Symbols, Selves, and Social Reality: A Symbolic Interactionist Approach to Social Psychology and Sociology - Softcover

Sandstrom, Kent L.; Martin, Daniel D.; Fine, Gary Alan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0195385667 ISBN 13: 9780195385663

Publisher: OUP USA, 2010

Synopsis

The classroom is a dynamic, interactive environment in which students are continually evaluating, questioning, debating, and in turn, shaping social reality. Symbols, Selves, and Social Reality: A Symbolic Interactionist Approach to Social Psychology and Sociology, Third Edition, provides students with a succinct, engaging, and affordable introduction to symbolic interactionism, the perspective that social reality is created, negotiated, and changed through the process of social interaction.

Focusing on how elements of race and gender affect identity, authors Kent L. Sandstrom, Daniel D. Martin, and Gary Alan Fine use interesting, relevant real-world examples to discuss the personal significance of symbolic interactionism, its expanding theoretical scope, and its relationship to other prominent perspectives in sociology and social psychology. They skillfully cover empirical research topics that are inherently interesting to students, such as the dynamics of self-development, impression management, identity transformation, gender play, rumor transmission, and collective action.

Thoroughly revised and updated in the third edition, this best-selling book now offers additional group assignments and activities at the end of each chapter in order to encourage student participation. Featuring updated case studies throughout, this edition also moves the section on theoretical perspectives to the beginning of the text, thereby providing students with a more thorough conceptual framework from the outset.

Rich in pedagogical tools—including end-of-chapter summaries, key points and concepts, glossaries, readings lists, and discussion questions—Symbols, Selves, and Social Reality: A Symbolic Interactionist Approach to Social Psychology and Sociology, Third Edition, effectively demonstrates the tremendous power people have in determining social reality. Ideal for courses in symbolic interaction, individual and society, and social psychology, this unique text helps students understand how symbolic interactionism works, both in theory and in practice.

About this title

Review

"The primary strength of this text is that it is written by established scholars who are also gifted teachers. Their pedagogical gifts show up in the writing of the text from cover to cover. The voice that they develop is one of a mentor writing to an apprentice. Their approach invariably encourages students to reflect critically on everyday life. The text is designed with how the classroom and how courses really work: it is flexible, thoughtful, and packed full of 'future directions, ' questions, and even activity ideas that allow individual teachers to modify the text to their and their students' needs."--Karla Erickson, Grinnell College "It is nothing short of astounding that Symbols, Selves, and Social Reality is so thorough a review of interactionism. I am amazed at how easily the authors include such volumes of information--yet the material is never overwhelming. . . . This text is an excellent resource for sociologically oriented social psychology courses. It deftly and thoroughly pairs accessible discussion of interactionist theories, methods, and concepts with contemporary case-study applications. That approach alone is praiseworthy, but combined with genuine prose and material that students can relate to, Symbols, Selves, and Social Reality deserves more than praise. It deserves to be required reading."--Bryce Merrill, University of Colorado, Boulder "Symbols, Selves, and Social Reality is an essential resource for helping students gain an in-depth understanding of the historical development, guiding propositions, and contemporary vibrancy of the perspective of symbolic interactionism."--John Baugher, University of Southern Maine "The primary strength of this text is that it is written by established scholars who are also gifted teachers. Their pedagogical gifts show up in the writing of the text from cover to cover. The voice that they develop is one of a mentor writing to an apprentice. Their approach invariably encourages students to reflect critically on everyday life. The text is designed with how the classroom and how courses really work: it is flexible, thoughtful, and packed full of 'future directions, ' questions, and even activity ideas that allow individual teachers to modify the text to their and their students' needs."--Karla Erickson, Grinnell College "It is nothing short of astounding that Symbols, Selves, and Social Reality is so thorough a review of interactionism. I am amazed at how easily the authors include such volumes of information--yet the material is never overwhelming. . . . This text is an excellent resource for sociologically oriented social psychology courses. It deftly and thoroughly pairs accessible discussion of interactionist theories, methods, and concepts with contemporary case-study applications. That approach alone is praiseworthy, but combined with genuine prose and material that students can relate to, Symbols, Selves, and Social Reality deserves more than praise. It deserves to be required reading."--Bryce Merrill, University of Colorado, Boulder "Symbols, Selves, and Social Reality is an essential resource for helping students gain an in-depth understanding of the historical development, guiding propositions, and contemporary vibrancy of the perspective of symbolic interactionism."--John Baugher, University of Southern Maine

About the Author

Kent L. Sandstrom is Professor of Sociology and Head of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology at the University of Northern Iowa. Daniel D. Martin is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Gary Alan Fine is Professor of Sociology at Northwestern University.

Edition details

• Publisher: OUP USA
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0195385667
• ISBN 13: 9780195385663
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 256