Numerous sociological thinkers have expressed a keen interest in the study of human behavior in relation to the concept of "self." Each theory puts out a unique set of tenets in an effort to offer a more thorough explanation of the elements that shape behavior and the ways in which society affects human behaviors. The symbolic interactionist perspective is one of the most frequently recognized points of view and is based on the idea that although society and the person interact and depend on one another, social integration is never harmonious and complete. The theory promotes the concept of the self, mind, and the society as primary constructs of behavior that can be used to explain changes and sociological aspects in the contemporary society. Specifically, this theory can provide meaning to the foundations of the self and the role of digital media in the development of the self.
George Herbert Mead was a great philosopher-psychologist whose influence on the current sociological theories and perspectives is evidenced in emerging themes and used to explain various concepts affecting the contemporary society. Mead’s fundamental view of the self and the society was based on the doctrine that people always take shape and identity within the realm of a set of social interactions, practices, and normative indications. Meads theory suggests that the self is one’s reference point to the events, emotions, and sensations experienced with their interactions with their immediate environment. In this case, the “self” emerges out of the “I” and “Me” concepts which originate from the interplay of vocal gestures in the form of important social symbols. According to da Silva (2013), the self as postulated by Mead emerges through the internalization of the conversations of significant gestures formed out of the dominant aspects of the patterns reflected in the larger societal structure. The mechanisms associated with the development and the alteration of the self is the ability to assume the roles of the other based on the ability to transcend one’s standpoint.
The society in Mead’s view represents an organized structure where people manage to take the role of others in the community based on their interactions and contributions. The constant engagement contributes to the perpetuation of the society where one’s actions are determined by others especially as witnessed in the religious and economic circles. The society is believed to influence the self’s behavior as people seek to conform and abide to set practices and standards. The changes in the society have to be matched by one’s self and a reconstruction through the mind which requires self-consciousness and the larger audience. Carter and Fuller (2015) the society and the “self” share a mutually beneficial role as they shape each other creating the concept of symbolic interactionism facilitated by face-to-face, repeated, and meaningful social interactions. The society in this regard is not a rigid structure but rather a continuing process fostered by social institutions that emerge out of individual interactions with various symbols.
The theory of symbolic interactionism that is based on doctrines proposed by Mead can explain the current issue of media influence to the development of the self. Digital media including TVs, social media, and video games are sources of interactions which convey different symbols and meanings to the contemporary society. Since the self is constructed based on the influence of others, the content displayed in the digital media portrays images and symbols that members of the society especially the young ones want to conform with as is experienced in the interactionist theory where the society influences behavior. According to Cote (2015), the “I” construct is the response of the individual to the community as it appears in one’s experiences while the “Me” reflects the adjustments made by the individual to retain the “self” after influences from an organized world. In this case, the symbols presented by the media content influence the “I” personality as people want to emulate what they consider to reflect the interests of the larger society. The extent of conformity is limited to the adjustments between the influence and the personal beliefs.
As the “I” seeks to participate in the social process represented in the various digital media, the impact of face to face interactions with other members of the community is diluted, and the person becomes more entrenched in the digital life. The individual cannot distinguish between the imaginary worlds presented in the media content from the reality since his behavior is set to adhere to the practices he witnesses from his symbolic interactions. For example, social interactions in childhood influence the level of violence in children. Children who are socialized that violence is unacceptable are more likely to lead a non-violent life. However, constant engagement in violent video games and digital content displayed in the media creates a dominant theme of violence that most children with little to no positive social interactions are likely to uphold. According to Lule (2013), the media plays a significant role in creating and propagating shared symbols which have been widely employed in marketing tactics and other non-commercial symbols with huge influences on the self. The most dominant symbols and the messages each person derives from a particular theme are likely to shape personal behavior with a direct relationship to the level of influence and symbolism attached to the direct interactions with one’s environment. A study conducted by Britt (2015) on the impact of social media on the “self” concluded that women have significantly altered their personality to match the symbols created and experienced through social media especially conformity to the image presented by marketers of beauty products.
The self and the society are interrelated and play a mutually beneficial role in the development and growth of each other. The nature of development is dependent on the dominant symbols contained in the various interactions including those raised and distributed through various digital platforms such as mass media and video games. The construction of the “self” lies in the content and the ability of every individual to adjust to the influences of both the “I’ and the “Me” which simultaneously shape the “self.” Major themes contained in digital media such as beauty, violence, and criminal behavior can be passed along to individuals who believe that the messages are representative of the larger society and want to conform to the symbols.
References
Britt, R. (2015). Effects of self-presentation and social media use in the attainment of beauty ideas. Studies in Media and Communication, 3(1), 79-88.
Carter, M., & Fuller, C. (2015). Symbolic interactionism. Sociopedia.Isa, 2015, 1-17. DOI: 10.1177/205684601561
Cote, J. (2015). George Herbert Mead's concept of society: A critical reconstruction. New York, NY: Routledge Publishers.
Da Silva, F. (2013). G. H. Mead: A critical introduction. Malden, MA: John Wiley & Sons.
Lule, J. (2013). Understanding Media and Culture: An Introduction to Mass Communication. Washington, DC: Flat World Knowledge
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