Symbolic Interactionism In A Subculture - 1400 Words

Every individual is involved in various groups, activities, relationships, and roles, therefore participating in a subculture. Objective and subjective contingencies influence one’s involvement with their subculture. These shifts and stages of involvement form one’s subcultural career. Analyzing such subcultural careers from the symbolic interactionist perspective teaches one much about the interpretive and social dimensions of participation in a subculture. An understanding of the theoretical framework of symbolic interactionism and of the definitions of concepts such as subcultures and subcultural careers provides a framework for effectively analyzing my career in the Tylenol drug subculture. The symbolic interactionist perspective to†¦show more content†¦Symbolic interactionism sees reality as constantly changing, based on individuals’ experiences and construction of meanings. The term â€Å"subculture† is used in many contexts. The Dictionary of the Social Sciences defines subculture as â€Å"a set of distinctive norms, values, artifacts, language, symbols, or forms of knowledge that a particular social group uses to distinguish itself from the dominant culture† (Calhoun, 2002). Membership in a subculture involves these characteristics, among others, such as identify and perspective. A drug subculture, specifically, is â€Å"a group in which the use, distribution, and/or regulation of [a] drug is a focal endeavour† (McLuhan, 2017). Drug subcultures can involve either legal or illegal drugs. Symbolic interactionists analyze drug use with the social learning theory, perceiving the formation of drug subcultures as learned behavior based on interactions with society (McLuhan, 2017). Participation in a subculture is a career. A career is â€Å"a patterned sequence of occupational roles though which individuals move over the course of a working life, implying increased prestige and other rewards, although not ex cluding downward occupational and social mobility† (Scott Marshall, 2009). One’s subcultural career involves the stages, sequences, and shifts of one’s participation in that subculture. Every career contains different stages; however, four stages are common: initial involvement, sustained and intensifyingShow MoreRelatedCharles Horton Cooley and the Symbolic Interactionism Theory1303 Words   |  6 PagesCharles Horton Cooley and the Symbolic Interactionism Theory Should we associate the abandonment of ‘self’ with symbolic interactionism? Do you feel the need to ‘change your stripes’ to fit in with society? ‘An individual is an abstraction unknown to experience, and so likewise is society when regarded as something apart from individuals.... Society and individuals do not denote separable phenomena, but are simply collective and distributive aspects of the same thing†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Thomas Francis O Dea)Read MoreCulture Is The Second Social Construction875 Words   |  4 Pagesdiversity is called cultural relativism. When a person is placed into a culture that they are not use to cultural shock may occur. This results in feeling admiration, crisis, recovery and adjustment to the new culture. Within a large culture there are subcultures. This is when a group of the larger population have different norms and it sets them apart from â€Å"mainstream culture† (Ravelli and Webber, 2013, p.128) Also, if a culture within a larger population opposes the larger culture in the area this is calledRead MoreSymbolic Interactionism Was Proposed By J. Mead1440 Words   |  6 PagesThe theory of symbolic interactionism was proposed by J. Mead. He identifies two levels of interaction: non-symbolic and symbolic. 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There are two main ideas being discussed my conflict theorists: power theory and conflictRead MoreEssay about Research Methodology Report1448 Words   |  6 Pagesbut also its subculture mentioning its DIY punk ethic, political activism and most importantly its influential Zine network. However the purpose of this report is to demonstrate a grounded understanding in three research methodologies and how I will apply each one in regards to my own project. Firstly I’ll investigate the advantages of an Instrumental Case Study, looking at how it proliferates, rather than narrows a given field of study. Secondly I will delve into Symbolic Interactionism referringRead MoreThe Subculture I Choose Is Vam pire Lifestyle843 Words   |  4 Pagesthe culture. The subculture I choose is Vampire Lifestyle. 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Society also spell out the socialRead MoreDeviance Theory Analysis Essay1564 Words   |  7 Pagestheory/anomie theory; subcultural theories; and medicalization of deviance (Sociological Theories to Explain Deviance). However, there are certain theoretical perspectives in sociology that may also discuss deviance. They include: conflict perspective; symbolic interactionist perspective; and structural functionalism/order perspective. The cultural transmission/differential association theory states that all human behaviors are learned. As such, it is also possible to acquire deviant behavior throughRead MoreThe Basic Supposition Of The Symbolic Interactionist1649 Words   |  7 PagesThe basic supposition of the Symbolic Interactionist (S.I.) paradigm is that human interaction is based upon and the interplay of three elements, self, society and social interaction. These elements form a triangle of interwoven social connections. The basic association is as follows: society shapes self, self then shapes social interaction and interaction shapes society. The interaction is complex enough to also allow for nearly every possible combination between those three elements in that the