Symbolic Interactionism and
Family Studies
LaRossa, R., & Reitzes, D. C.
(1993). Symbolic interactionism and
family studies. In P. G. Boss, W. J.
Doherty, R. LaRossa, W. R. Schumm, &
S. K. Steinmetz (Eds.), Sourcebook of
family theories and methods: A
contextual approach (pp. 135-163).
New York: Plenum Press.
Assumptions
 Assumptions About the Importance of
Meaning for Human Behavior
 Human beings respond to things based on
their subjective meanings; this is a nonreductionist view of human beings.
 Meaning occurs through interaction between
people.
 Meaning is based on experience, an
interpretative process.
 Assumptions About Self-Concept
 People develop a sense of self through social
interaction; it is not innate.
 Once developed, self-concepts influence
motivation.
 Assumptions About Society
 Individuals and small groups, including
families, are influenced by larger social forces.
 People develop an understanding about social
structure based on their everyday social
interaction.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Identity
 Refers to self-meanings in a role.
 Role salience:
 hierarchical organization of roles by
importance; their is a positive correlation
between identity salience and a person’s
desire to excel in that role.
 Salience is also influence by commitment to a
role.
 Self-esteem: how one evaluates one’s
self.
 Motivates behavior.
 Behavior influences self-esteem.
 It affects conformity, interpersonal attraction,
moral behavior, educational orientations, and
mental health (Rosenberg, 1981; Wells &
Marwell, 1976)
 It also affects submissiveness, depression,
anxiety, maladjustment, and vulnerability (Luck
and Heiss). For example, someone may
abuse another person to bolster self-esteem;
the victim, in turn, is likely to experience a loss
of self-esteem.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Roles
 Refers to shared norms about social
positions (e.g., mother, father, sibling,
grandparent, teacher).
 Roles influence knowledge, ability and
motivation (Brim, 1966). They also
influence expectations about feelings.
 Roles and Socialization
 Role taking: norms about a role which
influence behavior and attitudes.
 Role making: personalization of a role; person
infuses some sense of subjectivity into their
role.
 Generalized other: use of social norms to
anticipate the behavior of others, as well
as appropriate personal behavior.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Interactions
 Social interactions influence
 meanings about shared symbols,
 specific meanings of self, others, and
situations.
 Impression management: presentation of
self in a favorable light.
 Looking glass self (Cooley, 1909/1956): a
sense of self developed by
 the imagination of our appearance to the other
person;
 the imagination of his judgment of that
appearance;
 and some sort of feeling, such as pride or
mortification
 Aligning actions: explanations for
behavior.
 Justification: accept responsibility, but deny
wrongdoing.
 Excuse: acknowledges that behavior was
wrong, but denial of responsibility.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson
Criticisms
 Concepts have not been developed into a
formal, systematic theory.
 Symbolic Interactionist research is often
criticized for use of qualitative research
methods.
 Overestimates power of individuals to
create personal realities.
 Does not adequately account for
unconscious processes.
Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson