Symbolic Interactionism Theory
The symbolic interactionism theory is a sociological perspective on the role of symbols in human life. Through communications, characters make up reality. You can get at least three premises. One strong belief is that human beings’ behavior towards things is based on the meaning they attribute to them. The second premise is that we all derive meanings of things from social interactions. It’s a way of imitating.
Through meanings derived from social exchanges, a society can shape a person, and the person can also shape the community. The third premise is that the definitions you attribute to a thing are adjusted through the process of interpreting by the people you interact with daily. That’s how communications play a vital role in shaping the behavior of a person.
Herbert Blumer is one of the most influential minds in the symbolic interactionism theory. As a theorist, his work went a long way to shape this theory. Blumer further went ahead to specify the three premises. Focusing on the meaning of symbols, Blumer suggests that you can describe a definition based on the consequences it prompts.
And it, more often than not, depends on how many agree with the meaning. If the agreement is high, then the purpose is clear, but if it’s low, then communication becomes an issue. Although that’s practical within a culture, it’s not the case outside the culture. There, the meaning of a symbol varies on how you interpret the sign.
Conclusion
Symbolic interactionism indeed influences self-consciousness. Through interactions, imitations, and finally, role-taking, children can finally make a place for them in society, and fitting in is not a problem. But for those that are unable to interact will find it problematic to fit in with the rest. That’s why homeschooling is highly unadvised.