Symbolic Interactionism Basic Principles 1. Human being, unlike lower animals, are endowed with the capacity for though 2. The capacity for thought is shaped by social interaction 3. In social interaction, people learn the meanings and the symbols that allow them to exercise their distinctively human capacity for thought. 4. Meanings and symbols allow to carry on distinctively human action and Interaction 5. People are able to modify or alter the meanings and symbols that they use in action and interaction on the basis of their interpretation of the situation 6. People are able to make these modifications and alterations because in part, of their ability to interact with themselves, which allows them to examine possible course of action, assess their relative advantages and disadvantages and then choose one 7. The intertwined patterns of action and interaction make up groups and SocietiesSymbolic Interactionism: Basic Principles • 1. Human being, unlike lower animals, are endowed with the capacity for thought. • 2. The capacity for thought is shaped by social interaction. • 3. In social interaction, people learn the meanings and the symbols that allow them to exercise their distinctively human capacity for thought. • 4. Meanings and symbols allow to carry on distinctively human action and interaction. • 5. People are able to modify or alter the meanings and symbols that they use in action and interaction on the basis of their interpretation of the situation • 6. People are able to make these modifications and alterations because, in part, of their ability to interact with themselves, which allows them to examine possible course of action, assess their relative advantages and disadvantages, and then choose one. • 7. The intertwined patterns of action and interaction make up groups and societies