Sociology 551 Social Interaction Processes: Symbolic Interaction Dr. Brandy Simula COURSE DESCRIPTION This course approaches the dynamics of social interaction from the symbolic interactionist (SI) perspective. The course provides an overview of both classic and contemporary works in this tradition. In the first section of the course, we will focus on the development of the SI perspective and will read major theorists including Mead, Cooley, Blumer, Goffman, and Stryker. In the second section of the course we will cover recent theoretical developments, focusing on topics including stigma, the looking-glass self, reflected appraisals, identity processes, identity and stress, identity negotiation, and emotions. Throughout the course, we will focus on how selves and identities are created, modified, and enacted through interactions with others. COURSE MATERIALS G.H. Mead. 1934. Mind, Self, and Society. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Herbert Blumer. 1969. Symbolic Interactionism. Berkeley: University of California Press. Erving Goffman. 1959. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. New York: Doubleday. Erving Goffman. 1963. Behavior in Public Places. New York: Free Press. Sheldon Stryker. 1980. Symbolic Interactionism. Caldwell, NJ: The Blackburn Press. Erving Goffman.. 1963. Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. New York: Simon and Schuster. Suggested reference texts: Charon, Joel. 2009. Symbolic Interactionism. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall. Reynolds, Larry and Nancy Herman-Kinney, eds. 2004. Handbook of Symbolic Interactionism. Walnut Creek: Alta Mira Press. Course Requirements 1. A research guide on one of the major theorists (30%) You will prepare a research guide on one of the major theorists we will read in the first section of the course (weeks 2-5). Your research guide should include: A brief summary (2-3 pages) of the works we read by that theorist. A 2-3 page review essay situating the theorist you have chosen and her/his work in the broader field of SI and in sociology more generally. Consider how s/he drew on extant sociological theory as well as how her/his work has influenced SI and sociology. What major concepts, methodological approaches, and/or substantive areas did her/his work contribute to? How have other scholars used her/his work? Include a brief (no more than 2 pages) compilation of teaching resources. Imagine how you would teach 1 this theorist in an undergraduate theory or social psychology course. What activities and/or assignments would you use? What examples could you draw on in lectures? How would you make this material accessible and relevant to your students? 2. Two discussion facilitations and critical review papers (2 @ 15% each) Each student will facilitate class discussions twice during the semester (one or both discussion facilitations may be done in pairs depending on the size of the class). Your discussion facilitation should begin with a brief overview of the readings (5-10 minutes) and you should then use the discussion questions you prepare to facilitate a discussion among seminar participants. You will also write a 5-page critical review essay of the works we read on the days you facilitate seminar discussions. Please turn in a hard copy of your discussion questions and critical review essay on the days you facilitate discussions. 3. Active and Informed Participation 10% The success of this seminar depends on the active and informed participation of all seminar members. This means reading carefully and preparing questions and comments in advance. 4. Final paper (30%) Your final paper will give you the opportunity to apply an interactionist theory to a substantive topic of interest. Papers should be 15-20 pages. A one page proposal including abstract (200-300 words) and selected working bibliography is due November 20th A hard copy of your final paper is due in my mailbox by 5pm on Monday, December 17th SCHEDULE Recommended readings are review and/or reference pieces and are optional for both graduate and undergraduate students. Sep 4 Introductory Discussion Sep 11 George Herbert Mead Mead, G.H. 1934. Mind, Self, and Society. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 42-82; 100-125; 135-200; 273-280; 298-302. Couch, Carl. 1989. “Becoming Social.” Pp. 1-15 in Social Processes and Relationships. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press. Sep 18 Herbert Blumer Blumer, Herbert. 1969. Symbolic Interactionism. Berkeley: University of California. Chapters 1, 7, 8, and 9. Snow, David A. 2001. ‘Extending and Broadening Blumer’s Conceptualization of Symbolic Interactionism.” Symbolic Interaction 24: 367-377. 2 Sep 25 Erving Goffman Goffman, Erving. 1959. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. New York: Doubleday. Chapters I and III. Goffman, Erving. 1967. Interaction Ritual. New York: Pantheon Books. Chapter 1: On Face Work. Goffman, Erving. 1963. Behavior in Public Places. New York: Free Press. Chapters 1, 2, 6, and 12-13. Recommended: Scheff, Thomas. 2005. “Looking-Glass Self: Goffman as Symbolic Interactionist.” Symbolic Interaction 28: 147-166. Oct 2 Sheldon Stryker Stryker, Sheldon. 1980. Symbolic Interactionism. Caldwell, NJ: The Blackburn Press. Stryker, Sheldon and Kevin Vryan. 2003. “The Symbolic Interactionist Frame.” Pp. 3-28 in Handbook of Social Psychology, edited by John Delamater. New York: Kluwer Academic. Oct 9 Stigma Goffman, Erving. 1963. Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. New York: Simon and Schuster. Pp. 1-19; 73-104 Han, Chong-suk. 2009. “Asian Girls Are Prettier: Gendered Presentations as Stigma Management among Gay Asian Men.” Symbolic Interaction 32: 106-122. Thoits, Peggy. 2011. “Resisting the Stigma of Mental Illness.” Social Psychology Quarterly 74: 6-28. Granberg, Ellen. 2011. “‘Now my ‘old self’ is thin’: Stigma Exits after Weight Loss.” Social Psychology Quarterly 74: 29-52. Link, Bruce and Jo Phelan. 2001. “Conceptualizing Stigma.” Annual Review of Sociology 27: 363-385. Oct 16 Fall Break Oct 23 Construction and Presentation of Self Waskul, Dennis. 2007. “Cyberspace and Cyberselves.” Pp. 119-128 in Inside Social Life, 5th edition, edited by Spencer Cahill. Los Angeles: Roxbury Publishing. Ramirez, Michael. 2006. “My Dog’s Just Like Me: Dog Ownership as Gender Display.” Symbolic Interaction 29: 373-391. Ford, Kristie. 2011. “Doing Fake Masculinity, Being Real Men: Present and Future Constructions of Self among Black College Men.” Symbolic Interaction 34: 38-62. Martin, Karin. 2009. “Normalizing Heterosexuality: Mothers’ Assumptions, Talk, and Strategies with Young Children.” American Sociological Review 74:190-207. 3 Giordano, Peggy, Monica Longmore, Wendy Manning, and Miriam Northcutt. 2009. “Adolescent Identities and Sexual Behavior: An Examination of Anderson’s Player Hypothesis.” Social Forces 87:1813-1844. Recommended: Weigert, Andrew and Viktor Gecas. 2003. “Self.” Chapter 10 in Handbook of Symbolic Interactionism, edited by Larry Reynolds and Nancy Herman-Kinney. Walnut Creek: Altamira Press. Oct 30 Looking Glass Self and Reflected Appraisals Cooley, Charles Horton. 1983. “Looking-Glass Self.” Pp.183-185 in Human Nature and the Social Order by C.H. Cooley. New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers. Felson, Richard. 1985. “Reflected Appraisal and the Development of Self.” Social Psychology Quarterly 48:71-78. Killian, Caitlin and Cathryn Johnson. 2006. “I’m Not an Immigrant!”: Resistance, Redefinition, and the Role of Resources in Identity Work.” Social Psychology Quarterly 69: 60-80. McCall, George. 2003. “The Me and the Not-Me: Positive and Negative Poles of Identity.” Pp. 11-25 in Advances in Identity and Research, edited by Peter Burke, Richard Serpe, and Peggy Thoits. New York: Kluwer/ Plenum. Waskul, Dennis and Phillip Vannini. 2008. “Smell, Odor, and Somatic Work: Sense-making and Memory Management.” Social Psychology Quarterly 71:53-71. Nov 6 Looking Glass, cont’d. Milkie, Melissa. 1999. “Social Comparisons, Reflected Appraisals, and Mass Media: The Impact of Pervasive Beauty Images on Black and White Girls’ Self Concepts.” Social Psychology Quarterly 62: 190- 210. Lee, James. 1998. “Which Kids Can ‘Become’ scientists? Effects of Gender, Self-Concepts, and Perceptions of Scientists.” Social Psychology Quarterly 61:199-219. Khanna, Nikki. “2010. ‘If You’re Half Black, You’re Just Black’: Reflected Appraisal and the Persistence of the One Drop Rule.” The Sociological Quarterly 51:96-121. Harris, David and Jeremiah Joseph Sim. 2002. “Who is Multiracial? Assessing the Complexity of Lived Race.” American Sociological Review 67:614-627. Markowitz, Fed, Beth Angell, and Jan Greenberg. 2011. “Stigma, Reflected Appraisals, and Recovery Outcomes in Mental Illness.” Social Psychology Quarterly 74: 14-165. Nov 13 Identity Processes: Identity Control Theory 4 Stets, Jan and Peter Burke. 2005. “Identity Verification, Control and Aggression in Marriage.” Social Psychology Quarterly 68:160- 178. Burke, Peter. 2006. “Identity Change.” Social Psychology Quarterly 69:81-96. Cast, Alicia D. and Allison Cantwell. 2007. “Identity Change in Newly Married Couples: Effects of Positive and Negative Feedback.” Social Psychology Quarterly 70:172-185. Stryker, Sheldon and Peter Burke. 2000. “The Past, Present, and Future of an Identity Theory.” Social Psychology Quarterly 63: 284-297. Stets, Jan and Michael Carter. 2011. “The Moral Self: Applying Identity Theory.” Social Psychology Quarterly 74: 192-215. Recommended: Vryan, Kevin, Patricia Adler and Peter Adler. 2003. “Identity.” Chapter 15 in Handbook of Symbolic Interactionism, edited by Larry