Symbolic Interactionism
Symbolic interactionism (SI) is a sociological perspective that developed in the US in the mid-20th century. Among other characteristics, theories that bear the hallmark of the SI perspective typically devote attention to micro-level social dynamics & the micropolitics of everyday interaction. Whereas other types of social theory might attempt to explain how entire institutions are constituted, those who adopt a SI approach focus on how interactions between individuals either succeed or fail.
42 Pins
·4y
Why People Act So Oddly In Elevators
There's a reason we avoid each other in elevators. You stare at the buttons, check your phone, or look anywhere except at other people because you instinctively react to a perceived threat of aggression from them. Even though there's likely no actual threat, being trapped in a small area signals you to protect yourself by de-escalating the situation from the get-go.
Looking glass self: A term coined by sociologist Charles Horton Cooley to emphasize the extent to which our own self understandings are dependent on how others view us. Explore the concept of the looking glass self using this short clip from the television show Seinfeld: http://www.thesociologicalcinema.com/videos/independent-georges-identity-work
We think you’ll love these
Related Interests
Breaking eye contact makes you a better conversationalist
Studies show people who are forced to maintain eye contact take longer to recall words than those who are allowed to take a break from the mental stimulation of staring into someone else's eyes. Though maintaining eye contact is important for building emotional connections, looking away is key for having focused and productive conversations.
from Erving Goffman, Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity
"The stigmatized individual is asked to act so as to imply neither that his burden is heavy nor that bearing it has made him different from us; at the same time he must keep himself at that remove from us which assures our painlessly being able to confirm this belief about him. Put differently, he is advised to reciprocate naturally with an acceptance of himself and us, an acceptance of him that we have not quite extended to him in the first place. A PHANTOM ACCEPTANCE is thus allowed to provide
Total Institution
"A total instituion may be defined as a place of residence and work where a large number of like-situated individuals, cut off from the wider society for an appreciable period of time, together lead an enclosed, formally administered round of life. Prisons serve as a clear example." (Goffman 1968).
