Analysis of Families using Symbolic Interaction Theory
Over time, sociologists have employed different theoretical lenses or perspectives to analyze families. One of the most common types of theoretical perspectives used to analyze families is the symbolic interaction theory. The symbolic interaction theory has through the years been used to understand how families create shared meanings. The symbolic interaction theoretical perspective thus studies the implications of interactions and social exchanges while asserting how individuals find meaning through their interactions with the physical and social environment (Brinkerhoff, Ortega &Weitz, 2-2c).
Understanding Meaning and Interactions within Families
Under the symbolic interaction theory, the human mind uses symbols to create meaning in their lives and society as well. Individuals attach meaning to objects, people, verbal and non-verbal communication. Therefore, symbolic interactionism is interested in roles, interactions and interpretation of experiences. It also investigated how one-on-one and mediated interactions occur in groups within the societies. Since the symbolic interaction is primarily focused on roles, role-taking is a key mechanism through which individuals appreciate each other as is evidenced from a young age, when families share domestic roles (Brinkerhoff, Ortega &Weitz, 2-2c). Additionally, the symbolic interaction perspective also explores the changing meanings associated with families. Shared activities in the family are regarded as significant as they help to build on emotional bonds among the family members. The essay below uses the fundamental concepts of the symbolic interaction perspective to analyze my family, illustrating how meaning, coordination, and direction is acquired within a family.
The Socialization Process and Family Influence
A broad aspect of the symbolic interaction perspective deals with the socialization process, where values, attitudes, societal norms, and cultural expectations are passed from one generation to the next (Brinkerhoff, Ortega &Weitz, 3-3c). Most of the beliefs, values, and attitude that I portray today were largely influenced by my parents. From a young age, my family has been my main socializing agent, introducing me to the societal expectations and demands of my culture. For example, my parents introduced me to vital societal institutions and expectations such as the church, school, how to communicate, respect for the elders, and possession of values like love, respect, kindness, and independence. In addition to serving as my key socialization agent, my family served as the primary source of practical and emotional support for me and my siblings ensuring that we had food, clothing, shelter and that we felt loved in times of emotional distress. As part of strengthening our interactions and emotional bonds, we have always embraced key interactive activities like taking meals together and going on holidays. To date, I'm still actively involved in the sharing of meals with others as it is a value strongly held by my family and I want to pass it down to my children. However, under the symbolic interaction perspective, the socialization process is largely reciprocal, where in my case, the constant involvement of my parents in my life has created a stronger emotional bond between us, where it is easier to open up on vast issues, however, in families where the parents are distant and less concerned the family is likely to have weaker emotional bonds.
Social Identity and its Impact on Family Interactions
Under the symbolic interaction perspective, social identity is a key feature as it affects the interactions between the family members and the society. Social identity especially pertains to the questions of race, ethnicity and social status. The symbolic interaction theory helps "to understand how racial and ethnic inequality are reinforced or challenged in our daily interactions." (Brinkerhoff, Ortega &Weitz, 8.3c). My family has been responsible for giving me my social identity since I was born into my parents' race, religion, ethnicity, and social class. As is evidenced in the text, social identity is essential as it has determined the advantages I have enjoyed throughout my life. Having been born into a white family that falls slightly above the middle social class has afforded me luxuries in life such as attending the best schools, my current social circle and even certain employment opportunities that I have accessed while still in college. Most of my friends from other races that are perceived to be 'minority' have often faced acts of discrimination and seclusion from fully taking part in the societal activities owing to their racial profile. Therefore, it means that one's social identity determines their social class, their race, their ethnicity, and even religion which in turn determines the advantages or disadvantages that people face throughout life.
Symbolic Meaning and Communication within Families
The key feature of the symbolic interaction theory is its emphasis on objects and how family members attach meanings to people, objects verbal communication or even non-verbal communication. As part of the socialization process, I have learned what is acceptable and what is not acceptable in my family as evidenced by the body languages (Brinkerhoff, Ortega &Weitz, 2-2c). Since childhood, I have learned about the appropriate ways of interaction based on my parents' means of non-verbal communication. For example, it has always been easy to tell when my father is stressed out as he always takes a few minutes alone having a smoke. In this case, a cigarette is symbolic of stress, and my father uses it to help him calm down. Over the years, as a family, we have recognized the symbolism associated with my father's smoking habits, and we often respect his space whenever he needs to be alone to think things through. By attaching symbolic meaning to specific objects, it becomes easier for the family to interact as care is taken not to provoke others.
Deviance and Conformity within Families
Deviance and conformity are other key features explored in the symbolic interaction perspective, where symbolic interactionists view deviance as socially constructed by daily encounters between people (Brinkerhoff, Ortega &Weitz, 6-2c). According to the symbolic interaction perspective, individuals learn deviant behaviors from those close to them, as they provide them with opportunities and models of deviance. Such is to mean that under the symbolic interaction perspective, deviance is more of an effect of the socialization process and less of a personal choice (Brinkerhoff, Ortega &Weitz, 6-2c). For example, when growing up, my older brother had a group of friends from school who were notorious for bullying others. As being part of the social group, with time, my elder brother started being a bully, a behavior that he displayed until his high school years when he would bully other younger and new students. However, he was once summoned and expelled for his habits, and as a result, my parents were forced to transfer him to a new school. As soon as he went to another school, he stopped being a bully as he lacked the social group to identify with as a bully. Such is to mean that under the social interaction theory, deviant behaviors are acquired from different social interactions within social groups and minimized by a lack of the social interactions or disintegration of the social groups (Brinkerhoff, Ortega &Weitz, 6-2c).
Conclusion
In conclusion, as seen above, the symbolic interaction theory is a perfect tool for understanding how family members interact with each other, how they interact with other members in the society and how they attach meanings to different symbols. As evidenced in the case of my family, family ties and emotional bonds tend to be reinforced by the use of interactive activities like sharing of meals and enjoying meals together. The symbolic interaction theory thus is a perfect example of examining the socialization process, identity formation, role performance, conformity and meaning formation within the family.
Works Cited
Brinkerhoff, David., Ortega, Suzanne., and Weitz, Katie. Essentials of Sociology, 9th Edition. ISBN. (). Print.
