Chapter 10: Symbolic Interactionism and Social Constructionism-Handout-Toby Zhu

1. JOU 5320 –Theory of Mass Communication Chapter 10: 1/3 Part Toby Zhu
10/24/2017
Symbol Interactionism
Theory that people give meaning
to symbols and that those
meanings come to control those
people.
Behaviorism
The notion that all human action is a
conditioned response to external
environmental stimuli.
Pragmatism
Philosophical school of theory
emphasizing the practical
function of knowledge as an
instrument for adapting to and
controlling reality.
Typifications
“Mental images" that enable people to
quickly classify objects and actions and
then structure their own actions in
response.
Social Constructionism
School of social theory that argues that
individuals' power to oppose or
reconstruct important social institutions is
limited.
Social Construction of Reality
Theory that assumes an ongoing
correspondence of meaning
because people share a common
sense about its reality.