The Self and Political Role: A Symbolic Interactionist Approach to Political Ideology

Abstract

SYMBOLIC interaction theory, though widely applied in analysis of other areas of human behavior, has been used infrequently in study of politics and almost never in study of political ideology.? This paper illustrates applicability of theory as an approach to latter. More specifically, it attempts to find a relation between differential self conceptions and types of political roles individuals play. It attempts to provide a tentative answer to following question: What kinds of self-views are associated with a left-wing or moderate or rightwing or some other political role? Traditionally, an individual's social beliefs or ideology has been viewed as a product of economic class or social conditions. More recently, a number of sociologists and political scientists have approached it as a correlate of status crystallization.2 But most of empirical research on political ideology has considered it to be a manifestation of personality.3 In personality studies it is assumed that ideological beliefs spring from an underlying personality structure or predisposing factors within individual. In research presented in present article, political ideology is treated as role perception. It is viewed as a set of norms or a role incorporated into individual's view of himself and world he lives in. It develops out of symbolic interaction with significant others. Political role, as well as mind and self, is the individual importation of social process.4