Sociology of the individual: identity, role, biography 3500-TABS-TRB

Social identity, social role and biography are the basic concepts of the sociology of the individual. The symbolic-interactional perspective of studying these issues shows the individual in the processes of communication and relation with others and internal conversation of “I” (the subjective self) and “me” (the objectivised self). The dialogical and relational concept of the self has enabled research on the processes of role-taking and role-making. The aim of the seminar is to introduce the issues of the sociology of the individual in the theoretical and methodological perspective of symbolic interactionism. The seminar aims to show the possibilities of using the rich repertoire of symbolic interactionism concepts to study contemporary problems of personal, social and biographical identity, transformations, searching for and constructing identity.
These concepts are useful in the study of biographical processes, contradictions and identity dilemmas in the conditions of radical cultural changes, risk and uncertainty in contemporary society. The basic category for the orientation of symbolic interactionism in relation to the subject, its reflexivity and relationality is the concept of the self-related to the processes of communication and reciprocal influence. Identity-forming and biographical processes are analyzed in the dimensions: interactive, communicative and dramaturgical (performative). The specificity of the perspective of symbolic interactionism consists in adopting the concept of meaning created and modified in social interactions, which are at the same time communicative and interpretative processes. These processes also include emotional meanings. The self and identity in the processes of interaction and communication are also characterized by their emotional dimension. The subject of the analyses will be the transformations of social roles and identities, as well as emotions in interactions and social relations. The focus will be on biographical processes and the contribution of the symbolic interactionism orientation to research using the biographical method and personal documents. The seminar aims to address research topics inspired by the perspective of symbolic interactionism. The seminar aims at forming the abilities to apply the theory and concepts of symbolic interactionism to contemporary problems of transformation of sociality and individual-society relations.