![Picture](/uploads/2/7/2/2/27228351/181837380.jpg?383)
George Herbert Mead is recognised for finding the interactionism approach in sociology. Herbert Blumer is responsible for creating ‘symbolic interactionism’. Blumer (2006) argued social systems and social structures are baseless, because what really exist are individuals and their interactions.
Symbolic interactionism is based around micro-level interactions and how meanings of situations, actions and objects are transferred through society.
G. H. Mead (2006) suggested that we have a ‘social self’, which is formed through interaction rather then being “biologically given” (Giddens, 2006, P.85). Our social self can therefore be heavily influences on labels which have been assigned to us. Mead stated within his theory that people see themselves as they believe that others see them by internalising symbols and expressions from the social situations (O’Byrne, 2011).
Similarly, Cooley suggested that we work towards people’s perceptions and response to us, which thus allows us to shape our self-identity (ibid). It can therefore be linked to educational settings, where if negative labels are imposed on pupils, they will internalise them and "acting accordingly" (O'Byrne, 2011, P.151). It has been argued that labelling does not only affect how other people see us but it affect our own sense of self identity, hence negative labels can have leave people with low self esteem.
Symbolic interactionism is based around micro-level interactions and how meanings of situations, actions and objects are transferred through society.
G. H. Mead (2006) suggested that we have a ‘social self’, which is formed through interaction rather then being “biologically given” (Giddens, 2006, P.85). Our social self can therefore be heavily influences on labels which have been assigned to us. Mead stated within his theory that people see themselves as they believe that others see them by internalising symbols and expressions from the social situations (O’Byrne, 2011).
Similarly, Cooley suggested that we work towards people’s perceptions and response to us, which thus allows us to shape our self-identity (ibid). It can therefore be linked to educational settings, where if negative labels are imposed on pupils, they will internalise them and "acting accordingly" (O'Byrne, 2011, P.151). It has been argued that labelling does not only affect how other people see us but it affect our own sense of self identity, hence negative labels can have leave people with low self esteem.