Symbolic Interactionism: An Introduction, An Interpretation, An Integration

Clear and up-to-date, this organized and intriguing introduction to symbolic interactionism focuses on the human being as an active participant in relation to his/her environment -- defining the many issues and complex relationship between the individual and society, as well as the relevance of this perspective to understanding the human being.

Follows an integrated approach with each chapter building on previous ones, enabling readers to first grasp individual concepts and then understand the symbolic interactionism perspective as a whole. Includes examples of how the perspective can be applied to gender and ethnic group relations, and uses three recent empirical studies which focus on the symbolic interactionist perspective. Considers the theories of Erving Goffman, with discussions on drama in interaction, the self of social interaction, rituals of interaction, and the environments of social interaction.