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Herbert Blumer - Coined The Term "Symbolic Interactionism" and Outlined These Basic Premises: Humans

This document discusses key concepts from Conflict Theory and Symbolic Interactionism as applied to socio-cultural, economic, and political conditions. Conflict Theory, proposed by Karl Marx, focuses on social inequality and power struggles between classes. Symbolic Interactionism examines how people interpret symbols and interactions to make sense of their social world. The document provides examples of how each theory applies to different aspects of society, such as unequal access to resources illustrating economic conflict or political symbols representing power. Students are asked questions to demonstrate understanding of how these theories analyze social phenomena.

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Anabel Bahinting
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379 views4 pages

Herbert Blumer - Coined The Term "Symbolic Interactionism" and Outlined These Basic Premises: Humans

This document discusses key concepts from Conflict Theory and Symbolic Interactionism as applied to socio-cultural, economic, and political conditions. Conflict Theory, proposed by Karl Marx, focuses on social inequality and power struggles between classes. Symbolic Interactionism examines how people interpret symbols and interactions to make sense of their social world. The document provides examples of how each theory applies to different aspects of society, such as unequal access to resources illustrating economic conflict or political symbols representing power. Students are asked questions to demonstrate understanding of how these theories analyze social phenomena.

Uploaded by

Anabel Bahinting
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Saint Anthony Academy

Batuan, Bohol, Philippines


Member: Bohol Association of Catholic Schools ( BACS)
Catholic Education Association of the Philippines (CEAP)
DISCIPLINES AND IDEAS IN THE APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES 11
ACTIVITY NO. 6
(Week 7)
Topic: Socio-Cultural, Economic, and Political Conditions of Marxism
Competency: Apply the basic concepts and principles of the major Social Science theories.
Objective: Apply the socio-cultural, economic, and political conditions of Conflict Theory
(Marxism).
Concept Notes:
Marxism- One of the primary focus on this theory is the application of Conflict Theory.
CONFLICT THEORY
It focuses on the social inequalities and power difference within a group, analyzing society through this lens.
Social inequality- the existence of unequal opportunities and rewards for different social positions or statuses
within a group or society.
Examples: Unequal access to a variety of social ‘goods’ (e.g. the labor market and other sources of income,
the education and healthcare systems, and forms of political representation and participation).

Considerations of this theory:


 Dominant process in the society is conflict
 Society is divided into two groups: masses and elite who exploit them
 Stresses that social inequality and conflict between the dominant elite and the masses.
 It sees the negative side of the society.

Proponents:
Karl Marx- introduced the idea about class struggles, and conflict is the main source of social change.
Charles Wright Mills- introduced the power elite, a tiny minority government, military government, and
business figures believed to control the government.

Conflict Theory in Socio-Cultural Aspect


Inequalities exist within a culture’s value system. Therefore, a society’s cultural norms benefit some people
but hurt others. Some norms, formal and informal, are practiced at the expense of others. In the Philippines,
gay and lesbian couples have been denied the right to marry because of our culture in our society.

Conflict Theory in Economic Aspect


In the economy, patterns of class conflict theory occur when one class of people is systemically empowered
over another. The less empowered class demands a share of resources that the more fortunate class has in
abundance, leading to social conflict. For example, at the core of conflict theory is the effect of economic
production and materialism dependence on technology in rich nations versus a lack of technology and
education in poor nations.

Conflict Theory in Political Aspect


Political conflicts arose among competing societies or factions of people even in the past and present.
However, they are spurred by basic desires: the drive to protect or gain territory and wealth, and the need to
preserve liberty and autonomy. Modern-day conflicts are still driven by the desire to gain or protect power
and wealth, whether in the form of land and resources or in the form of liberty and autonomy.

SYMBOLIC-INTERACTIONISM
This theory focuses on the interaction of individuals and on how they interpret their interaction.
Proponents:
George Herbert Mead - a founder of symbolic interactionism; believed that people develop self-images
through interactions with other people.
Herbert Blumer - coined the term “symbolic interactionism” and outlined these basic premises: humans
interact with things based on meanings ascribed to those things;
The ascribed meaning of things comes from our interactions with others and society; the meanings of things
are interpreted by a person when dealing with things in specific circumstances.
Example: If you love books, for example, a symbolic interactionist might propose that you learned that books
are good or important in the interactions you had with family, friends, school, or church; maybe your family
had a special reading time each week, getting your library card was treated as a special event, or bedtime
stories were associated with warmth and comfort.

On socio-cultural aspect - Interactionists see culture as being created and maintained by the ways people
interact and in how individuals interpret each other’s actions.
Example: The dog was named Lucifer. The said name would be the devil because maybe the dog is
extremely mean.

On economic aspect - One important symbolic interactionist concept related to work and the economy is
career inheritance. This concept means simply that children tend to enter the same or similar occupation as
their parents, which is a correlation that has been demonstrated in research studies (Antony 1998).
Example: The children of police officers learn the norms and values that will help them succeed in law
enforcement, and since they have a model career path to follow, they may find law enforcement even more
attractive.

On political aspect, symbolic interactionism, as it pertains to government, focuses its attention on figures,
emblems, or individuals that represent power and authority. Example: Malacañang Palace represents power
and authority of the President of the Philippines.

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM IN EVERYDAY LIFE


Symbolic interactionism is a micro-level theory that focuses on the relationships among individuals
within a society. Communication—the exchange of meaning through language and symbols—is believed to
be the way in which people make sense of their social worlds. Theorists Herman and Reynolds (1994) note
that this perspective sees people as being active in shaping the social world rather than simply being acted
upon.

Constructivism
It is an extension of symbolic interaction theory which proposes that reality is what humans cognitively
construct it to be. We develop social constructs based on interactions with others, and those constructs that
last over time are those that have meanings which are widely agreed-upon or generally accepted by most
within the society.

Symbolic Interactionism plays vital role in our everyday lives. It recognizes and hold concrete meanings to
socio-cultural, economic and political aspect.
Examples on the table below are some symbols in our daily life and their corresponding
interpretations/meanings in the different aspects in our society.

Symbol Interpretation/Meaning Aspect


Physical gesture- WINK The person is interested on you. Socio-Cultural
Cedula Residency tax Economic
Balance image Justice Political

DISCIPLINES AND IDEAS IN THE APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES 11


ACTIVITY NO. 6

Name:___________________________ Year & Section:___________________________


Date:______________________________ Score: __________________

ACTIVITIES

A. Direction: Differentiate the two classes of people below by describing them. Write only word or
phrases of your answer in the box. Then, answer the questions that follow. ( pts)

AMERICAN VS AETA

RICH VS POOR

MEN VS WOMEN

Questions: (18 pts)


1. Do you think these two people (American & Aeta) received an equal treatment to our society?
Why do you say so?
2. Do you think that there is a great inequality between the rich and poor in our country? Why?
3. Do you think women are already equal with men in our Philippine society? Why?

B. Direction: Read the situation and answer the questions that follow. State also whether the given situation
is under the socio-cultural, economic and political aspect. Justify your answer. (30 pts)
1. You came across a certain friend. He was wearing necklace with a cross pendant. While you were
walking, you passed by a church and he made a gesture which is a sign of a cross. You also notice that he
was holding a book which is very familiar to you, a bible. What is your interpretation about the behavior
of your friend?
2. You came across a high school classmate while walking downtown. You were surprise that her hair is so
much dyed in different colors and her haircut is not so neat. She was wearing a black make up matched
with her all black attire. Her arms are filled with tattoo. Upon talking to her, she gets out something in her
pocket and lit the cigarette. What is your interpretation about the behavior of your high school friend?
3. Your Senior high school classmate wants to be a doctor just like her Dad. For her, she wants to follow the
footsteps of her father because the materials she will be going to use is ready already. She will not
anymore buy medical books and another medical supplies for her studies. What is your interpretation on
your classmate’s decision?
4. Mr. Cruz is your favorite Social Science teacher. You love the way he explains the subject matter
especially his examples. He has a loud voice thus everybody listens to his talks. You respected him so
well because he is not just your favorite teacher but also your mentor and second parent in school. What
aspect of symbolic interactionism did you portray?
5. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is the current President of the Republic of the Philippines. As
President,
he has given the right in residing at Malacañang Palace. What is your interpretation on the given
situation?
C. Direction: Give your own interpretation of the following symbols meaning and state what aspect of
interactionism it falls. Write your answer on the respective columns provided. (36 pts)
Symbol Interpretation/Meaning Aspect of Symbolic
Interactionism
(EXAMPLE)
Raised eyebrows shows surprise or mild Socio-Cultural
disapproval

Support DU30

Punch

Slap

Philippine Peso

Waving in Messenger

Yawing

Shrug of shoulders

Vote Wisely

Bring Down the


Government

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