Symbolic Interactionism or Labeling Theory

Examples of such would be young-old, male-female, employer-employee, teacher-student, husband-wife and a variety of others. Each of these categories or labels has a predetermined significance to the individual, like a little code or w arehousing of information in the mind that shapes behavior when interacting in unmatched or the other subprogram. For instance, when interacting with a police officer we are likely to have a heightened respect in our actions because of crafty he or she has the power to arrest us. This behavior and the heart and soul projected onto a police officer is a greens one in U.S. culture. In the interactionist perspective, such common heathen meanings form the foundation of meaningful social interaction. Such emblematical interaction or labels in interactions can have a powerful act on how we view and interact with others and they us, as well as how we view our concept of self. As Bartusch and Matsueda (1996) maintain, "?interactants influence each other through role taking, which consists of projecting oneself into the role of others, and appraising

from their standpoint the situation, oneself in the situation, and possible lines of action" (146).

Such labels and viewpoints can have each a negative or positive impact on concept of self and others.

For example, when children are treated as disadvantageously or stupid, they have a tendency to exhibit degenerate or stupid behavior and views of self. On the other hand, when children are treated as getrs and conformers, they are more liked to achieve and work out themselves as conformers. As Bartusch (et al. 1996) argues, "The self that emerges through the role-taking bring consists of an individual's perception of how others view him or her?the self as ? flavor glass' or ?self as object' is a process in which perceptions of how significant others see the individual are reflections of how they actually see him or her," (146). Therefore, our view of self, our view of others, and our view of society is a subjective construction played out through disparate roles in interactions with others in light of shared meanings of symbols and labels.

Bartusch, D. J. and Matsueda, R. L. (Sep 1996). Gender, reflected appraisals, and
Order your essay at Orderessay and get a 100% original and high-quality custom paper within the required time frame.