Symbols, Selves and Social Reality: A Symbolic Interactionist Approach to Social Psychology and Sociology

The classroom is a dynamic, interactive environment in which students are continually evaluating, questioning, debating, and in turn, shaping social reality. Symbols, Selves, and Social Reality: A Symbolic Interactionist Approach to Social Psychology and Sociology, Third Edition, provides students with a succinct, engaging, and affordable introduction to symbolic interactionism, the perspective that social reality is created, negotiated, and changed through the process of social interaction.

Focusing on how elements of race and gender affect identity, authors Kent L. Sandstrom, Daniel D. Martin, and Gary Alan Fine use interesting, relevant real-world examples to discuss the personal significance of symbolic interactionism, its expanding theoretical scope, and its relationship to other prominent perspectives in sociology and social psychology. They skillfully cover empirical research topics that are inherently interesting to students, such as the dynamics of self-development, impression management, identity transformation, gender play, rumor transmission, and collective action.

Thoroughly revised and updated in the third edition, this best-selling book now offers additional group assignments and activities at the end of each chapter in order to encourage student participation. Featuring updated case studies throughout, this edition also moves the section on theoretical perspectives to the beginning of the text, thereby providing students with a more thorough conceptual framework from the outset.

Rich in pedagogical tools--including end-of-chapter summaries, key points and concepts, glossaries, readings lists, and discussion questions--Symbols, Selves, and Social Reality: A Symbolic Interactionist Approach to Social Psychology and Sociology, Third Edition, effectively demonstrates the tremendous power people have in determining social reality. Ideal for courses in symbolic interaction, individual and society, and social psychology, this unique text helps students understand how symbolic interactionism works, both in theory and in practice.

Kent L. Sandstrom is Professor of Sociology and Head of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology at the University of Northern Iowa.

Daniel D. Martin is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Minnesota, Duluth.

Gary Alan Fine is Professor of Sociology at Northwestern University.