The Media and Symbolic Interactionism Theory
Human beings have the capacity to exert control over their behaviors- or simply to coordinate their behavior with that of others and create complex social attitudes or interactions. This ability is made possible through communication and aided by a theory known as symbolic interactionism, as discussed in the sections that follow.
Symbolic interactionism theory is a communication theory that provides a framework for understanding human behavior by attempting to address the subjective meanings that people give to events, actions, or objects. The theory underscores that individuals behave or respond to circumstances depending on what they believe to be true- which may sometimes not be objectively true (Carter and Fuller 931). Thus, societal interactions are thought to be determined by the creations of human minds rather than the actual knowledge of reality. Symbolic interactionism was introduced by George Herbert Mead in the 1920s, but the principles of symbolic interactions trace back to earlier claims by Max Weber, who asserted that people act according to the interpretation of the meanings they deduce from the world around them (Carter and Fuller, 933). After Mead, the theory was adopted by several sociologists of the early 20th century, such as Herbert Blumer. Accordingly, this theory is principal in developing the concept of self, which refers to how individuals see themselves relative to the society around them.
The theory is vital for communication scholars because of the role it explains how the media influences the meanings that individuals in society give to circumstances around them (Media Effects Theories par 14). The media is a crucial channel for propagating symbols to the broader society, symbols that shape the audience’s behaviors differently depending on the meanings given to the symbols by the recipients. Communication scholars can thus review the media to identify the various ways through which it affects society (Par 15).
Symbolic interactions affect how people communicate because the material world and the concept of self are constructed only through interactive, communicative processes. It explains that every interaction is a product of language, communication, and socialization, all of which are impacted in one way or another by the media. To subjectively interpret the meaning given to a situation, an object, or even an individual, there must be an element of communication. The theory tells us that people choose to communicate based on what they subjectively understand rather than what is objectively true. For example, it is widely understood that the rich move about in fuel guzzlers, and that most poor people will use cheap vehicles. A person is likely to address a chauffeur who shows up from his boss’ fuel guzzler with a lot more respect than they would address a company CEO (without prior knowledge about this CEO) who is seen coming from a simple car. Thus, symbolic interactions theory and communication are intertwined and interdependent.
Symbolic interactionism has inadvertently gained prominence in the age of social media, where teenagers and millennials are struggling to understand their aspect of self through the communication they get from social media. Ideas and notions which are projected to show a positive social status, however harmful, often become the trademark of character this group of persons. Take, for instance, the issue of smoking marijuana. A majority of pop artists post pictures on various social media platforms with captions bearing positive messages on smoking marijuana. Teenagers and the millennials, who have the highest social media presence, are led to believe that marijuana is actually a status booster. A high school student would, therefore, continue smoking marijuana despite the overwhelming objective evidence that marijuana is actually harmful to their health. The reason for continually indulging in hazardous habits would be based on the interpretation that smoking marijuana is cool. The adolescent would overlook every conceivable warning on the dangers of marijuana because they want to maintain a positive social image among their peers. Fundamentally, the students’ need for social media approval defines their smoking behaviors at the expense of neglecting positive warnings on the dangers of smoking.
To conclude, symbolic interactionism is continually shaping people’s reality as perceived by the broader society by pre-determining an individual’s judgment on self-identity. The media plays a particularly vital role in creating symbols that get interpreted by individuals in society to shape their behaviors.