11 SENIOR HIGH

SCHOOL

Disciplines and Ideas

in the Social Sciences
Quarter –1Module -7:
5
Analyze the basic concepts and principles of the major social
science theories;
a) Structural
-functionalism b) Marxism c) Symbolic Interaction

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 What I Need to Know

MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCY:

Analyze the basic concepts and principles of the major social science theories;
a. Structural-functionalism
b. Marxism
c. Symbolic Interaction

Discipline and Ideas in the Social Sciences is one of the subjects that you need to
take under HUMSS, which stands for Humanities and Social Sciences. This lesson focuses
on the study of Structural Functionalism, Marxism, and Symbolic Interaction.
This module was designed and written for you in order to help you understand the
basic concepts and principles of the major social science ideas. To do this, you are required
to undergo a series of learning activities to complete each learning competenc y. Each
lesson includes information sheets, tasks and activity sheets. You need to perform each
activity by yourself.

The module has 3 lessons, namely:

a. Structural Functionalism
b. Marxism
c. Symbolic Interactionism

At the end of the module, you should be able to:

• Explain the theories on Structural Functionalism.
• Analyze the basic concepts and principles of the structural functionalism theory.
• Appreciate one’s personal and social experiences using the theories structural
functionalism

What’s In

Imagine life without language. What would our world be like without it? How do you use
language appropriately in your daily life? Study the picture below and write at least 5
sentences about the picture in your notebook.

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 https://bwcdigital.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/ w l - 005 .jpg

What’s New

LESSON 1: STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM

STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM

Structural functionalism or simply functionalism, is essentially a sociological theory that

revolves around the notion that a society is composed of a system of interconnected parts
that have their own particular functions.
Social structures formed among groups or institutions are referred to as macrostructures,
which include religion, education, tradition, and culture. On the other hand, social structures
established among individuals or within groups that result in individual interactions are
called microstructures.
The effects of the social structures or their purpose are called social functions. Every
social structure has a corresponding social function. This relationship between social
structures and social functions are the parts of the system which structural functionalism
identifies.

KEY CONCEPTS IN STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM

A manifest function is the predicted, intended, expected, and knowable effect of a social
structure. An example of which is when people go to church, in order to pray and to hear
mass.

A latent function is the unintended outcome of social structure. So, if the manifest function
of going to church is to pray and hear mass, its latent function is to gather people together
in one place to reinforce the sense of community.

MANIFEST and LATENT Dysfunctions

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 A manifest dysfunction is the predicted, expected, and knowable disruptions of a social
structure. For example, a large gathering of people such as concerts and other events
disrupts traffic flow within the vicinity of the event, even though it was not intended to do so.

A latent dysfunction is the unpredicted and unexpected disruptions of social structures.

For example, there are costumers who usually take pictures of food in social media. But
since these customers are not the only ones doing it, the average time spent by customers
in their tables will increase. The latent dysfunction in this example is that the next
costumers will have an increased waiting period. Manifest and latent dysfunctions bring
about negative effects or outcomes. For the sociologist, studying manifest and latent
functions is a way to promote the benefits of such functions and further develop social
structures. But because manifest and latent dysfunctions are contrary to the idea of
systems in society, sociologists focus more on the dysfunctions to promote social stability
and solidarity. Understanding manifest and latent dysfunctions help sociologists assess
risks and prepare accordingly. Such assessments and preparations can be in different
fields and can be useful in various fields and professions.

IMPORTANT THEORISTS

Auguste Comte
Auguste Comte provided an analysis of social evolution through his Law of Three Stages.
Comte provided a theory of society and man’s cognitive progression from religious and
abstract concepts to a scientific perspective. Comte’s ideas are considered as the
precursor to structural functionalism, as he identified tradition and other social structures as
elements in shaping the society. The Law of Three Stages itself is a critique of the social
structures and of how humans were shaped by progressive thinking.

Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer is known as the first sociological functionalist. His comparison of society
to the human body is the overarching idea of structural functionalism. According to
Spencer, each social structure is like a body part---it has a purpose and a function in the
overall well-being of the society. He also compared the way organism evolved to how it
handles constant problems.

Talcott Parsons
Talcott Parsons was an American sociologist known as one of the primary contributors to
the development of structural functionalism. Parsons identified the different systems which
make up the structure of the society, which he called systems levels. The systems he
expounded on were the following: the cultural system, social system, personality system
and biological system. All these system work and interact with each other in some level to
provide structure to the society.
The cultural system is the structure that the society generated throughout history so that
people can socialize and live together as a community. The social system is understood as
the roles people have in society. The personality system refers to how individuals affect

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society through their personalities, attitudes, behaviors, beliefs and other characteristics.
Lastly, the behavioral or biological system is the physical body of the individual and the
environment where he or she lives in.

Davis and Moore

Kingsley Davis (1908–1997) and Wilbert Moore (1914–1987) were American sociologists
known for the functionalist theory of stratification or Davis- Moore hypothesis. Their
hypothesis suggest that social inequalities are necessary so that society benefits from
them---from the poor, the middle class and the rich.
To arrive at such a hypothesis, Davis and Moore explored the dynamics of hierarchical
structure such as corporations, governments, and the military, whose structural
organizations reflect that of a pyramid----the head (decision-maker and highest paid) is at
the top, the managers and supervisors (both receiver and provider of commands and
receive a medium pay) at the middle and the workers (receiver of command and lowest
paid) at the base.
In order for the organization structure to function properly, the positions in this hierarchical
structure are accompanied by necessary qualifications and experiences so that competent
individuals would fill the positions. Any deviation from these qualifications would undermine
the entire organization. Thus, individuals with higher education, skill, experience and
training are placed on top of those who are less qualified. Since those at the top enjoy
higher social status and higher salaries, those at the bottom are the motivated to acquire
the necessary qualifications to eventually be placed on top as well. Hence, individuals who
understand stratification would invest their time to further their education and hone their
skills while getting experiences. In such a case, inequality functions and dysfunctions.

Robert Merton
Robert Merton (1910–2003) was an American sociologist who is also a key contributor to
the functionalist theory of society. Specifically, he was the one who developed the concepts
of manifest and latent functions and dysfunctions.
A student of Parsons in Harvard University, Merton saw his mentor’s functionalist
perspective as being too theoretical and overarching. So, he aimed to develop a theory,
which he called middle range theory. This allows some level of experimentation to ground
theories more to reality. In order to do this, he said that a middle range theory should have
limited assumptions and hypothesis, which would allow for some testing. It should also
have a limited range of data to research and interpret. This was how he came up with the
different descriptions of functions. Additionally, Merton focused on dysfunction as it
opposes the idea of functional unity, which presupposes that everything works optimally all
the time and that distortions exist in society. Because dysfunction is dependent upon who is
asked, it is called valued term. For example, a vehicular accident is seen as a dysfunction,
but can also be an opportunity for a tow truck driver or junkyard dealer to gain profit (the
former by towing wrecked vehicles, the latter by recycling the parts of the vehicles).

Almond and Powell

Gabriel Almond (1911–2002) and Bingham Powell (born 1942) are American political
scientists who applied structural functionalist theories in comparative politics. Before the
theory of structural functionalism was introduced in political science, states were studied in

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a manner that they had the same systems upon which they operated on and were subject
to the same laws and production processes. Almond and Powell, however, argued that the
study of political systems of different states must be done contextually. They highlighted the
need to understand the institutions through which political systems were allowed to
function. Finally, the particular function and the historical context which develop and
established this institution must also be taken into account in conducting research.
Aside from studying the interrelationships of the function of institutions in a political system,
Almond and Powell also recognized the function of the political system itself on society.
They highlighted the function of the political system as political socialization, recruitment,
and communication. Political socialization is the means by which proper civic conduct,
duties and good citizenship are promoted and societal values and beliefs are passed on to
the younger generation. On the other hand, recruitment is the way by which political
systems attract the interest of the public through participation in debates and other
engagements. Lastly, communication is the means by which society learns about the issues
and affairs of the state.

ESSENTIAL LEARNING
The main idea in structural functionalism is that the society is made up of different
components such as institutions, services, and people that work together and allow the
society to function. As body parts have specific functions, functionalism implies that all
structure in society have their own purpose and specific functions.

Structural functionalism
Structural functionalism, or simply functionalism, is “a framework for building theory
that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and
stability”.
The structural-functional approach is a perspective in sociology that sees society as a
complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. Education,
for example, has several important functions in a society, such as socialization, learning,
and social placement.

What is It
What have I learned so far?

1. What is your own understanding of Structural Functionalism theory?

Answer:
___________________________________________________________________

2. How can manifest and latent dysfunction affect social order?

Answer:

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 Assessment

Direction: Read each item carefully and write T f the statement is true, and write F if the
statement is false. Write your answers in your activity notebook.
____1. Microstructures are the social structures formed among groups or institutions.
____2. Social functions are the effects of social structures or their purpose.
____3. Macrostructures are social structures that were established by the individual or
within a group that resulted in individual interactions.
____4. Structural functionalism is the essential sociological theory that revolves around the
notion that a society is composed of a system of interconnected parts that have their
own particular function.
____5. Manifest function is the predicted, intended, and expected effect of a social
structure.
____6. Structural functionalism is the same as the human body parts that have specific
functions, functionalism implies that all structures in society have their own purpose
and specific functions.
____7. Addressing elders with respect, as an example of a macrostructure, patterns and
shapes the younger generation to promote social values.
____8. When one of the parts of the society does not perform properly, the entire society
could not function well.
____9. Political socialization is a means by which proper civic conduct, duties and good
citizenship are promoted and societal values and beliefs are passed on to the
younger generation.
____10. Recruitment is the way by which political systems attract the interest of the public
through participation in debates and other engagements.
____11. The unpredicted and unexpected disruptions of social structures is called latent
dysfunction.
____12. Various parts of the society are interrelated.
____13. Davis and Moore aimed to develop a theory, which they called middle range
theory, that would be more focused and manageable.
____14. Theorists respond to the social phenomena that pervade society.
____15. Communication is the means by which society learns about the issues and affairs
of the state.

Glossary
Dysfunctions – abnormality or impairment in the function of a specified bodily organ or
system.
Functionalism – a viewpoint of the theory of the mind, and wherein mental states are
constituted solely by their functional role, such as their causal relations with other
mental states, sensory inputs and behavioral outputs.
Precursor – a person or thing that comes before another of the same kind
Recruitment – the action of finding new people to join an organization or support a cause.
Subsist – maintain or support oneself, especially at a minimal level.

References
Acton, Harry Burrows. “Herbert Spencer | Biography, Education, Books, & Facts.” Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/HerbertSpencer.
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Alejandria-Gonzalez, Maria Carinnes P., and Elizabeth T. Urgel. DIWA Senior High School Series: Discipline
and Ideas in Social Sciences. Makati City, Philippines:
DIWA Learning System Inc., 2016.
Barnes, Harry Elmer, and Ronald Fletcher. “Auguste Comte | Biography, Books,
Sociology, Positivism, & Facts.” Edited by The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia
Britannica. Accessed August 19, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Auguste-Comte.
Moffitt, Kimberly, and Lesley Chapel. “Structural-Functional Theory in Sociology:
Definition & Examples - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.Com.” Study.com, n.d.
https://bit.ly/3ga8j7z. “Structural Functionalism.” Wikipedia, September 21, 2003.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structural_functionalism.
"Structural-Functional Theory in Sociology: Definition & Examples." Study.com. April 24, 2015.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/structural-functional-theory-insociology-definition-examples-
quiz.html.

What I Need to Know

LESSON 2: MARXISM

At the end of the module, you should be able to:

• Explain the theories on Marxism.
• Analyze the basic concept and principles of Marxism theories
• Appreciate personal and social experiences using the theories of Marxism.

What’s In

The main purpose of structural functionalism is that the parts and its functions, are
interconnected to the other parts as a big factor for the maintenance or continuity to
function properly as a structured social system. Thus, each institution has a part to play in
maintaining the balance of the larger structure as a whole. This assumption can also relate
to the parts similar to that found in an organism, an example of which is the digestive
system (Vincent 2001).

What’s New

MARXISM

Marxism is a sociological, political, and economic philosophy that is based on the ideas
and theories of Karl Marx (1818–1883). To understand the ideas of Karl Marx, the
historical backdrop from which he lived---during the Revolution of the 19 th century – must be
considered.
Before the advent of the Industrial Revolution, the primary source of living in many
European countries was farming or agriculture-related work. However, with the rise of
factories, such character changed, which caused farmers to abandon their fields to become

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factory workers. The introduction of machines enabled the rapid advancements in the
production process, which allowed faster trade and consumption of goods. This
development provided factory owners with profits that enabled them to invest in factory
expansion. This cycle of production and consumption continued to create an economy,
which became known as industrial capitalism.
Industrial capitalism created two classes in society, which Marx termed as the bourgeoisie
or the factory owners or capitalist and the proletariat or the industrial workers or labors.
The bourgeoisie controls the production (factories, machines, and land), while the
proletariat, who does not have access to such means of production, exchanges labor for
wages.

KEY CONCEPTS IN MARXISM

SOCIAL INEQUALITY
In a capitalist society, oppression and exploitation are among the social inequalities that
exist between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Marx argued that the profit from goods
should be equally divided among the laborers since they are the ones who work to produce
such goods. But in reality, they are given low wages and are often asked to work in terrible
working conditions. For Marx, capitalists steal by taking the profit for themselves, while
leaving the workers with salaries disproportionate to the work that they provide.

Class Conflict
Class conflict or class struggle arises from the oppression of the proletariat by the
bourgeoisie. Such oppression happens whenever a society has a stratified and hierarchical
class division, and it is more evident in a capitalist society where the manipulative force of
capitalism creates tension between the classes.
Marx advocated for a revolutionary consciousness to fight back against the capitalist
oppressors. At the end of the revolution, a communist society will then be established,
which for Marx, will make the citizens happy as they will be treated equally. A communist
society is characterized by a classless society having common ownership of property and
resources (means of production). Private property and profit-based economy are replaced
by public ownership and control.

Important Theorists

Marx and Engels

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels (1820–1895) were German philosophers and political
scientists, who are regarded as the fathers of Marxist theory. Marx and Engels were
friends, and they collaborated many times. Their most notable work together was
Communist Manifesto.
Marx and Engels presented in the communist manifesto their core ideas in a way that the
proletariat could easily grasp. They laid out their thoughts in a simple and systematic
manner which does not require the reader to be a part of the academic elite in order to
understand. The communist manifesto provides a sociological perspective in the
understanding of history. For Marx and Engels, history is determined by the class struggles
and conflicts between the oppressor (bourgeoisie) and the oppressed (proletariat). The

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bourgeoisie, who controls and monopolizes the means of production, remains in power
because of wealth accumulated from the profits of production. The proletariat, who
contributes much to the profit of the bourgeoisie, remains as mere workers.
Moreover, the communist manifesto points to an organized proletariat class who would
revolt against the bourgeoisie by amassing political power. This is the aim of communism
as argued by Marx and Engels – that workers unite to overthrow the bourgeoisie
supremacy and ultimately allow the proletariat freedom from subjugation. Thus,
communism would prevent oppressors from exploiting the working class in order to gain
profit.

V. Gordon Childe
Vere Gordon Childe (1892–1957) was an Australian archeologist and philologist. Childe
used Marxist economics as a tool in distinguishing periods of prehistory and in tracing the
evolution of Western civilization.
Production is central to Marxist economics because it is the means by which human living
is maintained and sustained. It is through the process of production where the bourgeoisie
and the proletariat engage with one another and where exploitation and oppression occur.
Childe classified periods of prehistory through their capacity to utilize the environment in
food production processes. He maintained that civilizations in those periods developed and
evolved as they gradually took control of their food production processes. To sustain their
growing population, hunter-gatherer civilizations turned into farming and by doing so
created different social classes in the process. The emergence of social classes were
primarily caused by the surplus in food production. Surplus allowed other classes in society
to expend efforts in other ventures such as metallurgy. Just as machine enabled the
expansion of the industrial revolution, new technologies such as metallurgy allowed for
sociocultural and economic revolutions in the prehistoric ages.

Theodor Adorno
Theodor Adorno (1903–1969) was a German philosopher and sociologist. His most notable
work, Dialectics of Enlightenment (1944), was made in collaboration with Marx Horkheimer
(1895-1973) who was also a German philosopher. In this collaborative work, capitalist
ideology was seen as focusing on commodities so that consumers would find necessity in
buying material goods. Marx called this effect of capitalist ideology as fetishism of
commodities. Fetishism commodities places value on consumerist goods by making the
masses want and desire to consume them. Taking the argument of Marx, Adorno applied
this to the state of capitalism in his time. Adorno argued that commodity fetishism has
reached beyond material goods and has touched different social institutions and even
academic disciplines. He explained that the process by which fetishism takes hold is
through reification, or the subjection of human beings to capitalist ideology. Human minds
are conditioned to accept ideology without a second thought and apply capitalist ideology in
their daily lives. Thus, ideology becomes the driving force in all human actions, as it
provides the desire and the objects of desire while taking for granted the desire for these
objects were only made by the capitalist system.

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Slavoj Zizek
Slavoj Zizek (born 1949) is a Slovenian philosopher and a sociologist. Zizek expounded on
ideology and how it directly affected everyday reality. He argued that reality is constructed
by ideology itself.
For Zizek, ideology is reflected in ordinary language. Zizek explains that ideology blankets
society with beliefs that paradoxically have no believers. The Slovenian philosopher further
elaborates on how ideology is used by the capitalist to extract more profit from the masses;
however, Zizek points out that this extraction is now done in a more subtle way. For
example, some of today’s advertisements will say that there will be beneficiaries (who are
in desperate need of help) for every consumerist item that is sold. The belief is that
consumers do not mind buying expensive products if part of the profit will be donated to a
noble cause. For Zizek, such capitalist strategy is how ideology works. A person knows for
a fact that a certain object has a particular value that may or may not be equal to its
advertised value; however, he or she still purchases it because every day ideology has
made him or her believe that the object is necessary in everyday living.

ESSENTIAL LEARNING
One of the most striking arguments against Marxism which captured the patronage of a
significant number of scholars and social advocates is the pervading issue of social
inequality that is being perpetuated by systems of oppression based on capitalistic values.
More than 167 years after its conception and despite the criticisms against it, Marxism still
appears to be influential because the social realities that it portrayed are still prevalent.
Today, Marxism remains as a critical voice against forms of oppression relating to
economics and power.
Marxism is a method of socioeconomic analysis that uses a materialist interpretation of
historical development, better known as historical materialism, to understand class relations
and social conflict as well as a dialectical perspective to view social transformation.
The political and economic philosophy of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in which the
concept of class struggle plays a central role in understanding society's allegedly inevitable
development from bourgeois oppression under capitalism to a socialist and ultimately
classless society.
The key characteristics of Marxism in philosophy are its materialism and its commitment
to political practice as the end goal of all thought. The theory is also about the hustles of the
proletariat and their reprimand of the bourgeoisie.
Marxism was a critique of capitalism. Its original purpose was to steer society away from
the abusive, oppressive forms of class capitalism that were prevalent in the 19 th century
and reassert more universal liberal principles.
What is It

Directions: Read the questions below, and answer them directly in your notebook.

What have I learned so far?

1. What is Marxism?
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Answer:
___________________________________________________________________

2. What social conditions predicted the development of this theory?

Answer:
___________________________________________________________________

3. How is social inequality experienced in a capitalist society?

Answer:
___________________________________________________________________

4. How does class conflict occur?

Answer:
___________________________________________________________________

Assessment

Direction: Read each item carefully and write T f the statement is true and write
F if the statement is false. Answer directly in your activity notebook.
____1. The purpose of Marxism is to treat the economic status equally for every individual
in the society.
____2. Marxism delves into the relationship of the people with one another in the context of
production.
____3. Bourgeoisie refers to the owner of the factory or the capitalist.
____4. During the industrial revolution, the farmers improved the method of farming in the
society.
____5. Communist society is characterized by a classless society having common
ownership of property.
____6. The two industrial capitalism created in the society are bourgeoisie and proletariat.
____7. Karl Marx advocated for a revolutionary consciousness to fight back against the
capitalist oppressors.
____8. Class Conflict arises from the oppression of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie.
____9. . The use of machinery equipment in the factory is an example of industrial
revolution.
____10. In the theory of Marxism, the capitalists are also the laborers or the ones who work
for the company.
____11. The theory of Karl Marx is in favor of the owner of the company.
____12. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels’ core ideas were to have an unequal economic
status between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie.
____13. Industrial capitalism is the cycle of production and consumption continued to
create the economy.
____14. The communist society likes to have a common ownership of the property and its
resources.

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____15. Social injustice, according to Marx, is to give the laborer a low wage
disproportionate to the work they provide.

Glossary
Fetishism – excessive attention or attachment to something

Grasp – to seize and hold by or as if by clasping with the fingers or arms.

Oppressors – to burden with cruel or unjust impositions or restraints; subject to a

burdensome or harsh exercise of authority or power.

Reification – to consider or make (an abstract idea or concept) real or concrete

Struggle – to contend resolutely with a task, problem, etc.; strive

Subjugation – the action of bringing someone or something under domination or control.

What I Need to Know

LESSON 3: SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM

At the end of the module, you should be able to:

• Explain the theories on Symbolic Interactions.
• Analyze the basic concept and principles of symbolic interaction theory.
• Appreciate personal and social experiences using the symbolic
interactions theory.
What’s In

Marxism is the theory of Karl Marx which says that society's classes are the cause of
struggle and that society should have no classes. An example of Marxism is replacing private
ownership with co-operative ownership.

What’s New

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SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM

Symbolic interactionism is a theory on society that focuses on the individual’s interaction

with objects and other people. It perceives reality through the compositions of social
interactions and the understanding of the meanings of these social interactions that provide
a perspective on social order and social society. The basic premise of symbolic
interactionism is that behavior is influenced and can only be examined through social
interactions. Consider the following, for instance. The Filipino word for window is often
thought of as bintana, which came from the Spanish word ventana. For Spaniards, the
window is associated with ventilation, which allows cold air to circulate around the house
and the hot air to get out. However, for the Filipino the formal word for window is not
bintana but dungawan. For the Filipinos, the window is associated with something to look
outside on; but more than that, the dungawan is a place where Filipinos could socialize at.
Typically, an individual opens his or her window to see the neighborhood, to greet people
passing by, and to learn about the latest news in town.
Key Concepts in Symbolic interaction
Interaction-based Meaning
It can be said that meaning is not monopolized by a
single person or perspective---something can have
different meanings as there are different perspectives.
Actions are determined by the meanings people’s
association of meanings. As meaning changes, so does
society. Even interactions with the environment are only https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/47vPTpSI2puFyIA
done through the meanings assigned to them. A tree can ale()/TC_3026633-symbolic-interaction-theory-
ew5D1PxZGAw0=/1333x1000/smart/filters:no_up
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be perceived as a source of shade during hot days, or as 5b1166fb8e1b6e0036e3e383.p ng

means to produce a thousand sheets of paper. Symbolic

interaction sees reality not just as meanings but sees meanings as constitutive of reality
itself. Hence, culture, science, society, and mathematics to name a few are only as real as
the meanings assigned to them.

Human Agency
Humans are perceived to be active social actors who willingly negotiate their roles and
identities within and through the system. This concept emphasizes the capacity of humans
to project and plan their actions based on certain goals formed for the betterment of their
conditions. Hence, despite the impositions of a greater structure, the individual can be seen
as an active player in the interpretation and modification of the structure’s rules and
processes.

Important Theorists

Herbert Blumer
Herbert Blumer (1900–1987) was an American sociologist who coined the term symbolic
interactionism. A central idea to Blumer’s works is that social reality is in a continuous
process of creation. This idea stems from the notion that social interactions happen in a
society at a given place and time. It follows that social reality is in a constant process of
creation and reinvention.

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Symbolic interactionism, for Blumer, has three basic premises:
1. “Humans act toward things on the basis of the basis of the perceived goal. An
individual ascribes a meaning to a particular goal and this affects his or her actions
toward achieving it.

2. “the meanings of things derive from social interaction”. The meanings ascribed by
individuals to things are formed from their interaction with society. In a sense, the
individual accepts the meanings of things given by society.

3. “These meanings are handled in, and modified through, an interpretative process
used by the person in dealing with the things he or she encounters.” Meanings are in
a constant flux; they are evolving each time interaction takes place and each time an
individual reflects on these interactions. Although the interpretation of things and the
corresponding meanings produced are internal and subjective, elements which
formed the meanings are highly social and come from interactions. As such, the
creation of meaning requires, in some level, conformity to the generally established
meaning assigned by society.

In social perspective, meaning is subject to negotiation in order to reach a consensus of a

mutually understood meaning. Adjustments to personally derived meanings must be made
in order to address another individual in a social interaction. This adjustment is done
through the process of role play. Role play, in this context, is the ability to perceive the
object of conversation through the eyes of the other. In doing so, it allows for a better
consensus on what the object means, thereby allowing a better understanding of what the
general meaning of the object is. Without a consensus, the object would remain distant to
both individuals in a dialog, inasmuch as it becomes a limiting force in the force in the
process of understanding each other.

George Herbert Mead

George Herbert Mead (1836–1931) was an American sociologist, philosopher, and
psychologist, considered as one of the founders of social psychology. Mead developed a
theory of the social self, which interprets the self as emerging from social interactions.
Mead’s three activities are language, play, and games.
Language allows communication through which attitudes, opinions, emotions, and ideas
are conveyed between individuals. Language also allows individuals to respond to each
other using symbols, gestures, and sounds. For Mead, the use of language enables the
individual to understand and internalize the opinions of others about him or her. Play, on
the other hand, allows an individual to act in another role or capacity, or what is commonly
referred to as role play. Role play is important as it makes the individual confine his or her
actions by the expected roles assigned to him or her. Play enables the self to internalize his
or her roles and assume the expectations derived from such roles. Lastly, games allow an
individual to act within the confines imposed by the rules of activity. They also allow an
individual to know when to bend the rules or to completely break them. Games allow an
individual to internalize and acquire knowledge of societal rules, which are essential in
order to live in a society.

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Charles Horton Cooley
Charles Horton Cooley (1864–1929) was an American sociologist whose main contribution
in the field was the study of primary groups. He coined and defined primary group as the
first group where a person belongs, and where the individual develops his or her ideas,
beliefs, values, and self. Based on the given definition, one will instinctively think of the
family as his or her primary group. The family, being the first primary group, influences the
way a person thinks and the way he or she relates to others.
Cooley’s most famous theory of self is the looking-glass self in which the self is understood
as that which is formed from interactions, such as those done with the primary group. The
looking-glass self is the process by which self-consciousness emerges through the lens of
the other.

Harold Garfinkeld
Harold Garfinkeld (1917–2011) was an American sociologist and ethnomethodologist.
Unlike other sociologist theories, the aim of ethnomethodology is not the analysis of
society, but the methods, procedures, and practices by which members of society use to
make sense out of the world. Ethnomethodology is sometimes related to the theory of
common sense, as its main focus of study is the everyday interactions of people through
the use of symbols, language, gestures, and emotions, which enable the construction of a
meaningful social order. An example of an everyday act which requires only common sense
is having a telephone conversation. Because there are no visual cues to help, the flow or
delivery of communication is key to have a proper conversation.
Unlike traditional sociology, ethnomethodology is not an analysis of society. It does not
provide a theory by which the society can achieve social stability or social unity. Rather, it
allows social stability, unity and order by looking into society’s individual members and how
each one performs. One method used in ethnomethodology is termed as first time through,
which refers to the practice of describing social activities as if being witnessed for the first
time. The purpose of the first time through method is to allow the observer to be better in
framing social activities, as it would require intense reflection on his or her part to actually
conduct. Deviation from social norms elicits bewilderment, and in most cases, a negative
response from the other. For Garfinkeld, social order is constructed using common sense
or the consensually accepted practices of society for given social interactions and events.
As such, social order is not something which naturally occurs, but is more of a social
accomplishment. Hence, members of society must be taught common rules agreed upon
and these rules must be practiced in their daily lives. When a common sense rule works,
then it is repeated to achieve social order.

ESSENTIAL LEARNING
The theory of symbolic interactionism relies heavily on the qualitative approach to
research, as it aims to make sense of human behavior through the social circles that an
individual interacts with. The theory is highly relevant in providing context to how we
acquire our behaviors and the importance of social groups in the formation of the self.
Symbolic interactionism is a sociological theory that develops from practical considerations
and alludes to people's particular utilization of dialect to make images and normal
implications, for deduction and correspondence with others. The view of social behavior
emphasizes linguistic or gestural communication and its subjective understanding,
especially the role of language in the formation of the child as a social being.
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 Symbolic interactionism is viewing society as composed of symbols that people use to
establish meaning, develop views about the world, and communicate with one another. We
are thinking beings who act according to how we interpret situations.

What is It

Answer the following questions in your activity notebook.

What have I learned so far?

1. What is symbolic interactionism?
Answer_____________________________________________________________

2. What are your experience that could relate the theory of symbolic interactionism?
Answer___________________________________________________________

Assessment

Direction: Read each item carefully and put your answer on the space provided before the
number. Write T f the statement is true and write F if the statement is false.

____1. Symbolic interaction cannot be applied in other subject areas.

____2. As time goes by window is not only for ventilation but also for socializing with others.

____3. Communication and interactions defined social reality.

____4. Games are one way of socializing with others. This allows an individual to
internalize and acquire knowledge of societal roles.

____5. As humans, it is natural for each individual to have different reactions to the things
surrounding them.

____6. . Reactions can sometimes cause conflict.

____7. Interactions are important between people, especially when providing meaning to
things around us.

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____8. Charles Horton Cooley is a German sociologist.

____9. Interaction with the things around us are based on the society we grew up.

____10 Roleplaying enables the self to internalize his or her roles and assume the
expectations of such roles.

____11. Social networks are responsible for creating the social self.

____12. Symbolic interactionism is viewing society as composed of symbols that people

use to establish meaning, develop views about the world, and communicate with one
another.

____13. Individuals are capable of making their own realities apart from structural
pressures.

____14. Symbolic interaction is the social dynamics of people on how they give meaning to
things.

____15. Ventana is a Spanish word which means ventilation or allows the cold air to
circulate inside the house and the hot air to get out.

Glossary
Consensus – the opinion of the majority

Ethnomethodology – the sociological study of the rules and rituals underlying ordinary
social activities and interactions.

Interactions – the direct effect that one kind of particle has on another

Perceive – to become aware of, know, or identify by means of the senses:

Role – the rights, obligations, and expected behavior patterns associated with a particular
social status.

Symbolic – characterized by or involving the use of symbols:

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 PERFORMANCE TASK
Tell us who you really are…

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Base on the theory of Charles Cooley’s Looking Glass Self, write a reflection of yourself –
who you really think you are. Write your reflection on a short bond paper.

References
Alejandria-Gonzalez, Maria Carinnes P., and Elizabeth T. Urgel. DIWA Senior High School
Series: Discipline and Ideas in Social Sciences. Makati City, Philippines: DIWA
Learning System Inc., 2016.

Betts, Jennifer. “Symbolic Interactionism Examples in Everyday Life.” Accessed August 19,
2020. https://examples.yourdictionary.com/symbolic-interactionismexamples-in-
everyday-life.html.

Wikipedia contributors, “Symbolic interactionism,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia,

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Symbolic_interactionism&oldid=973
219328 (accessed August 19, 2020).

“Marxism Dictionary Definition | Marxism Defined.” Accessed August 20, 2020.

https://www.yourdictionary.com/marxism.

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