Symbolic Interactionism and The Self Flashcards
Theorists:
Mead and the Social Self
Goffman’s Dramaturgical Model
Mead
Individuals develop a concept of self through their interactions with others (doesn’t exist at birth). Social experience also involves exchange of symbols.
Goffman
Developed Mead’s work into the ‘dramaturgical model’ argued most appropriate way to understand people is to view them as actors on a stage.
Describe Mead’s notion of The Self.
It’s the perspective of others leading to the formation of the understanding of ourselves.
What is the ‘looking-glass self’?
To design the image of themselves based on how they believe others perceive them.
The ‘I’ and ‘Me’
I: My actions - Painter.
Me: The Self - Picture.
What does Mead say about role-playing?
A notion of self is developed through adopting the roles of others.
What are the three stages of role-playing?
Stage 1: Preparatory
Stage 2: Play
Stage 3: Game
What is the preparatory stage?
Birth to 2.
Start to mimic those around them.
What is the play stage?
2 - 6 years old
Play pretend and don’t follow the rules of standard games.
Describe Goffman’s Dramaturgical Performance.
Social interaction is a thearatical performance.
Present themselves to others favourably.
Frontstage and backstage.
Strategic ‘impression management’.
Successful performance.
Discuss a successful performance.
Social interaction works smoothly when role is performed well.
Belief in the role.
Must neither look like they’re trying too hard or not hard enough.
Facework.
Two-faced.
Define the term facework.
‘Saving face’ when a performance is threatened.
What is the need for consistency?
Two-faced
Describe a
