Sociology: Sociology and Symbolic Meanings Essay

Submitted By Ben-Clark-Spear
Words: 757
Pages: 4
Open Document
In American culture it is customary upon meeting a stranger that you introduce yourself by shaking their hand. Among other cultures and depending on the level of familiarity one may have with another, a hug, kiss, certain body language, or facial expressions might be associated with greeting someone—such as kissing the cheek of a family member when you haven’t seen them in a long time. The Theory of Symbolic Interactionism helps one to understand how these greetings might arise, “we interact with others using words and behaviors that have symbolic meanings. This theory has three basic tenets: 1. Human beings act toward ideas, concepts, and values on the basis of the meaning those things have for them. 2. These meanings are the products of social interaction in human society. 3. These meanings are modified and filtered through an interpretive process that each individual uses in dealing with outward signs.” (Connally, 137-138) Through this lens one can observe how certain actions gain symbolic meanings within a culture. To see the extent that shanking someone’s hand upon introducing yourself has become an expectation in American culture and to see how quickly one can transfer a symbolic meaning onto a new action, for 48 hours when introducing myself to strangers, I would embrace them with a hug rather, then give them a handshake.
For 48 hours I introduced myself to as many strangers as possible. When I ran into friends around campus, I’d introduce myself to, and hug, whomever they were with. I attended study groups for midterms with students that I had never met in lecture before. I went to an art gallery opening, and finally went to a party at a friend’s apartment. I ended up meeting and hugging 43 new people. Around campus and at the my friend’s party the people I was meeting appeared to be students approximately in the age rage of 18-22. At the art opening the crowd was a bit more diverse in age but generally seemed to be young professionals approximately in the age range of 23-35.
Within my experiment, I had essentially three responses. When I would hug someone upon greeting I received either A) a warm, positive response, B) an upset, angry, or irritated response, or C) a neutral, confused response. Overall, I received a positive response (30 subjects), even when breaking a social norm. I think this is attributable to several factors. First, I was a relatively non-threatening person, and I think that affected how easy it was for me to buck the norm in this situation. I'm well dressed, clean, and generally read as a nonthreatening person. If I had more signifiers to the people I was trying to hug that suggested I was somehow a danger, I'm sure my experience would have been more negative. I also noted that among the neutral and negative response group (13 subjects) 7 of those subjects were of a observably older
Show More

Related Documents: Sociology: Sociology and Symbolic Meanings Essay

Acct: Forces B. Sociology Essay

1: The Sociological View I. What is Sociology? SOCIOLOGY: A. Sociology offers a perspective or view of the world SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION: - Allows individuals to view their lives as they are shaped by historical/social forces B. Sociology is a science - positivism: C. Sociology and Common Sense D. Sociological Theory…

Words 603 - Pages 3

Sociology: Sociology and Symbolic Interactionism Essay

Simone Johnson February 24, 2014 Sociology Paper #1 Sociology Sociology embarks on our everyday life. Throughout this essay, I will be giving examples from a series of youtube videos and everyday situations and explain how they are entwined with Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 5. These chapters touch on the subjects of Language, Symbolic Interactionism, Sociologist Research and Mass media/Peer Groups. Prime examples from rappers and normal people living day by day will be used to explain how they relate…

Words 653 - Pages 3

Sociology Essay

What is Sociology? Discuss the key sociological concepts and perspectives and apply one perspective to an area of your professional practice. The primary purpose of this essay is to discuss sociology. Some definitions will be discussed as well as sociological concepts and perspectives. A sociological perspective will also be applied to the area of Health and Social Care provisions. According to Marsh and Keating (2006) “Sociological is regarded as an essential part of training courses for teachers…

Words 1264 - Pages 6

Sociology: Sociology and Symbolic Interactionism Essay

Sociology Mike Minz Symbolic Interactionism’s history was originated with two key theorists, George Herman Mead and Charles Horton Cooley. George Mead’s approach to the theory of Symbolic Interactionism was so powerful that he was regarded by other theorists as the founder of that tradition. Mead was a teacher in the Philosophy department, but still was recognized by sociologists as the man who taught a generation everything they know about this…

Words 998 - Pages 4

Intro Quest Ch1 Essay

SYG 2000 – Study Questions Chapter 1: Sociology & the Real World 1. What is the difference between practical and scientific knowledge? 2. Define sociology -is one of the social sciences— disciplines that examine the human or social world. The systematic study of human and society and social interaction 3. What is the importance of Howard Becker’s definition of sociology? sociology is the study of people doing things together because neither the individual nor society exist independently of one…

Words 644 - Pages 3

John D. Carl's Amusing Ourselves To Death

warning readers that a culture based purely on technology and TV is not necessarily a culture worth enjoying. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Culture • Culture includes – Language – Beliefs – Values – Norms – Behaviors – Material objects - that are passed on from generation to generation THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Material Culture • Material…

Words 1745 - Pages 7

Introduction to sociology Essay

Sociology Assignment Sociology is often criticised for being similar to common sense, but sociology differs from common sense in a number of ways. Common sense is based on the main beliefs of a society, whereas sociology gathers evidence to examine and analyse the main beliefs of society. An example of this would be sociological research into suicide (Durkheim, 1897) which gathered evidence to determine the causes of suicide rather than use the common sense assumption that it was depressed people…

Words 1613 - Pages 7

Bernard Mcgrane: A Sociological Analysis

Sociology can be defined as "The systematic or scientific study of human society and social behavior, from large-scale institutions and mass culture to small groups and individual interactions" (Ferris & Stein, 2014: p. 9). Sociologists seek to look through a sociological perspective. Bernard McGrane uses the term 'beginner's mind' or approaching the world without preconceptions in order to see things in a new way. C. Wright Mills uses the term 'sociological imagination' or the ability to look at…

Words 803 - Pages 4

Sociology Chapter 1 review Essay

SOC 1301 What is Sociology? Chapter 1, p 3-37 You should be able to: Define: • Sociology- the study of human behavior in society and how people react, they look to save the people, they get the base of where it is coming from and examine it • Sociological imagination- By C. Wright Mills (1959) basically saying that there is a reason for people acting the way that they do, because of the experiences they have had and history it sees our lives as contextual lives—our individual identities are…

Words 752 - Pages 4

Essay on Religious Aspescts

values and beliefs that combines a similar work ethic. Conflict Theory “Conflict theory is a major alternative to functionalism as an approach to analyzing the general structure of societies, and it is increasing popular and important in modern sociology” (Wallace and Wolf 2006). Conflict theorists looks at society negatively. Karl Marx was the main conflict theorist that also views society as being bad. However, conflict theorists argue that individuals and groups such as social classes in society…

Words 2501 - Pages 11