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Symbolic Interactionism

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Abstract

This chapter will begin by discussing two precursors of symbolic interactionism, Cooley and Mead. After discussing the role of the Chicago school in field research, the chapter will explore Blumer’s theory and Goffman’s dramaturgical approach.

A section on how to do ethnographic research will help better understand Blumer’s symbolic interactionism and Goffman’s dramaturgic approach. Soon after, the text will examine Banfield’s research on amoral familism at “Montegrano.”

Goffman’s theoretical book, Frame Analysis, and its impact on Snow and Benford’s social movement theory will be investigated.

The last section will be dedicated to Randall Collins. To clarify Collins’s theory, the author will talk about his research on the adrenaline flowing in the bodies of terrorists while they kill their victims in face-to-face interactions

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Political Science, Luiss University of Rome, Rome, Roma, Italy

    Alessandro Orsini

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  1. Alessandro Orsini
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Orsini, A. (2024). Symbolic Interactionism. In: Sociological Theory. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52539-1_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52539-1_11

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-52538-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-52539-1

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