Sociology of the individual: interactional perspective 3500-TABS-SOCJ
The aim of the course is to show how symbolic interactionist theory can be applied to qualitative research on contemporary socio-cultural processes and transformations focused on human agency and identity – personal, social and biographical. The specificity of the symbolic interactionist perspective consists in adopting the concept of meaning created and modified in social interactions that are simultaneously communicative processes. These processes also include emotional meanings. The contribution of symbolic interactionism to sociology of emotions will be demonstrated. The key concepts are: self, reflexivity and identity. The course will present communicative, interactive and symbolic processes of construing identities in face-to-face interactions, as well as in mediated interactions, including ones occurring via the Internet. Participants will have the opportunity to see how research topics are formulated in an interactional perspective by determining analytical categories, as well as the cognitive, emotional and hierarchical dimensions of social settings under study. Attention will be focused on individual and collective identities, constructed and changed during social interactions, subjected to control and negotiations. Issues social labelling, stigmatization, and strangeness will be analysed. Formation of identities in social worlds, communities and radical transformations of identities related to the commitment to social movements will be analysed. Cognitive, communicative and dramaturgical (performative) dimensions of identities will be analysed, along with problems of emotions, power and control in interactions. Participants will have to execute their own research project focused on identity and biography issues using qualitative methods.
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
K_W01 Knows and understands basic concepts of various sub-domains of sociology (e.g. sociology of family, health, work, religion, economy, education, etc)
K_W04 Is reflective and critical of the problem of social differentiation and inequalities
K_W05 Has in-depth knowledge about the types of social ties and mechanisms supporting collective governance
K_W06 Has in-depth knowledge about cultural diversity and its transformations, cultural identity, and intercultural interaction and communication
K_W07 Has in-depth knowledge of selected methods and techniques of social research, their limitations, specificity and areas of application
K_W08 Is aware of the importance of a reflective and critical approach to the results of social research, analyses and research procedures
K_W09 Knows how to plan and carry out complex qualitative and quantitative empirical research; is aware of the consequences of methodological choices
K_W10 Has in-depth knowledge about major international and domestic sociological research pertaining to selected areas of social reality or sub-domains of sociology
K_W13 Is reflective and critical in interpreting the processes occurring in Polish as well as global society and their consequences for social attitudes and institutions
K_W15 Approaches the choice of a particular theoretical perspective in a reflective and critical way
K_U02 Can critically select information and materials for academic work, using various sources in Polish and a foreign language as well as modern technologies
K_U03 Can independently form and verify judgments about the causes of selected social phenomena
K_U04 Can use theoretical categories and research methods in the description and analysis of social and cultural changes in modern societies, as well as their consequences
K_U05 Can plan and carry out a social study using advanced quantitative and qualitative methods and techniques of social research
K_U09 Can relate an academic text to the problems of social life and its empirical studies
K_K04 Can argue a thesis using scientific evidence
K_K06 Actively searches for new ways and sources to broaden his/her knowledge and improve professional competences
K_K07 Independently sets directions of personal development and further learning
K_K08 Is aware of the existence of social dilemmas related to the work of the sociologist
K_K09 Is open to various theoretical and methodological perspectives of social research
K_K10 Takes responsibility for planned and performed tasks
Assessment criteria
Participation in the discussion, presentation, research project, seminar paper.
Bibliography
1. Blumer H., Interakcjonizm symboliczny. Perspektywa i metoda, Kraków 2007, NOMOS, s. 61-69.
2. Denzin N.K., Emotion as Lived Experience, w: John Johnson, Harvey A. Farberman, G.A. Fine (red.), The Cutting Edge. Advanced Interactionist Theory, Greenwich, Conn. 1992, s. 303-319.
3. Goffman E., Piętno. Rozważania o zranionej tożsamości, Gdańsk 2005, Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne, s. 31-52.
4. Hałas E., Jaźń jako interakcja symboliczna a konstrukcjonistyczne koncepcje człowieka późnej nowoczesności, w: E. Hałas, K. Konecki (red.), Konstruowanie jaźni i społeczeństwa. Europejskie warianty interakcjonizmu symbolicznego, Warszawa 2005, s. 23-39.
5. Hałas E., Interakcjonizm symboliczny. Społeczny kontekst znaczeń, Warszawa 2006, Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN (wyd. 2: 2012), s. 250-263.
6. Hewitt John P., Self and Society. A Symbolic Interactionist Social Psychology, Boston 2000: Allyn and Bacon, s. 90-101.
7. Hochschild Arlie R., Zarządzanie emocjami. Komercjalizacja ludzkich uczuć, Warszawa 2009: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, s. 221-249.
8. Riemann G., Schütze F., „Trajektoria” jako podstawowa koncepcja teoretyczna w analizach cierpienia i bezładnych procesów społecznych, w: Kaia Kaźmierska (red.), Metoda biograficzna w socjologii. Antologia tekstów, Kraków 2012: NOMOS, s. 389-414.
9. Strauss A.L., Praca biograficzna i jej powiązania (intersections), w: Kaia Kaźmierska (red.), Metoda biograficzna w socjologii. Antologia tekstów, Kraków 2012: NOMOS, s. 517-527.
10. Strauss A.L. i in, Trajektorie choroby, w: Kaia Kaźmierska (red.), Metoda biograficzna w socjologii. Antologia tekstów, Kraków 2012: NOMOS, s. 373-388.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: