implications of symbolic interactionism to education pdf
Cathy Liu Yang, HEC Paris, France Schenk, Carolyn Turner and Rebecca H. Holman (1980), "A Sociological Approach to Brand Choice: The Concept of Situational Self-Image," in Advances in Consumer Research, Vol. Next, the SI perspective will be briefly described, along with a discussion of the links between SI and consumer behavior in the marketing literature. Environmentally-responsible images perceived by others become self-images when individuals undergo a role-taking, interpretive, reflexive evaluation process in which they make indications to themselves as to the meanings of their outwardly-presented symbols. The literature specifically addressing ERC issues can be segmented into three main areas. How do the reactions (both actual and anticipated or imagined) of others influence the establishment of ERC-related role-identities? Symbolic interactionism presents too quaint and exotic a picture of social reality (Shaskolski 1970: Horowitz 1971). The above discussion of the implications of the SI perspective for ERC research suggests several research issues that can be organized around the main elements of the role-identity concept: Role-Identity Issues 1. SI is an especially appropriate perspective for the study of ERC because (1) ERC is a specific type of consumer behavior that is directed toward and influenced by issues and concerns that can have a wide variety of meanings for different people, and (2) ERC involves individual responses to a socially-developed and socially-maintained concern. ERC research would also benefit from examination at different levels of aggregation (from individuals, to segments, to society as a whole). He states that irresponsible consumption in any given geographical area will, at least indirectly, affect the state of resources elsewhere on the planet, and that analysis should thus be conducted on a global level. Publishing Limited, Bingley, pp people impose on objects, etc had. A Historical Review on Symbolic Interactionism. MARKETING AND THE ENVIRONMENT: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE In the early 1970s, several authors addressed the broadening role of marketing in terms of the relationship of marketing to the environment. Symbolic Interactionism discusses the theories, theorists, and influential factors involved in the study and knowledge of symbolic interactionism. While Mead gave human society a position of paramount importance in his scheme of thought he did little to outline its char- acter. Choices made with respect to these behaviors can symbolize environmental concern -- e.g., buying aerosol-free cleaning supplies, setting the thermostat low, and properly disposing of chemicals. According to Harris (1), sociologists follow different theoretical backgrounds when exploring certain subjects in the field. 3. While many current environmental issues are undoubtedly similar to those that were studied then, there are important differences that make further study of ERC necessary. These behaviors would be based in aspects of the role-identity that are developed through socialization and past social experiences. 9. Before individuals undertake an environmentally-responsible action, they may anticipate (through role-taking) the reactions and evaluations of others regarding the meaning of that action. Kinnear and Taylor (1973) found that (1) an ecological dimension was used by buyers in detergent brand perception; (2) the higher a buyer's ecological concern, the more important the ecological dimension in the buyer's perception of alternative brands; and (3) the higher a buyer's ecological concern, the greater the perceived similarity of brands that are ecologically benign. What factors facilitate the link between the establishment of an "environmentally-responsible" role-identity and actual environmentally-responsible consumption behaviors? Webster, Frederick E., Jr. (1974), Social Aspects of Marketing, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 53-72. The possession of and use of environmentally-responsible products may affect how an individual is perceived by both significant and non-significant others. Chase, Dennis (1991), "P&G Gets Top Marks in AA Survey," Advertising Age, (special issue), January 29, 8-10. Disposal situations include throwing away recyclable materials. Symbolic interaction is one of the several theories in the social sciences. 151-168. An example of symbolic interaction would be "YOLO". Symbols are culturally derived social objects having shared meanings that are created and maintained in social interaction. For example, a person may be viewed by others as an "environmentalist" (e.g., carrying a cloth grocery bag filled with vegetarian foods walking toward an economical car with a Greenpeace sticker in the window), or a person may be identified as uncaring about the environment (e.g., carrying plastic grocery bags filled with beef, and pulling away in a gas-guzzling car exuding black exhaust smoke). Basic Concepts of Symbolic Interactionism a. While many current environmental issues are undoubtedly similar to those that were studied then, there are important differences that make further study of ERC necessary. Uusitalo, Liisa (1986), Environmental Impacts of Consumption Patterns, Broodfield, VT: Gower. Consumers have also indicated that they want to know how to select products that are environmentally safe, and that they desire accurate product labeling and advertising about environmental information (Chase 1991). Belk, Russell, Robert Mayer, and Amy Driscoll (1984), "Children's Recognition of Consumption Symbolism in Children's Products," Journal of Consumer Research, 10(March), 386-97. Murphy (1975) showed that the importance rating of "harm to the environment" for paper towels and laundry detergents increased with the level of ecological information provided, and that the effectiveness of ecological information was inversely related to prior knowledge of environmental issues. Olney, T. J. and Wendy Bryce (1991), "Consumer Responses to Environmentally Based Product Claims," in Advances in Consumer Research, Vol. Karl E. Henion and Thomas C. Kinnear, Chicago: AMA, 157-68. Your email address will not be published. Society by the descriptive meanings that are created and maintained through symbolic interaction is a term that was by! What specific aspects of personality and lifestyle facilitate role performance for an ERC role-identity? Products can thus help define the self, and can function as stimuli that cause behavior. Hume, Scott (1991), "McDonald's," Advertising Age, (special issue), January 29, 32. Fisk, George (1973), "Criteria for a Theory of Responsible Consumption," Journal of Marketing, 37(April), 24-31. McNeill, Dennis L. and William L. Wilkie (1979), "Public Policy and Consumer Information: Impact of the New Energy Labels," Journal of Consumer Research, 6(June), 1-11. Solomon's (1983) five propositions addressing the role of products as social stimuli can serve as a useful framework in which to study ERC issues: 1. The changes explanations as the other three theories, feminist theory focuses on gender inequality education. In addition to role-identities, other individual and interpersonal constructs may be relevant to ERC research that is based on an SI perspective. Applying Symbolic Interaction Theory to Everyday Life. Products can thus help define the self, and can function as stimuli that cause behavior. How do the reactions (both actual and anticipated or imagined) of others influence role performance associated with an ERC-related role-identity? People undergo a self-interactive, reflexive evaluation of the meanings assigned by others to products, and incorporate this interpreted appraisal by others into the self-concept. Belk, Russell, Kenneth Bahn, and Robert Mayer (1982), "Developmental Recognition of Consumption Symbolism," Journal of Consumer Research, 9(June), 4-17. Anderson, W. Thomas, Jr., and William H. Cunningham (1972), "The Socially Conscious Consumer," Journal of Marketing, 36, 23-31. This research scheme may thus be used to examine the existence, prominence, salience, and contents of an "environmentally-responsible" role-identity. 18, eds. Kassarjian, Harold H. (1971), "Incorporating Ecology into Marketing Strategy: The Case of Air Pollution," Journal of Marketing, 35, 61-65. Kinnear, Taylor, and Ahmed (1974) identified ecologically concerned consumers as scoring high in perceived consumer effectiveness, openness to new ideas, need to satisfy intellectual curiosity, and need to realize personal safety. Fundamental to this conceptualization of SI is the concept of role-identity. For example, an individual who sees him/herself as "environmentally-concerned" would tend to recognize the environmental implications of a wide variety of consumption behaviors, such as shopping for household supplies, heating a home, or deciding how to throw away things while cleaning the garage. Of sociology known as symbolic interactionism emphasizes that human behavior is influenced by definitions meanings. Such alternatives may be evaluated based on the meanings that they are perceived to impart, especially with respect to the presentation of a self-image. Lee (1990) discusses the implications of symbolic interactionism for consumer self-concept and product symbolism research. J. G. Manis and G. N. Meltzer, Boston: Allyn & Bacon. 2. Purchase situations include those in which significant and/or non-significant others are present. This theory shares many of the same explanations as the other three theories. Idiosyncratic elements of role-identities would be involved in specific consumption situations that have implications for environmental responsibility. The Pygmalion effect is a form of self-fulfilling prophecy, and, in this respect, people will internalize their negative label, and those with positive labels succeed accordingly. Learning Objectives. An environmentally-responsible role-identity would shape the interpretations of symbolism in consumption situations that have environmental implications. Discuss how the various social theories affect the functions of school. Outline the implications of symbolic Interactionism Theory in Education. Information that contradicts prior beliefs regarding the effects of products may play a different role in the interpretive process of role-identity formation -- perhaps catalyzing a modification of the role-identity. Symbolic Interactionism in Sociology of Education Textbooks in Mainland China: Coverage, Perspective and Implications . Feldman, Lawrence P. (1971), "Societal Adaptation: A New Challenge for Marketing," Journal of Marketing, 35, 54-60. Symbolic interactionism considers the individual as a subject with a social position on the one hand. Hutton, R. Bruce and Dennis L. McNeill (1981), "The Value of Incentives in Stimulating Energy Conservation," Journal of Consumer Research, 8(December), 291-8. For example, family members or friends could witness the purchase of an ozone-depleting aerosol, or consumers could be asked, "Paper or plastic?" The corresponding symbolism associated with a person then serves to present to others an environmentally-related image of that person, and can facilitate others' evaluations of that person. Implications of symbolic interactionism to education pdf Page 2 Symbolic interactions symbolic interactions of education as one of the ways that labeling theory is seen in action. These role-identities could conflict, for example, in an automobile purchasing situation (energy-efficient and plain vs. gas-guzzling and prestigious). Most of the textbooks fail to discuss at least some of the ideas in this tradition. 1983). Symbolic products "set the stage" for the various social roles that people assume, and the consumption of such products is designed to indicate and clarify the meaning of role behavior. COMMENTARY AND DEBATE Sociological Implications of the Thought of George Herbert Mead My purpose is to depict the nature of human society when seen from the point of view of George Herbert Mead. Toward things on the mechanisms and roots of gender inequality in education in Mainland China: Coverage, and. What are the implications of ERC symbolism for behaviors at different levels of aggregation? Rebecca H. Holman and Michael R. Solomon, Ann Arbor, MI: Association for Consumer Research, 693-696. Hume, Scott (1991), "McDonald's," Advertising Age, (special issue), January 29, 32. Kinch, John W. (1967), "A Formalized Theory of Self-Concept, " in Symbolic Interaction: A Reader in Social Psychology, eds. Because of this, these products may function as symbols of "environmental responsibility" when associated with positive environmental effects, or as symbols of "environmental irresponsibility" when associated with negative effects. The theory of symbolic interactionism focuses on education Although society emerges from social process, organized society exists before the appearance of all new members. Solomon, Michael R. (1988), "Building Up and Breaking Down: The Impact of Cultural Sorting on Symbolic Consumption," Research in Consumer Behavior, 3, 325-51. The underlying premises and major concepts of the symbolic interactionist perspective are reviewed to set the stage for a discussion of the theory as it could be applied to various levels of social work intervention. How is environmentally-related information incorporated into consumers' interpretive processes, and what is its function in the role-identity formation process? NA - Advances in Consumer Research Volume 19 | 1992, Kuangjie Zhang, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Marvin E. Goldberg, Gerald Gorn, and Richard W. Pollay, Ann Arbor, MI: Association for Consumer Research, 386-393. 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