Defining the Symbol1

A detailed Summary of Defining the Symbol1

?Human beings exist and interact in a reality which they define themselves. Inside of this

reality they make use of social objects, that is, anything used between to actors in social

situations that have meaning and function in that social environment (Charon 46). Many social

objects are used to represent something else and are interpreted to convey more meaning. These

social objects are known as symbols and it is the core of the symbolic interactionist perspective.

Simply defined, a symbol is something that stands for something else. In Sociology, a symbol

is classified as a social object that the members of a society have agreed represents a concept, an

object, or an ideal that is not present. They are used to communicate, express intentions,

represent objects and groups and define the reality that surrounds us (Charon 46-48). They can be

separated into the categories of referential, expressive, and mixed symbols

The symbol is an important, if not key, concept to the symbolic interactionist perspective

females, to convey immediately communicate the sex of the child (Kendall 70). These symbols

in that it represents the physical object. On a larger scale referential symbols are used to represent

(Charon 50). If a one nation or group of nations places a trade embargo onto another, it is

just as looking at a watch or a clock while the person is speaking conveys boredom or disinterest

?Charon, Joel M. Symbolic Interactionism; An Introduction, An Interpretation, An Integration.

Approximate Word count = 627
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Politics

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