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9781538101087

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Over half a century ago, sociologist Herbert Blumer used the term symbolic interaction (SI) to describe a theoretical approach challenging behaviorism, functionalism, and other prevailing orthodoxies in the field. Rooted in the Chicago school of sociology and American pragmatism and bearing the distinctive imprint of George Herbert Mead and Robert E. Park, this school took hold, particularly in the American Midwest. While Rohall (Missouri State Univ.) does not dwell on this history, he offers a far-ranging overview of the various currents of symbolic interaction that have arisen since Blumer. Following introductory chapters on social constructionism and methods, the remaining eight chapters take up substantive topics. As such, the book bears a resemblance to a brief, introductory sociology textbook, framed entirely in terms of one theoretical perspective. There are chapters devoted to culture, the self, socialization, emotions (less covered in introductory texts), deviance and mental health, inequality, institutions, and collective behavior. Rohall writes in an accessible manner and uses a variety of pedagogical tools, including personal notes, excerpts from original works, and chapter reviews of SI online. The result is a book professors committed to symbolic interaction will find appealing. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates.--CHOICE

"Over half a century ago, sociologist Herbert Blumer used the term ""symbolic interaction"" (SI) to describe a theoretical approach challenging behaviorism, functionalism, and other prevailing orthodoxies in the field. Rooted in the Chicago school of sociology and American pragmatism and bearing the distinctive imprint of George Herbert Mead and Robert E. Park, this school took hold, particularly in the American Midwest. While Rohall (Missouri State Univ.) does not dwell on this history, he offers a far-ranging overview of the various currents of symbolic interaction that have arisen since Blumer. Following introductory chapters on social constructionism and methods, the remaining eight chapters take up substantive topics. As such, the book bears a resemblance to a brief, introductory sociology textbook, framed entirely in terms of one theoretical perspective. There are chapters devoted to culture, the self, socialization, emotions (less covered in introductory texts), deviance and mental health, inequality, institutions, and collective behavior. Rohall writes in an accessible manner and uses a variety of pedagogical tools, including personal notes, excerpts from ""original works,"" and chapter reviews of ""SI online."" The result is a book professors committed to symbolic interaction will find appealing. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates."

Author Information

David Rohall is the Department Head and Professor of Sociology at Missouri State University. His research emphasizes the application of symbolic interactionist principles to any number of topics including self-esteem, identity, and mental health. His previous works include, Social Psychology: Sociological Perspectives, 3rd Edition (2014) and Inclusion in the American Military: A Force for Diversity (2017).

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