The Theory of Symbolic Interactionism - Essay Example

According to the study of Corell and Ridgeway, (2004), gender inequalities can be attributed to cultural beliefs that institutionalized the category of segregating men and women. This belief in the category has created a bias of difference of social inequality of race and gender and brought into the system the various multi-faceted structures in life. This question is also related to the study of the sociology of sex which is one of the branches of the study of symbolic interaction.

2. Knowing what you know now about how the self is constructed, how do you think sociological counseling would work? What is "clinical sociology"? What is the current state of "clinical sociology"?

Self is somebody’s personality or an aspect of somebody’s personality, especially as perceived by others. When there is a perceived problem in one’s self, the role of a clinical sociologist is to intervene to facilitate change. First, a Clinical Sociologist assesses the situation along with the context of beliefs and practices and tries to provide a solution to improve the situation. The clinical sociologist can focus on the role of counseling, (e.g. marriage counseling or community counseling).
Clinical sociology has been defined by Jan Marie Fritz as …” the application of the sociological perspective to facilitate changes. The clinical sociologist is primarily a change agent who is immersed in the client’s social world

The current state of “clinical sociology”. Dr. Mark Foster, (n.d.) in an internet article, reported that many universities have incorporated sociological practice in their curriculum, and accreditation bodies have been created for this purpose.
Clinical sociologists have different expertise and could work on “Heath promotion, sustainable communities, social conflict or cultural competence. They can be community organizers, socio-therapists, mediators, focus group facilitators, social policy implementers, action research administrators, and university professors. (American Sociological Association, n.d.)

3. .Symbolic interactionism claims our self is dependent upon the social groups with which we affiliate. Using symbolic interaction theory explain how the self of a person in a dis- enfranchised group might be different than one associated with a majority position

According to symbolic interaction theory, a disenfranchised person acts on things based on the meaning of things related to them, whose meaning is a result of the social interaction that one has towards others and society. The situation is handled and modified through an interpretative process used by Clinical Sociologists.
This case needs to study the cause and effect in historical or political events emphasizing the reasons for disenchantment and difference with someone who is associated with a majority position. The interactionists consider society as organized and patterned interactions among individuals. Thus, in this question, interactionists will focus on observed “face-to-face” interactions rather than on macro-level structural relationships involving social institutions” In interaction, the meaning of events to oneself must be explained and understood and must have to adjust social processes moving away from the established norms and values.

4. Given Luhmann's theory, how do you think worldwide ecological concerns can be addressed?
Niklas Luhmann is one of the sociological theorists who consider macro sociology as a sociological approach. This approach analyzes societies, social systems, or populations on a large scale. This has been defined as ” a study concerned with individuals, families, classes, social problems, and all of the other parts and features of a society, but analyzes these features about the larger social systems of which they are a part.” (Wikipedia).

Macro sociology deals with issues such as war, distress of Third World nations, poverty, and environmental deprivation. For example, this definition can be applied to the worldwide population and its concerns about ecological problems. In our example, most American people are pessimistic about the state environment and want action to improve it. Thus, the concept of autopoiesis of Luhmann can be relevant to our example of spatial planning for public participation in ecological concerns. Autopoiesis, according to Luhmann is a systemic, consistent,t and sophisticated theory of society based on a systems view, and examines this view in the concept of public participation for the project. Read More