Lost in transit: Khadijah, Hyatt, Ekene, Keri
2. The readings suggest that systems of meaning arise from a standardizing or institutionalization of actions, Véronique Irwin
which come to be expected in certain situations, performed by certain actors. Meaning arises from the significance
an action has had historically and the context in which it is currently present, including where it is being
performed, who is performing it, and who it is being performed to/for.
The constructivist/interactionist perspective is more of a methodologically individualist one. The focus in this Brandyn Curry
perspective is understanding the motivations behind individuals actions by looking at many factors including past
experiences, environment, and the audience
Q#2: In the readings of constructivism, systems of meaning are derived by the social context of the individual as Mariel Sena
the norms, expectations, institutions reinforcing them. It is similar to Weber in that it looks at the dynamic of the
individual within the group. In interactionism, systems of meaning come from how an individual, either acting or
perceiving the actions, interprets the behaviors during interactions between individuals for the purpose of
information exchange. It is similar to Weber as well in the notion of subjective meaning for the individual.
Constructivism sees society as being both an objective reality existing outside of man, and one being created by Chase Sippel
man in that human interaction becomes institutionalized and creates/reforms the social world. Interactionism
builds sociological theory from the ground up by empirically studying individuals interactions with one another
which they believe creates the social world.
2. Meaning arises from human action, or gestures, which others have interpreted. We find meaning in the Yaa
patterns of our institutionalized actions which are acknowledged as humans act ritualistically (Goffman).
Kyle Casey
result of a process of social interaction. These meanings are seeded in, and modified through, interaction.
Question 1: It seems like most of the authors agree that people's motivation for action is to have their social Martin Kessler
identity affirmed. For example, Goffman argues that individuals attempt to have the role they take on legitimized
by others.
I believe that the readings say that the systems of meaning come from the society. They put this "fix" as Garfinkel Mitch Ross
would say into shaping what intentions people have in acting. People are able to act and react to this system
because they are forced to understanding these gestures of people. It is derived from within as well as structures
and what they are understood to signify, which all is from the individual and their material substratum that we are
embedded in.
My understanding of what the theorist have to say is how we have the capability to interpret the social world and Dee Giger
act accordingly towards their audience to avoid humiliation or embarrassment. We use a "face" that enables us to
steer free from personal pain of being made fun of for any incorrect interpretations of communication. We act
through recognizing ones possible reactions before we actually communicate with that person.
5. I think the constructivist perspective is methodologically individualist; even though Calhoun points out that Jamie
micro-sociologists are more interested in the meaning between individuals than in individuals, micro-sociology
examines interaction at a low level, then scales up. The method of analysis that this weeks theorists use also lends
itself to individualism, as they generally tended towards using actual experiences as examples, rather than general
abstract patters (unlike Marx!).
1) Costructivism says that people's motivation for action lies in the social context that they exist in. There action is Jordan Nuckolls
made because of a feeling or emotion inside that is meant to be demonstrated or acted out to the social group
that they belong to. We are all actors within our society and are always staging our performances for others.
In understanding and acting in your societal role, you make adjustments to your persona. Those adjustments may Wesley Gordon
be categorized as saving face or just putting on an acceptable show. Its important to remember social interactions
involve ourselves and others as characters.
#5: The constructivist/interactionist perspective is a methodologically individualist because micro-sociology stresses Kevin Kong
the intersubjective aspects of human existence, the interplay of meanings that people assign to their actions. A key
relevant phenomenon is institutionalization, the summation of habituated exchanges of action and meaning
between many actors (i.e. the greeting of acquaintances meeting on the street); but this is merely an aggregation
that is used to discuss generalities of the actors, and does not not function as a separate collective entity to be
studied for its own emergent properties, governing laws, etc. (i.e. the collective habits/meanings of the casual
greeting is not studied for its emergent properties)
This week's readings seem to focus on how we transform the arbitrary into the meaningful. We maintain our Addy
socially constructed perceptions through everyday rituals that confirm those ideas. Once we attach our feelings or
opinions about someone, something or ourselves, those stereotypes usually stick and sometimes one may find
themselves living up to those expectations.