Symbolic Interactionism

Symbolic Interactionism Theory

     Symbolic interactionism is defined as a theory that human interaction and communication is facilitated by words, gestures, and other symbols that have acquired conventionalized meanings (Encyclopedia). It is a sociological perspective that is influential in many areas of sociological discipline. It is particularly important in micro sociology and social psychology. George Herbert Mead and Charles Horton Cooley are the two sociologist that developed this theory. They stated that everything in life is a symbol and without symbols our social life would not be the way it is today. People attach meaning to objects, thus creating a symbol. Some symbols show us who we are related to, other symbols show authority, and even define our religion. This theory analyzes society based on meanings, symbols, and behaviors that one person perceives. Therefore, society is socially constructed through human interpretation (Henslin).
     Here are a few examples of how symbolic interactionism works in today's society. First, there are many examples of symbolism in a wedding. Say a bride is getting ready for her big day when her mom comes running in and says, "I have to tell you something now. Before I married your father I had a son with another man. My son is your husband to be." That totally changes things because we have symbols of sister and brother to define our relationships with people, just like bride, groom, and finance.
     Second, we use symbols to define our different religions. Specifically, christians use the cross as symbolism. The cross represents the sacrifice Jesus went through to cover our sins. Catholics also use the cross but their typical cross still has Jesus nailed to it. This serves as a reminder of the pain He went through so seeing the cross causes them to feel bad about their sins. The presbyterians do not have Jesus on their cross because they like to focus on the fact that He rose again and is coming back to us. Jewish people use the Star of David as symbolism. Symbols help define our religions.
     Lastly, symbolism shows authority in work and school. Teachers and principals have authority over their students. Seniors have authority over underclassmen. At work a CEO has a title of respect and sometimes fear. His workers underneath him are to show him respect of his authority. These titles give us determination to work towards promotions and advancing to higher grade level. They also provide competition. We use symbols in everyday life and without we wouldn't know how to function socially.

Works Cited

"Encyclopedia Britannica Company." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
Henslin, James M. Sociology:A Down-to-Earth Approach: Pearson New International Edition Harlow: Pearson Education Limited, 2014. 93-12

Education

Education as a Social Institution

     There are several social institutions that influence a person’s life and education is one of them. Education is the process of giving or receiving systematic instruction. The basic need of education is to transmit knowledge and skill across generations. This is mainly down through school. Vocabulary, history, math, and science are all things learned in a classroom but education also teaches people more than curriculum out of a textbook. The social institution of education helps teach young children and adolescents important life skills and helps shape them into the people they will become (Henslin).
     I know that my education has greatly influenced me and made me a more intelligent and diligent human being. From day one school reiterated the guidelines set at home. Respect authorities, be polite, and show self-control. In kindergarten and throughout elementary school I was always taught to keep my hands and feet to myself, respect other people’s belongings, and tell the truth. These mannerisms were not only taught to me but shown through the leadership of my teachers and teacher assistants. Every action had a consequence. Bad decisions lead to being reprimanded or punished and wise decisions usually led to a gold star or teacher’s pet.  Being assigned homework taught me time management skills, academic integrity, and discipline. As I got older and involved in student activities they helped teach me to work well with others, follow through with my work, and to be punctual to events. While juggling my school work, extracurricular activities, work, and family I learned how to prioritize tasks. School also influenced me to be a social and outgoing person. This social institution has shaped me into the responsible young adult I am today.

Works Cited

Henslin, James M. "Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interactions."Sociology:A Down-to-      Earth Approach: Pearson New International Edition Harlow: Pearson Education Limited, 2014. 93-      123. Print.

Sociology In Music

Sociology In Music

     There are three main theories in sociology that define how society is portrayed. First, symbolic interactionism is a theoretical perspective in which society is viewed as composed of symbols that people use to establish meaning, develop their views of the world, and communicate with one another. Second, conflict theory is a theoretical framework in which society is viewed as composed of groups that are competing for scarce resources. Finally the third, functional analysis is a theoretical framework in which society is viewed as composed of various parts, each with a function that, when fulfilled, contributes to society’s equilibrium. 

     I think a song that describes functional analysis well is “Rain Is a Good Thing” by Luke Bryan. In this song it describes how rain sets off a chain of events. The exposition talks about how he saw his dad kick the dust and look up at the sky, because a farmer depends completely on the weather. Later it says “Rain makes corn, corn makes whiskey, and whiskey makes my baby…” this is a perfect example of how one thing, rain, affects a farmer’s society. The song’s lyrics continue to describe the effects of rain on their night, “buddies pile up in the truck, we hunt our honeys down, take ‘em into town, and start warshin all our worries down the drain.” This is just one example of how one part of society satisfies and continues to maintain society’s equilibrium. There are many aspects and parts of society that affect equilibrium but I thought what better example than rain making corn grown, since we live in rural Kansas and can relate.

[Verse 1]
My daddy spent his life lookin' up at the sky
He'd cuss kick the dust, sayin' son it's way to dry
It clouds up in the city, the weather man complains
But where I come from, rain is a good thing

[Chorus]
Rain makes corn, corn makes whiskey
Whiskey makes my baby, feel a little frisky
Back roads are boggin' up, my buddies pile up in my truck
We hunt our hunnies down, we take 'em into town
Start washin' all our worries down the drain
Rain is a good thing

[Verse 2]
Ain't nothin' like a kiss out back in the barn
Ringin' out our soakin' clothes, ridin' out a thunderstorm
When tin roof gets to talkin'; that's the best love we made
Yea where I come from, rain is a good thing

[Repeat Chorus]

[Bridge]
Farmer Johnson does a little dance
Creeks on the rise, roll up your pants
Country girls, they wanna cuddle
Kids out playin' in a big mud puddle

[Repeat Chorus]

Rain is a good thing, rain is a good thing, rain is a good thing

Works Cited 

Henslin, James M. "Chapter 1: The Sociological Perspective."Sociology:A Down-to-Earth Approach: Pearson New International Edition Harlow: Pearson Education Limited, 2014. 93-123. Print
"Luke Bryan - Rain Is A Good Thing." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2015.

Sociology In Movies

Sociology In Movies

     The sociology term perspective is defined by the Webster dictionary as the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed. It can also be defined as the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance ("Webster"). We have talked a lot about sociological perspective in class. Everything a person sees in life is seen different by another person, and this is because of our perspective, or point of view. I found a movie that shows and defines this term quite well. This movie is inception.

     Inception is a movie that came out in 2010. This movie is all about dreams and deceiving someone's perspective to plant an idea and make him think it is his own. This movie starts out with a team experimenting with dreams and creating a dream within a dream. A businessman, Saito, asks this team to work for him. Saito wants one of his rival businessman to disintegrate him and his father's energy corporation. This of course cannot happen unless the idea is his own, so the dream team teams up to study the businessman, Fischer, so they can replicate accurate dreams. 

     To create dreams they have a scientist who comes up with serums to put them asleep for specific amounts of times. They have an architect who designs each dream and each layer of the dream. Someone who follows the subject around to observe their friends and family's mannerisms so they can have accurate projections of these people in the dreams. Another team member designs kicks that bring them back from a dream. A kick is simulated by a fall or sudden jolt. Finally, they have several team members to go into the dreams and carry out their plans. 

     Saito wants this idea planted in Fischer's mind and this can only be done by inception. Inception is a dream, in a dream, within a dream. This is very dangerous because a person can lose sight of reality and what is an illusion or dream. If they travel too far into the layers of the dream they can get lost in limbo. This is also very dangerous because you can be stuck in limbo for years with no way of being able to return to reality, so limbo usually becomes your reality. 

     This team and architect takes the challenge of going inside of Fischer's dreams to plant this idea. They tamper with Fisher's perspective of reality and a dream. While in one dream Fischer "wakes up" but is actually in another dream. His perspective is that he is in reality but the truth is he is in a dream inside a dream (Inception). This movie is a great example of messing with perspective and how one minor detail can change a person's entire perspective. Perspective is all about your environment, the way you were raised, and what kind of sociological len(s) you have on at that time. While studying people or discussing sociology, perspective is a very important aspect to the way a person thinks or the way a specific group will react to something another society says is normal. Perspective adds to the creation of social behaviors, social barriers, and how societies determine normal and abnormal. 

Works Cited

"Encyclopedia Britannica Company." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2015.

Inception. Dir. Christopher Nolan. Perf. Leonardo DiCaprio. Warner Bros., 2010. DVD.