-
Essay / Essay on the Functionalist Perspective of Society
Cooley calls this perspective the “mirror of self” which is explained in his work “Human Nature and the Social Order”. The symbolic interactionist emphasizes psychological dynamics with individuals in small groups. Human behavior is influenced by symbolic interactions between other members of society; Social interactions have been proven to shape and shape an individual's self-perception. The definition of "norms" has been established by individuals who develop a sense of how they fit into society's etiquette; they then understand where they are located within this society. For example, the Iphone 5 has become so popular that almost everyone owns one, giving it its status as the "standard" among teenagers. However, there are those who do not have one in their possession due to personal preferences, money issues, or rules against having a phone. According to the symbolic interactionist perspective, those who do not follow norms would feel like outsiders, believing they have a negative label compared to others. This perspective is like the others in that they all attempt to define society, but it is itself alien to the category because it attempts to identify that definition instead of considering a broader categorization of society.