbert Meads concept of a socially derived self. This concept suggests that the individual’s perspective of one’s self is always created from social interactions. This concept also suggests that we also learn social rules and norms through social interactions