Pengantar: Teori Interaksionisme Simbolik

Summary

In this video, Dedes Syarif explores the theory of Symbolic Interactionism, a sociological approach focused on micro-level interactions between individuals. The theory emphasizes how social reality is constructed through these interactions and the meanings created through symbols like body language, words, and gestures. It highlights how individuals can manipulate these meanings and how societal norms can shift over time. The video also introduces key sociologists such as George Herbert Mead, Horton Cooley, and Erving Goffman, who contributed significantly to the development of this perspective, making it a crucial framework in understanding social behavior and dynamics.

Takeaways

• 😀 Symbolic interactionism is a sociological theory focusing on micro-level social interactions between individuals.
• 😀 Social reality is not fixed but constructed through individual interactions and the meanings attached to them.
• 😀 Symbols, such as body language, facial expressions, gestures, and language, are key components in conveying meaning during social interactions.
• 😀 The meaning of symbols is formed and manipulated by individuals through social interactions.
• 😀 Social reality consists of both physical reality (e.g., objects, structures) and social reality (e.g., values, norms).
• 😀 People have the ability to manipulate meanings, as seen in societal changes, like the normalization of sharing personal photos on social media.
• 😀 Interactionism emphasizes that individuals and society shape and redefine social reality continuously through their interactions.
• 😀 Micro-level analysis focuses on individual-level social phenomena, whereas macro-level analysis looks at larger societal structures and systems.
• 😀 Social norms and values are constructed through human interaction and are not inherent or fixed.
• 😀 Key figures in symbolic interactionism include George Herbert Mead, who focused on the development of the self, Horton Cooley, and Erving Goffman, who contributed to dramaturgical theory.

Q & A

What is symbolic interactionism in sociology?

Symbolic interactionism is a sociological theory that focuses on how social reality is constructed through individual interactions. It emphasizes micro-level analysis, which looks at the meanings people create through their interactions with others.

How does symbolic interactionism differ from other sociological theories?

Symbolic interactionism differs from other sociological theories because it focuses on micro-level analysis, which examines individual interactions, whereas other theories, like structural functionalism, focus on macro-level issues like social structures and systems.

What is the main focus of symbolic interactionism?

The main focus of symbolic interactionism is on the processes through which individuals create and assign meanings in their social interactions. It suggests that social reality is not fixed, but constructed through these interactions.

What is the difference between micro-level and macro-level analysis in sociology?

Micro-level analysis focuses on individual interactions and small-scale social processes, while macro-level analysis looks at larger structures and systems in society, such as social institutions and norms.

What role do symbols play in symbolic interactionism?

In symbolic interactionism, symbols are crucial as they store and convey meanings created through social interactions. These symbols can include body language, facial expressions, words, gestures, and other forms of communication.

Can you provide an example of symbolic interactionism in everyday life?

An example of symbolic interactionism is children playing pretend games. In such games, they create and agree upon roles and meanings, such as pretending a stick is a sword. This illustrates how meanings are socially constructed during interactions.

How does symbolic interactionism explain the manipulation of meanings?

Symbolic interactionism explains that individuals have the ability to not only construct but also manipulate meanings. For instance, social practices or symbols, like sharing personal photos on social media, have changed their meaning over time due to social interaction and shifts in societal norms.

What are the two types of social reality described by symbolic interactionism?

Symbolic interactionism distinguishes between physical reality, which refers to tangible objects and things, and social reality, which is constructed by society through interactions, including values, norms, and regulations.

Who are some key theorists associated with symbolic interactionism?

Key theorists associated with symbolic interactionism include George Herbert Mead, who introduced the concept of the self emerging from social interactions, and Erving Goffman, who developed the dramaturgical theory of social interaction.

How does Erving Goffman’s dramaturgical theory relate to symbolic interactionism?

Erving Goffman's dramaturgical theory relates to symbolic interactionism by viewing social life as a performance, where individuals play roles and manage the impressions they make on others, aligning with the idea that meanings are created through social interactions.