Interactionism
Becker's Labelling Theory
Cooley "Looking Glass Self"
Goffman "Dramaturgical metaphor"
Theory Summary
Believes of sense of self is constructed by past experiences that force us to look inward
*Imagine how we appear to others
Individuals are conscious, self-reflective and and modify actions based on previous experience
Identities result from how we try to manage the impression we give people.
People assign labels that shape who we are, as we conform to people's expectations of us. This normalises behaviour and encourages the person to repeat the behaviour, which confirms and reinforces the label. The assumption of the label changes how people behave, and the status assigned with the label will create a master status of how you're known. People in power can assign labels much easier, which means they can shape the people they're with into what they want.
The main Sociologist is Max Weber
The three main sociologists key to the Theory are Goffman, Becker and Cooley
Interactionism is a social-action micro theory, focused on the interactions between individuals shaping society
People treat the world like a stage
For example, when a teacher labels a student as not punctual and disorganised, the student will begin to see themselves in that way and therefore stop trying to be organised.
*imagine the judgement of that appearance
*we develop ourselves through the judgements of others
Having the front stage being their performance to society.
Back stage is a person's real thoughts and opinions they may keep to themself to avoid conflict.
Key Concepts; Micro, Meaning, Self-concept, Roles, Labelling, Social Construction
People manage their impressions with clothes, actions, and props.
Criticisms
If individuals have such influence, why do people act in such similar ways
The research methods used by interactionists are open to criticisms; they are small scale and rely on observation and unstructured interviews; open to bias
Interactionists don't explain where labels come from
Goffman believed that there is no 'true self', people simply are the roles they play.