Symbolic Interactionism Research Articles

Family Socioeconomic Status in Adolescence and Gender Identification in Emerging Adulthood

This study contributes to research exploring social factors shaping gender identification. Informed by structural symbolic interactionism, social identity theory, and Levitt’s psychosocial theory of gender, we explore how a key aspect of external social structure—adolescent family socioeconomic status—is associated with gender identification in emerging adulthood. We examine whether correlates of family socioeconomic status, including adolescent family and educational experiences and friend and high school characteristics, are associated with a cisgender, binary transgender, nonbinary, or gender unsure identification. Using data from High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09), we find a positive association between adolescent family socioeconomic status and a nonbinary gender identification. Analyses indicate that educational and family experiences account for the largest percentage of the association between adolescent family socioeconomic status and nonbinary gender identification, potentially representing higher SES youths’ heightened access to middle- and upper-class cultural schemas and resources.

Social Interaction for Empowering and Encouraging Farmer Productivity in Kecamatan Rubaru, Sumenep

This research focuses on social interaction and farmer empowerment in Rubaru District, Sumenep, and its impact on agricultural productivity. Social interaction between farmers plays a crucial role in increasing agricultural productivity, while farmer empowerment is an important factor in increasing welfare. This study adopts the framework of symbolic interaction theory to understand the role of communication and interaction in agricultural development. Miles and Huberman’s research method was used, involving in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document content analysis with five informants. The research results show that positive social interactions between farmers contribute to increasing agricultural knowledge, skills, and innovation. Farmer empowerment involves providing knowledge, skills, and access to resources and supporting better decision-making in agriculture. The role of farmer groups and cooperatives in facilitating social interaction and empowering farmers is very important. Madurese people’s myths and cultural beliefs influence farmers’ understanding of agricultural practices. Field instructors need to have cultural sensitivity and effective communication. In conclusion, social interaction and farmer empowerment positively increase agricultural productivity in Rubaru District, Sumenep. Peer-to-peer education and strong relationships between field extension workers and farmers play an important role in knowledge transfer and behavior change, providing valuable insights for the development of farmer empowerment programs and sustainable agricultural development. Keywords: social interaction, empowerment, farmer groups, productivity

Sartorial Strategies of Female Punks in Malaysia’s Socio-Religious Landscape

This study explores the sartorial strategies employed by female punks in Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country, to navigate the complex interplay of subcultural identity, local socio-cultural norms, and religious expectations. Utilizing an ethnographic approach, the research reveals how these women selectively adapt their appearance across various social settings, balancing their allegiance to the punk subculture with the pressures of local societal norms. By using clothing as a symbolic tool, they maintain a coherent sense of self while negotiating different social landscapes. Drawing on symbolic interactionism, this study portrays punk identity as a dynamic and interpretive process, challenging the notion that subcultural styles are purely about resistance. Instead, it suggests that these practices can facilitate integration and acceptance, enabling individuals to bridge multiple social worlds. By advancing the conceptual framework of localization of subculture the research not only examines the formation and expression of subcultural identities through style but also how these identities are continuously adapted to personal and social changes. This study underscores the importance of local context in shaping subcultural practices and highlights the adaptive responses of these women, thereby repoliticizing punk subculture styles in a Malaysian setting.

Inclusive leadership toward reshaping corporate purpose for sustainable development

This paper delves into the complex relationship between business leadership, sustainability, and inclusivity, representing a step toward developing a more inclusive leadership approach to sustainable development that fosters shared power relations between business leaders and marginalized members of society. With environmental and social conditions worsening, it is urgent for corporations to move away from the neoliberal profit-maximization models advocated by Milton Friedman and instead prioritize humanity and the environment. This shift requires a fundamental restructuring of businesses to move beyond profit maximization and address societal power imbalances by including all stakeholders. Our inclusive leadership for sustainable development framework, rooted in symbolic interactionism, offers a holistic lens for including marginalized groups. At the microlevel, it focuses on business leaders’ personas, characterized by pro-demographic diversity and biodiversity, cognitive complexity for sustainable development, and social empathy, which can potentially create a macro-level impact. These characteristics, accompanied by macro perspectives toward repurposing corporations away from neoliberalism, would be a step forward in cultivating shared power dynamics between business leaders and marginalized communities for the betterment of society.

The Role of Graffiti as an Expression of Youth Identity

Graffiti art has drawn pros and cons from the public and is considered a Form of vandalism or crime because it damages public facilities. However, for graffiti artists or bombers, graffiti is a place to express themselves. Even though it received a lot of negative responses from the public, graffiti was able to survive and continue to exist. Based on this, the author wants to know the meaning behind the activities of the bombers who chose graffiti art as a medium of expression. The author uses qualitative research methods. The data collection techniques used in this article are interviews, observation, and documentation. The theory used is the theory of self-expression through the symbolic interaction approach by George Herbert Mead. The research results show that graffiti perpetrators or bombers choose graffiti as a medium for self-expression and self-existence. Graffiti allows bombers to display their work to the broader public. Keywords: Graffiti, Bombers, Self Expression

Digital marketing communication strategy Diraloka in maintaining the national tradition

<p>This study discusses how Diraloka maintains national traditions in the postmodern era using marketing 4.0 strategies (online and offline). Technological developments make overlapping cultures accumulate and sometimes can get rid of each other, as well as various values that are often eroded by the speed of the times. This study aims to know and analyze Diraloka's digital marketing communication strategy<br />in maintaining the national tradition of the modern postal era to build brand awareness. This research uses symbolic interaction theory. The paradigm used is constructivism with a qualitative research approach. The method used is a case study. The subject of research is key informants and informants. Data collection<br />techniques use interviews, focus group discussion (FGD), observation, and documentation. The results of this study show that Diraloka's involvement in implementing digital marketing communication strategies by voicing national traditions is positively assessed by the audience or the surrounding community. From Diraloka's engagement rate on Instagram, it can be seen that this brand builds a good relationship with its audience. The story shared by Diraloka is packaged through symbols of art, literature, and literacy, and utilizes AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology for its design. Thus, moving together in maintaining,<br />developing, and voicing national traditions can have an emotional impact. Diraloka can form a civic virtue Marketing Communication Strategy 4.0, Diraloka, Symbolic Interaction, National Tradition,<br />Brand Awareness.called #AliansiPejalan and # KawanDira as a form that supports the common good of Indonesian citizens.</p>

Impact of Traditional Kenyan Sports and Physical Activities on Youth Development and Community Cohesion

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of traditional Kenyan sports and physical activities on youth development and community cohesion. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The impact of traditional Kenyan sports and physical activities on youth development and community cohesion is significant. Traditional sports, such as wrestling, running, and indigenous games, play a crucial role in promoting physical health, social skills, and cultural identity among young people. These activities provide a platform for youth to develop discipline, teamwork, and leadership qualities, which are essential for their personal growth and future success. Additionally, traditional sports foster a strong sense of community cohesion by bringing together individuals from different backgrounds and generations, reinforcing social bonds and cultural heritage. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Social learning theory, ecological systems theory & symbolic interactionism may be used to anchor future studies on the impact of traditional Kenyan sports and physical activities on youth development and community cohesion. Community organizations and educational institutions should integrate traditional Kenyan sports into youth programs to leverage their benefits for physical and social development. Policymakers should advocate for increased funding and resources dedicated to traditional sports programs.

Extending sexual scripting theory through critical discursive psychology: An analytical approach to explore the performance of sexual identities

Sexual scripting theory, a widely used tool in sexuality research, was originally developed by Gagnon and Simon to illuminate the social nature of sexual practices and identity construction. Later, they sought to develop the theory further to align with a social constructionist perspective. However, vestiges of individualism and cognitivism haunt sexual scripting theory largely due to the use of the symbolic interactionist concept of performance. To address this, we draw on the performance–performativity approach in critical discursive psychology that develops the notion of performance from a discursive perspective and offers a way of extending sexual scripting theory that offers a truly social explication of sexual identity construction. We provide a practical illustration of this extended theorising, drawing on data from a project about young people’s online engagement with pornography. We demonstrate how developing the notion of sexual scripts as discursive resources that enable the performance of sexual identities allows us to illuminate the social and situated nature of identity construction. This framework enhances understanding of the process of sexual identity construction and provides a valuable tool for studying how broader sexual scripts that are sociohistorically specific provide a scaffolding for the ways an individual can construct sexual identities. Overall, this paper offers a valuable contribution to discursive scholarship in psychology by presenting a nuanced analytical framework that coheres with a constructionist, performative view of identity.

The effects of incivility on student nurses in the clinical setting: A grounded theory approach

AimTo use a grounded theory approach to explore and understand the encounters of undergraduate nursing students with incivility in the clinical setting so that data-informed strategies for addressing this counterproductive behavior could be developed. BackgroundNurses are being called upon to fill ever-increasing responsibilities associated with expanding roles in different specialties within healthcare. One issue that has developed in this high-pressure environment is an increase in incivility in the workplace that spills over into the clinical training environment. As a pervasive problem in the healthcare system, its effects on nursing students could compound the nursing shortage by undermining the integrity of nursing education and discouraging individuals from entering the profession. Therefore, it is vital to construct new theories regarding incivility so that this unprofessional practice can be eradicated or reduced. When this is done, there may be a renewed hope for new nursing students to practice their clinical rotations without feeling disrespected, undermined and intimidated. Students should be able to complete clinical rotations without these unnecessary barriers. DesignQualitative grounded theory using philosophical underpinnings of symbolic interactionism and pragmatism. MethodsA classical grounded theory approach focusing on the Glaserian Model was used to develop an inductively derived theory from the data. Participants were interviewed about their encounters with incivility and then open coding was used to identify recurring concerns on which a model of the effect of these occurrences could be established. The study sample consisted of 32 participants of which 25 were undergraduate nursing students and seven were graduate students who participated in a focus group. Data were collected through face-to-face (in-person and virtual) structured interviews that were audiotaped. These individuals were recruited by flyers posted at varying strategic points on university campuses. ResultsOpen coding of student responses revealed three significant areas of concern: feelings of being disrespected, intimidated and undermined, from which the Inhibiting Actions Theory emerged. ConclusionNursing students' perceptions of incivility and their attitudes and behaviors toward this occurrence culminated in the Inhibiting Actions Theory, which provides a framework for implementing effective policies and personnel training in clinical settings. The hope is that these research findings will be a call to action for introducing systemic changes in the clinical training environment, thereby improving the clinical experiences of nursing students and patients.

Research on Online Games and Social Interaction

This paper delves into the central position of online games in contemporary society and their close relationship with social interaction. With the popularity of the Internet, online games have become one of the most important ways of leisure and social communication. The study outlines the development of MMOs, from their origins to their diverse classifications, and in particular how their unique social characteristics facilitate interactions between players. Through theoretical analysis combined with social exchange theory and symbolic interaction theory, this paper reveals the mechanisms of social interactions in MMOs, including inter-player exchanges, cooperation and competition, and explores how these interactions profoundly affect players' gaming experience and behavioural decisions. Further, this paper analyses the trend of convergence between online games and social networks, and how this convergence enhances the social attributes and player engagement of games. At the same time, the paper also focuses on the social problems that online games may bring, such as Internet addiction and social disorders, cyberbullying, etc., and looks forward to the impact of technological advances on future social interaction patterns. Finally, the paper summarises the potential and challenges faced by online games in promoting healthy social interactions, and puts forward suggestions for future research with a view to promoting the healthy development of the field of online games and social interactions.

Religious Myths and the Internalization of Non-Leadership Identities in Nigerian Women: A Symbolic Interactionist Analysis

Despite concerted efforts to promote gender equity in the global space, women remain underrepresented in leadership. This trend is most observed in Nigeria, where of the 49.99 percent of women in the population, only 6.7 percent are in elective and appointive political positions. Research suggests that men are usually seen as more capable leaders, even when women have higher qualifications. This paper attempts to investigate the etymology of this notion within the postcolonial framework and feminist research while drawing on a social psychology theory. Using the symbolic interactionist theory, I examine why/how the gender in which divinity is conceptualized sets the stage for stereotypes that inform a people's perception and conception of reality, thereby influencing how the attributes associated with the feminine and masculine are perceived in society. My argument is that the functionality of the symbolization process in religious myths is connected to the conscious and unconscious processes of human thought, perception, imagination, and intuition; therefore, it relates to epistemology as a means of knowledge. This makes it function dialectically and interpretively with the social processes, enabling outcomes such as the masculinization of the social reality and the internalization of non-leadership identities in women.

From employee socialization to co‐evolution: A lifespan multidisciplinary conceptualization

AbstractVarious theories have highlighted how employees evolve in their organization and how organizations influence this process, but only portray part of the complex relations among these interacting social entities. We thus propose a meta‐theory to unify these multiple theories, including symbolic interactionism, employee/organizational socialization theory, human resource management (HRM) systems theory, cultural consensus theory, and self‐determination theory. This integration seeks to increase our understanding of the co‐evolution process unfolding over time between individuals and the organizations to which they belong. We first propose a multilevel expansion of the symbolic interactionist framework typically used to described employee socialization. In doing so, we integrate organizational culture, climate, identity, image, reputation, and HRM systems as distinct meso‐social phenomena that can be simultaneously considered in the co‐evolution process and themselves be influenced by macro‐social processes. We then outline how this proposed framework can explain the dynamic co‐evolution occurring between employees and the organization, hoping to spur research on the improvement of social entities through psychological means.

Penggambaran Peran Gender dalam Keluarga di Film Noktah Merah Perkawinan

This study aims to examine the depiction of gender roles in the 2022 film version of Noktah Merah Perkawinan, which is a remake of the 1996 television series. The focus of the film is the dynamics of the marriage of a couple who have been married for 11 years. This research employs a qualitative approach with text analysis methods. The analysis technique used is Roland Barthes' semiotic analysis technique which consists of three stages, namely denotation, connotation, and myth. Meanwhile, the theory used in this research is symbolic interactionalism theory which emphasizes the concepts of roles and values. The data used include documentation of film scenes that meet the predetermined analysis criteria as well as related published journals. The results show that the depiction of gender roles in this film is still not ideal. Although both men and women are portrayed in domestic and public roles, domestic roles are predominantly held by women. This is due to the persistent traditional stereotypes, where women are seen as responsible for the domestic sector, while men are encouraged to take responsibility in the public sector. In conclusion, this film still maintains traditional stereotypes in the depiction of gender role distribution.

An Aesthetic Morphology Approach of Visual Identity on Dong’s Ethnic Costume

The Dong ethnic minority is one of the representative ethnic minorities in China, The Dong ethnic minority has their own unique traditional clothing, The Dongs’ clothing had a long history, they were made by hand by each Dong family throughout the entire process from planting, spinning, weaving, dyeing, sewing and embroidering and decorating. It plays an important role in the life of Dong people, especially in special occasions such as festivals. The Dongs’ clothing had been included in the fourth batch of representative items of national intangible cultural heritage in China. The purpose of this study is to investigate the Dong ethnic minority and Visual identity in Clothing. Symbolic interactionism was the Theoretical basis of this study. The study was a qualitative study that was descriptive and historical in nature. The results were written in a literary/text format. Data were gathered through inspecte of clothing, photos and video records from the library, museum and interviews. Using aesthetic morphological methods to study the components of the design elements of their clothing, A comprehensive interpretation of the role of costume in expressing and symbolising, defining and shaping identity is presented. The findings concluded that the form and style of clothing worn by the Dong people reflect their visual identity and aesthetics. It is hoped that this study will provide an important reference for future research in related fields.

Living With a New Normal: Self-Identities of Women With Breast Cancer in Nigeria.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer for women in Nigeria, representing 25% of all cancers in women. How do women self-identify with the new realities of living with breast cancer before, during and after treatment? This study aims to examine the self-identities of 22 women with breast cancer in Nigeria. The paper relies on grounded theory research method to collect data, analyse and capture the processes of self-identity formation. The qualitative data analysis reveals the basic social process within symbolic interactionism that describes how breast cancer survivors perceive their agency and how new self-identities emerged from the new normal of living with breast cancer. A framework of three self-identities emerged from the data: (1) valued self-identity before breast cancer, (2) dependent and determined self-identities during treatment and (3) devalued self-identity post-treatment. This study should help caregivers understand the profound perpetual psycho-emotional impact that breast cancer has on sufferers and survivors.

Unlocking the Symbolic Tapestry: Exploring Symbolism in Ahmed Ardalan's The Gardener of Baghdad

Using Roland Barthes' semiotic theory, this study article explores the symbolic aspects of Ahmed Ardalan's 2014 novel, The Gardener of Baghdad. The research seeks to reveal the several layers of meaning inside the text by examining the book using the ideas of signifier and signified, as well as denotative and connotative meanings. This analysis demonstrates how Ardalan's use of symbols enriches the storyline, mirroring profound cultural, historical, and emotional settings. The results demonstrate the intricate interaction of symbols in the book, providing a more profound comprehension of its themes and emotional intensity. This study examines how carefully Ahmed Ardalan uses symbolism in The Gardener of Baghdad, paying particular attention to the garden, the red rose, and the glorious city of Baghdad. Ardalan explores deep issues of love, grief, and culture via these symbols, weaving a story with a wealth of nuance and complexity. The garden is a haven and a symbol of optimism because it demonstrates that love can flourish even in the face of adversity. The red rose symbolizes the beauty and fragility of love, as well as the unescapable suffering that comes with losing someone. The portrayal of Baghdad as a historically and culturally significant city embodies the people's tenacity and enduring spirit. This study reveals how these symbols are more than just literary devices—rather, they are crucial components that raise the novel's thematic depth. By unraveling this symbolic tapestry, the research provides a better understanding of Ardalan's reflection on the human condition, demonstrating the enduring significance of his writing.

Communication Patterns in the Formation of Self-Concept in Early Adults Who Experience Fatherless in Medan City

This research aims to analyze communication patterns in the formation of self-concept in early adults who experience fatherlessness, analyze self-disclosure in early adults, and to analyze communication barriers felt by early adults who experience fatherlessness in Medan City. The theories used in this research are Symbolic Interaction Theory, Self-Concept and Self-Disclosure. This study uses a qualitative method. The number of informants in this study was 6 (six) early adults who experienced fatherlessness. The research results show that the absence of a father causes the emergence of dysfunctional communication patterns in the family which affects various aspects of the informants' lives such as communication with the surrounding environment and their self-concept. Communication barriers found in early adult individuals are psychological barriers or psychological noise, which is caused by the loss of the father's role due to death or his absence in the informant's growth and development during childhood. This condition creates a fear of communicating and causes difficulty in expressing feelings

Algorithms as conversational partners: Looking at Google auto-predict through the lens of symbolic interaction

This article showcases a speculative methodology for recreating interactions between a human and Google Search’s Auto-Predict interface as conversations, to explore how AI-based systems are both persuasive and deeply personal. Using ethnomethodology tools and a symbolic interactionist lens, the paper presents three versions of a single Google search, each variation building a slightly different angle on the plausible utterances and interpersonal dynamics of the human and nonhuman partners. This thought experiment emerges from a decade of classroom-based digital literacy exercises with young adults, training them to analyze their lived experiences with digital media, algorithms, and devices. Transforming information exchanges into personal conversations provides a creative method for analyzing how relations are co-constructed in the granular processes of interaction, through which mutual intelligibility is built, meaning about the world is made, and identities are formed. This critical analysis extends methods for human–machine communication studies and elaborates notions of algorithmic identity.

‘It just seems that they don’t act like men’: The influence of gender role stereotypes on women’s entrepreneurial innovation activities

The purpose of this study is to explore how gender role stereotypes influence women entrepreneurs in their innovation activities. To examine how women perceive and respond to stereotypes that deem them less capable of initiating innovation processes of creative destruction in Schumpeterian terms, I draw on symbolic interactionism. The ethnographic field study I conducted in an entrepreneurial ecosystem reveals that relevant actors and institutions still attribute women as exploring innovation potentials of limited scope, having higher risk awareness, and exploiting identified innovation potentials in niche rather than mainstream markets, while they are more often driven by emotions. To challenge these stereotypes and thrive in exploring and exploiting innovation potential, they need to invest considerable resources in legitimation efforts, building strategic alliances, and managing expectations. These findings contribute to the development of theory on the impact of gender on the performance of innovation activities.

“You Feel Like You’ve Found a Place Where You Belong”: Symbolic Interactionism and Online Social Video Games in the Age of COVID-19

This paper investigates how players perceive and understand the sociality afforded by online social video games (OSGs), framed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing data from semi-structured interviews ( n = 20), we apply Blumer’s concept of symbolic interactionism to explore the ways in which video games take on new meanings in co-constructed, collaborative and contributory digital spaces. We argue (a) that games offer a meaningful social experience, (b) that this sociality flourishes due to the perceived lack of social risk particularly due to OSG characteristics of perceived or real anonymity, (c) that this works to facilitate social development, and (d) that these characteristics were valuable in the context of a pandemic at a time of reduced social interaction. Our contribution shows that online video game spaces alter the risk profile of forming and maintaining connections by reframing interaction as the cooperation toward shared goals.