Advanced Social Interaction: Self in Society
Fall 2020

Section 700
CRN: 45999


Douglas Clayton Smith
Professor of Sociology

131 Grise Hall WKU Office Phone:  (270) 745-3131 
Department of Sociology and Criminology Email:  Douglas.Smith@wku.edu
Western Kentucky University Personal Webpage:  people.wku.edu/Douglas.Smith/
1906 College Heights Blvd. #11057 Class Webpage: wku.blackboard.com
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1057  
Office Hours: I will be available Monday and Friday afternoons between 1:15 and 3:15 or by appointment.
WKU Catalog Description:  The self in social environment, especially face-to-face interaction as individuals interpret, influence, and react to others' actions. Emphasis on identity, roles, and definitions of the situation. Note: Six hours of sociology required.

"Interactionism insists on being a humble theory, not claiming too much and not dealing with major abstractions and false dualisms. Indeed the real task of an interactionist is simply to look at social life as people "do things together."; its core interests lie in the doing of ethnographies and in the intimate familiarity with ongoing social . . . worlds. It is a hands-on "down-to-earth" empirical approach . . . In general, the tradition is one steeped in the exploration and inspection of data." - Ken Plummer (2003)

“The symbolic interactionist point of view requires you to take into account more things than almost any other perspective. At least, it disposes you to do your research in such a way that if anything is obviously (or not so obviously) affecting the phenomenon you want to understand, you’ll be free to take advantage of finding that out. This distinguishes it from other kinds of research which, for either theoretical or technical reasons, limit your view of what’s relevant so that you just don’t see those other factors which might be important.” - Howard S. Becker (1970)

“Few other social science approaches have made so deep and explicit a commitment to complex questions. Interactionists should not stop asking those questions. Quite the contrary, to remove that complexity—to simplify interactionism—would destroy its essence.” - Kevin Mihata (2002)

“Symbolic Interactionism is like crack for graduate students. Give them the first hit for free and then make them work for it.” - Kerry Ferris (2013)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This is a graduate course designed to provide depth and breadth of understanding in the sociological perspective known as symbolic interactionism. Students will read original analyses concerning the philosophical foundations of the perspective, research methods and theory construction, application to various substantive domains, and variations in theoretical expression and combinations with related perspectives. Upon completion of this course, the competent student will increase their knowledge about the symbolic interactionist perspective and its substantive contributions; improve their skills of reading, analyzing, and evaluating sociological research; and stimulate their thinking about their own research.

REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS:

Readings will be placed on Blackboard.  You will need to procure books for your précis.  I have copies of some of them. Some are in the WKU library.  But you may feel more comfortable ordering your own copies from an online bookstore.   


EVALUATION AND GRADING:

The course grade will be determined as follows: 

  1. Book précis (2, 20% each).  Each student will prepare two précis of books connected to a week's topic. Some potential books are included at the end of the syllabus. The written précis will consist of a one-page summary of the book. The student will post the summary as a discussion board post and answer questions about it.  

  2. Reflection papers (4, 10% each). You will write four short papers, 5-8 pages long, typed, double-spaced. These papers will be based on the readings and will answer the question "What do I know and understand now that I didn't know or understand (or misunderstood) before?". This requirement forces you to do was any good academic must learn to do; namely, constantly explore the boundary between your ignorance and your knowledge.  

  3. Lead Discussion on a Topic of Their Interest (20%). Each of you will select four Symbolic Interactionist articles on a topic area that you are interested in. I have randomly assigned you weeks in the course outline. You will submit the article list to me at least two weeks before you lead discussion so that I can post the readings on Blackboard. You will then create a video in which you lead the class that week, running us through the articles.  

LATE ASSIGNMENT POLICY:

Due dates for every assignment are provided above. Unless otherwise stated, assignments are due on those days. However, I recognize that sometimes "life happens." In these instances, you may use your allotted two flex days. These days allow you to submit an assignment up to two days late without penalty. You can use these days for any assignment and for any reason. You do not need to provide me with the reason: simply email me and tell me how many of your flex days you would like to use. 

Once you have exhausted your flex days, then point deductions will occur for any assignment submitted after the deadline. An assignment submitted within 24 hours after the due date will only be eligible for 97 percent of the maximum number of points allotted. Each additional 24 hour period will reduce the maximum total points by 3 (2 days = 94 percent max, 3 days = 91 percent max, etc.). If you experience extenuating circumstances that prevent you from completing assignments on time, please contact let me know before the due date whenever possible. Examples of extenuating circumstances where grace can be given may include but are not limited to: personal/family member hospitalization, death in the immediate family, weather/environmental evacuation due to fire/hurricane, or active military assignment where internet connectivity is unavailable for a limited time period. General computer-related issues and internet connectivity issues are usually not considered extenuating circumstances. Please ensure the technology you are using is compatible with Blackboard's technology requirements and contact IT if you experience any problems with Blackboard.

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE:

The literature surrounding symbolic interaction is vast. There is no way we can cover it all in just a semester. So, below is my attempt to organize a tour of this area. In selecting the readings, I have attempted to give you examples of excellent interactionist research on many interesting topics. I also have attempted to introduce you to different groups of interactionists. The purpose is to give you a conceptual scheme around which to organize your own continuing reading and interpretation of the literature.  

 

Topics and Readings

WEEK 1

Aug. 24 -- Aug. 28

Introductory matters; objectives; getting organized.

  • Fine, Gary Alan. 1993. “The Sad Demise, Mysterious Disappearance, and Glorious Triumph of Symbolic Interactionism.” Annual Review of Sociology 19:61-87.

  • Maines, David R. 2003. “Interactionism's Place.” Symbolic Interaction 26(1): 5-18.

WEEK 2

Aug. 31 -- Sept. 4

Pragmatism and Social Behaviorism

WEEK 3

Sept. 7 -- Sept. 11

The Chicago School of Sociology -- SI Assembles

  • Robert Park. 1927. "Human Nature and Collective Behavior." American Journal of Sociology 32:733-741.
  • Robert Park. 1928. "Human Migration and the Marginal Man." American Journal of Sociology 33:881-893.
  • David R. Maines, Jeffery C. Bridger, and Jeffery T. Ulmer. 2001. "Consequential Distortions of Park's Theory of Human Ecology." pp. 69-95 in The Faultline of Consciousness. Hawthorne, NY: Aldine.
  • W.I. Thomas and Florian Znaniecki. 1927. "The Social Personality: Organization of Attitudes." from The Polish Peasant in Europe and America.

WEEK 4

Sept. 14 -- Sept. 18

  • Ellsworth Faris. 1928. "Attitudes and Behavior." American Journal of Sociology 33:271-280.
  • Herbert Blumer. 1937. "Social Psychology." from Man and Society, edited by E. Schmidt.
  • Howard Becker. 1951. "The Professional Dance Musician and His Audience." American Journal of Sociology 57(2):136-144.
  • Herbert Blumer. 1966. Sociological Implications of the Thought of George Herbert Mead." American Journal of Sociology 50(5):353-359.

REFLECTION PAPER ONE DUE FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18 AT 3:15PM.

WEEK 5

Sept. 21 -- Sept. 25

Iowa, Indiana, and Structural Symbolic Interaction

  • Manford Kuhn and Thomas S. McPartland. 1954. "An Empirical Investigation of Self-Attitudes." American Sociological Review 19(1):68-76.
  • Dan E. Miller, Robert A. Hintz, and Carl Couch. 1975. "The Elements and Structures of Openings." The Sociological Quarterly 16(4):479-499.
  • Carl Couch. 1984. "Symbolic Interaction and Generic Sociological Principles." 
  • Alicia Cast. 2003. "Power and the Ability to Define the Situation." Social Psychology Quarterly 66(3):185-201.
  • Peter J. Burke. 2004. "Identities and Social Structure: The 2003 Cooley-Mead Award Address." Social Psychology Quarterly 67(1):5-15.
  • Sheldon Stryker. 2008. "From Mead to a Structural Symbolic Interactionism and Beyond." Annual Review of Sociology 34:15-31.

WEEK 6

Sept. 28 -- Oct. 2

Goffman and the Dramaturgical Perspective

  • Goffman, Erving. 1955. "On Face-Work: An Analysis of Ritual Elements of Social Interaction."

  • Cahill, Spencer, William Distler, Cynthia Lachowetz, Andrea Meaney, Robyn Tarallo, and Teena Willard. 1985. “Meanwhile Backstage: Public Bathrooms and the Interaction Order.” Urban Life 14(1):33-58.

  • Goffman, Erving. 2006. "Selections from Stigma" Pp. 131-140 in Lennard J. Davis (ed) The Disability Studies Reader. Taylor and Francis.

  • Herman, Nancy J. 1993. “Return to Sender: Reintegrative Stigma-Management Strategies of Ex-Psychiatric Patients.” Journal of Contemporary Ethnography 22(3):295-330.

  • Kusow, Abdi. 2004. “Contesting Stigma: On Goffman’s Assumptions of Normative Order.” Symbolic Interaction 27(2):179-197.

WEEK 7

Oct. 5 -- Oct. 9

Socialization

  • Patricia A. Adler, Steven J. Kless, and Peter Adler. 1992. "Socialization to Gender Roles: Popularity among Elementary School Boys and Girls." Sociology of Education 65(3):169-187.
  • David A. Karp, Lynda Lytle Holmstrom, and Paul S. Cray. 1998. "Leaving Home for College: Expectations for Selective Reconstruction of Self." Symbolic Interaction 21(3):253-276.
  • Spencer E. Cahill. 1999. "Emotional Capital and Professional Socialization: The Case of Mortuary Science Students (and Me)." Social Psychology Quarterly 62(2):101-116.
  • Arluke, Arnold. 2002. “Animal Abuse as Dirty Play.” Symbolic Interaction 25(4):205-430.
  • Lois, Jennifer. 1999. “Socialization to Heroism: Individual and Collectivism in a Voluntary Search and Rescue Group.” Social Psychological Quarterly 62(2):117-135.

REFLECTION PAPER TWO DUE DUE FRIDAY OCTOBER 9 AT 3:15PM.

WEEK 8

Oct. 12 -- Oct. 16

Self and Social Interaction

  • Gregory Stone. 1962. "Appearance and the Self" pp. 187-202 in Social Psychology through Symbolic Interactionism, edited by Gregory Stone and Harvey Farberman. New York: Macmillan. 
  • Sandstrom, Kent L. 1990. “Confronting Deadly Disease: The Drama of Identity Construction Among Gay Men with AIDS.” Journal of Contemporary Ethnography 19(3):271-294.

  • Patricia A. Adler and Peter Adler. 1989. "The Glorified Self: The Aggrandizement and the Constriction of Self." Social Psychology Quarterly 52(4): 299-310.
  • Michael Katovich and Carl Couch. 1992. "The Nature of Social Pasts and Their Use as Foundations for Situated Action." Symbolic Interaction 15(1):25-47. 

WEEK 9

Oct. 19 -- Oct. 23

Social Organization and Structure 

  • Harvey A. Farberman. 1975. "A Criminogenic Market Structure: the Automobile Industry." The Sociological Quarterly 16(4): 438-457
  • Anselm L. Strauss. 1978. "A Social Worlds Perspective." Studies in symbolic interaction 1: 119-128 
  • David R. Maines. 1982. "In Search of Mesostructure." Journal of Contemporary Ethnography 11:267-279.
  • Peter M. Hall. 1987. "Interactionism and the Study of Social Organization." The Sociological Quarterly 28(1):1-22. 
  • Anselm Strauss 1993. "Social Worlds and Interaction in Arenas." Pp. 225-244 in Contniual Permutations of Action

WEEK 10

Oct. 26 -- Oct. 30

Emotions

  • Susan Shott. 1979. "Emotion and Social Life: A Symbolic Interactionist Analysis." American Journal of Sociology 84(6): 1317-1334
  • Arlie Russell Hochschild. 1979. "Emotion Work, Feeling Rules, and Social Structure." American Journal of Sociology 85(3):551-575.
  • Peggy A. Thoits. 1996. "Managing the Emotions of Others." Symbolic Interaction 19(2):85-109.
  • Thomas Scheff. 2003. "Shame in Self and Society." Symbolic Interaction 26:239-262.

REFLECTION PAPER THREE DUE 

WEEK 11

Nov. 2 -- Nov. 6

Collective Behavior and Social Movements

  • David A. Snow, Louis Zurcher, and Sheldon Ekland-Olson. 1980. "Social Networks and Social Movements: A Microstructural Approach to Differential Recruitment." American Sociological Review 45(5):787-801.

  • David A. Snow, E. Burke Rochford, Steven K. Worden, Robert D. Benford. 1986. "Frame Alignment Processes, Micromobilization, and Movement Participation." American Sociological Review 51(4):464-481.

  • Robert D. Benford. 1997. "An Insider's Critique of the Social Movement Framing Perspective." Sociological Inquiry 67(4):409-430.

  • David Schweingruber. 2000. "Mob Sociology and Escalated Force: Sociology's Contribution to Repressive Police Tactics." The Sociological Quarterly 41(3): 371-389.

WEEK 12

Nov. 9 -- Nov. 13

McClusky and Deaderick's Week

WEEK 13

Nov. 16 -- Nov. 20

Belcher and London's Week

WEEK 14

Nov. 23 -- Nov. 27

THANKSGIVING WEEK (NO CLASS)

WEEK 15

Nov. 30 -- Dec. 4

Greenfield and Williams' Week

WEEK16

Dec. 7 -- Dec. 11

Finals Week

REFLECTION PAPER FOUR DUE

COURSE NORMS:

If you earn an F, your last date of attendance will be reported to the United Stated Department of Education. If this date is at or before the 60% point of the term (in this semester, October 25), this may require you to pay back any financial aid funds received for this course.


RESOURCE INFORMATION:

The Writing Center offers individual conferences about writing with our staff of English majors and graduate students. Our services are available to all Western Kentucky University students. While the offices of the Writing Center are in Cherry Hall 123, the Center offers online consultations for students. The writing tutors have been trained to provide helpful feedback to students at all phases of a writing project: they can help you brainstorm ideas, structure your essay, clarify your purpose, strengthen your support, and edit for clarity and correctness. But they will not revise or edit the paper for you. See instructions on the website (www.wku.edu/writingcenter) or call (270) 745-5719 during their operating hours (also listed on our website) for help scheduling an appointment.    

In compliance with University policy, students with disabilities who require academic and/or auxiliary accommodations for this course must contact the Student Accessibility Resource Center located in Downing Student Union, Room 1074.  The SARC can be reached by phone number at 270-745-5004 [270-745-3030 TTY] or via email at sarc.connect@wku.edu. Please do not request accommodations directly from the professor or instructor without a faculty notification letter (FNL) from The Student Accessibility Resource Center.

SYLLABUS CHANGE POLICY:

The syllabus for any class is a road map. The readings in the course calendar are places we are scheduled to visit.  Anyone who has taken a preplanned road trip or vacation knows that the trip is not fun unless you stop at the interesting roadside attractions even though they might divert from your original route or time table.  It's the process of getting there that is fun and relaxing and intriguing.  In that light, I reserve the right to alter the standards and requirements set forth in this syllabus at any time. Notice of such changes will be by announcement on Blackboard and/or by email notice.

ADD/DROP DATES:

Last day to add a full semester class: August 31

Last day to drop a full semester class without receiving a grade: August 31.

Last day to receive any refund for the Fall semester: September 14.

The 60% point of the Fall semester: October 25.  

Last day to drop a class with a W: November 2

Last day to remove an incomplete from Spring or Summer terms: November 8

Roster freeze date (No late adds or withdrawals for extenuating circumstances will be processed after this date): December 4

Appendix: Suggested Books for Briefs

The Chicago School -- SI Assembles

Iowa, Indiana, and Structural Symbolic Interaction

Research Methods

Self and Social Interaction

Emotions

Social Organization and Structure 

Socialization

Deviance, Crime and Violence

Collective Behavior and Social Movements

The Contemporary Place of SI