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TitleAn Introduction to the Sociological Perspective of SymbolicInteractionism: Herbert Blumer's Perspective Revisited
Author(s)KUWABARA, Tsukasa; YAMAGUCHI, Kenichi
Citation=Journal of economics and sociology, KagoshimaUniversity
Issue Date2007-02-27
URL http://hdl.handle.net/10232/6924
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Kagoshima University Repositoryhttp://ir.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
AnIntroduction to the Sociological Perspective of SymbolicInteractionismHerbertBlumersPerspectiveRevisited
TsukasaKuwabaraAssociateProftssoratKagoshimaUniversity
KenichiYamaguchiGraduateStudentatTohokuUniversity
Abstractt
The main purpose ofthis paperis to examine the theory ofSymbolicInteractionism fbrmulated by
HGBlumerfromthefbllowlngViewpolntS
1HowdoesSymboliclnteractionismunderstandsocialization
2HowdoesSymbolicTnteractionismunderstandVergesellschaftungSimmellG
3Whymusthumansocietybeunderstoodasachangeableprocess
Astheresultofourexaminlngthenextthingshavebeenclarified1Blumerthinksofsocializationastheprocessinwhichthetwoframeworksschemesofdennitionand
generalizedrolesthathavebeenacquiredbyanactorthroughinteractionswithgroupsofotllerSguide
hisherinterpretationsdefinitions
2lnBlumerstheorySocietyisseentobepossibleonlywheneachoftheactorsininteractionscangrasp
properlythetwostandpointsMHstandpointoftheotherandonesownstandpointintheeyesoftheother
throughdoingakindofselfLinteractionietakingintoaccountoftakingintoaccount
3Becauseofthenatureofothersblackboxnessalltheactorsinteractingwithothersareseentobe
necessarilyfbrcedtorevisetheirinterpretationsdennitionscontinuallyThisisthereasonwhythesocietyhas
tobeunderstoodasachangeableprocess
FinallyWehavetriedtoreviewcriticallytheresearchmethodofSymbolicInteractionismietheapproach
fromthestandpointoftheactorbasedontheconceptionofmanandsocietythathasbeenclarifledinthe
earlierchaptersofthispaperAstheresultofourreviewingthenexttwopointshavebeenprovedThatis4
indoingtheapproachfromthestandpointoftheactorMOnlyanindividualcanbeincludedinthecategory
ofactorand5thestandpointoftheactorgraspedbyresearchersmustneverbeseenasthestandpointin
therawbuthavetobeseenasakindofreconsfructionQlconstructionscreatedbytheresearchersWennallyhaveconfirmedthattotestthisconceptionofmanandsocietyempiricallybasedonthepoints4and5wouldandmustbeoneofourimportanttasksinfuture
ThisarticleisanEnglishversionofthenextpaperKuwabaraT2006aTheEssenceofSymbolicInteractionismTheMaterialEditionDiscussionPqpenIn
EconomicsandSociologyrN13471085XNo0601TheEconomiCSocietyofKagoshimaUniversityfrom7thpagetollhpage
TohokuUniversity2000HakaseGakuiRonbunNatvouNoYoushiqObiShinsaKekkaNonuShingaklJDaiIIShuHeiseilINenqTohokuUniversity44thpp248259KuwabaraT2001tntroductiontoasociologicalperspectiveofSymboliclnteractionism3TheSummaryof
adoctoraldissertationTohokuUniversityKEIZAIGAKURONSHUOFKAGOSHlM4LVlVERSITYJO3890104No54TheEconomicSocietyofKagoshimaUniversitypP6986http00kgeOCitiesjpblumer1970
PtSdhtmKuwabaraT2005TheEssenceofSymbolicInteractionismDiscussionPqpefTInEconomicsandSocioogy
JI3471085PNo0501TheEconomicSocietyofKagoshimaUniversityKuwabaraT2006bTheEssenceofSymboliclnteractionismBlumersTheoryRevisitedNakanoMed
GendbiShakaiNiOkeruShikagoGakuhaShakaigakuNo OltyOuKanouseiHeisei14Nen17NendoTheJapan
SocietyfbrthePromotionofScienceJSPSResearchReportsfbrGrantsinAidfbrScientificResearchKibanKenkyuBNo14310079pp157164
1
67
ltis too early for the finalassessment ofBlumers worksThatwillhave to wait untilthe
twentynrStCenturyWhenfuturehistorianswillbeabIetoseewhatremainsofcurrentsocioIogy
It seemslikely that many ofhis viewswi11prevai1
Quoted from ShibutaniT1988Herbert Blumers Contribution to TwentiethCentury
SociologycJJgrCJ112331
ltiswellknownthattheChicagoSchoolofSymbolicInteractionismhereafterabbreviatedasSll
in which the worksofHerbertBlumerBlumerHerbertGeorge19001987arerepresentativePlayed
animportant partin theChicago RenaissanceIt was criticalofboth StruCturalFunctionalismaS
establishedbyTParsonsandhisfbllowersandSociologicalPositivismOrOperationalisminwhich
GALundberg was a centragureand tried to develop an alternative sociologlCalperspective or
conceptualframework and a new and approprlate reSearCh methodologySIs emphasis on the
conceptualunderstanding ofHthe Dynamic Societyhas beeninfluentialin theJapanese sociologlCal
communltyTheDynanlicSocietyasaconceptcharacterizeshumansocietyasconstantlyconstruCted
and reconstruCted by hactiveindividualSMamoruFunatsuOr aS COnStantlyin the process of
Change
This articleKuwabaraTIntroduction to a sociologicalperspective ofSymbolicInteractionisrn
2mJGd0UOF4GOUMryjNo5253The
EconomicSocietyofKagoshimaUniversityhttpspacegeOCitiesjpisssnO3890104no54dissertationhtm
examines the conceptual status of Hthe Dynamic Societyfrom the standpoint of afundamental
problemin sociologynamelythat ofthe relationship betweenindividualand societyMore specin
callyWe attemPt tO anSWerthe fbllowlng three questionsin terms ofthe theory ofSI
lHow does SI understandsocialization
2How does SIunderstandVergesellschaftungSimmelG
3Whymust human societybe understoodasin process ofchangein SIanalysis
Thustheintention ofthis articleis to soIve afundamentalsociologlCalproblemthat ofhow the
relationshipbetweenindividualandsocietyshouldbeunderstoodfromtheperspectiveofSIPrevious
studiesofSIbysociologlStSinJapanhaveglVeninsufncientattentiontothisproblemWhichisakey
issuein the theory of ST
Itisimportantthatthethreequestionsaboveshouldbeansweredwiththefbcusonacentralconcept
of SIuselfLinteractionorinteraction with oneselfThusit can be said that we have to soIve a
basic problem ofsociology by fbcuslng On the concept ofHselfinteraction
FunatsuM1976Svmbolichlteraclio11ismKouseishaKouseikaku
2
AnIntroductiontotheSociologlCalPerspectiveofSymbolicInteractionismHerbertBlumersPerspectiveRevisitcd
ln chapter oneWe attemPt tO anSWer the first question ofwhatsocializationmeansin SL AIso
itis clarined how SIunderstandsthe relationship betweenindividualand worldandactionIn SI
selflinteractionis denned as the process whereby an actorinteractswith himherselfor a fbrm of
communication whereby an actor talks and responds to himherselfThatis to saySelflinteractionis
anintemalized equlValent of socialinteraction withothersSelflinteractionis a fbrm Of social
interactionWhich usuallylnVOIves other peoplebut carried on alone
FromtheperspectiveofSISelfinteractionissynonymouswiththeprocessofinterpretationWhich
has two distinct stepsnrStthe actorindicates a set ofHthingswhich carry meanlngS fbrhimherself
the step ofindicationand secondhesheinterprets these meanings by selectingChecking
suspendingregrOuplngand transfbrmlng themin thelight ofboth the situationin which hesheis
placed andthe direction ofhisher actionthe step ofinterpretation
It has been argued that the theorization ofselfinteractionin Sldoes not difftrfromsuective
nominalismWhich proposes that autonomousindividualsfunctionin societywhile never becoming a
product ofthat societyThis criticism haslong been made by a numberofsociologlStSfbr example
suchsJDLewisHis argumentis particularly worth notlng nOWThe nrst chapter of this article
includes a counterargument toJDLewiss criticism
Given uselflinteractionas the centralconceptHsocializationMin SIis the process whereby
1An actor derivesschemes of dennitionandgeneralized rolesfromgroups of othersto
which heshe belongs
2The actorsinterpretationdennition during socialinteractionsin which hesheis participatingis
guidedbythesetwoframeworksietheuschemesofdennitionandugeneralizedrolesWhichheshe
has derivedfromgroups ofothers
3Schemes ofdennitionserve to canalize anindividualS socialactions during socialinteractions
with othersand Hgeneralized rolesserve to canalize theindividuals actionsin selfinteractions or
interactions with oneself
Thusinterpretationdennitionis understood as the fb110wing processathe acquisition ofgene
ralizedrolesbtheacquisitionofschemesofdennitionCthescrutinyofschemesofdefinition
throughselflinteractionWhichis guidedbygeneralizedrolesanddperception ofthe environment
using the newschemes of definitionresultingfrom the scrutinyin stepCThisis a social
phenomenon whichis calledconfbrring ofmeaningin SIThe environmentaSindaboveis
called theworld ofrealitythesocialand physicalsphere
SIconceives ofHhumanbeingsM as existences surroundedby an environmentWhichis composed of
a variety ofthingsTheworldis created by human beings through makingobjectsfbr himher
selffrom the world of reality by means of the act of Hconfbing of meanlngIn SIthis actis
understood as synonymous with perception as organized byperspectivesieSChemes ofdenniti0
3
67
nandgeneralized rolesSoan Objectis conceived as a portion or an aspect ofthe world of
realityWhich a human being has createdvia hisher perspectivesSIdivides objectsinto three
categoriesphysicalobjectsSOCialoqects3andabstractobjects
TheworldfbranyhumanbeinglSanareaCOnSistlngOnlyoftheseobjectsHumanbeingsareunderstood
asentitieslivlngWithinsuchworldsHenceSIproposesthatrelationshipbetweenindividualandworldis
establishedbytheinterpretationdennitionCOnftrringofmeaningnorHperceptionHoftheworldofreality
byhumanbeingsviasuccessiveprocessesofselfLinteraction
HoweverSIhasneverconsideredthisrelationshiptobeHnxedHonlybytheoneSidedinterpretationof
anactorAccordingtoSItheworldofrealitythatistobeinterpretedbyanindividualiscapableoftalking
backtohisherinterpretationdennitioneVentheindividualdoesnotsurewhetherhisherinterpretations
havevalidityheshecanjudgethevalidityofdennitionsfromthistalkingbackIftheinterpretationsprove
tobeinvalidtheyarethenmodinedThusinSIhtherelationshipbetweenindividualandworldmustbe
understoodastherelationshipwithacapabilityofbeingfbrmedandrefbrmedfrommomenttomoment
throughconstantinteractioninterplaybetweeninterpretationdeitionbyanactorandtalkingbackfromthe
worldofrealityHencethisrelationshipinSImuStnOtbeconsideredtobenxedonlybytheoneSided
interpretationoftheactor
Keepingthepointofrelationshipbetweenindividualandworldinmind1etustrytoclarifytheconcept
ofuactionanindividualactMinSIInSInrStandfbremostanaCtionisunderstoodasanactivityof
nttingoriustingbyanactoragainsttheworldofrealityAsaresultofthisactivitytherelationship
betweenindividualandworldisfbrcedtobefbrmedandreformedfrommomenttomomentinthewake
oftalkingbackfromtheworldofrealitySIconceptualizesthisprocessasasequenceofunitsconsistlngOf
1impulse2perception3manipulation4consummationThisisnotOfcourseterminatedafter
justonecyclebutisaperpetualcyclingofthefburunitsaSin1iuLye2ercqtion3mani
JcoJpercbJcoJ
J00
InchaptertwoWeattemPttOanSWerthesecondquestionaStOhowactorsareconstruCtlngaSOCietySI
explainssocialinteractionasamutualpresentationoraninterconversionofactionsbyactorsSIclassines
socialinteractionsinto twocategoriesieHsymbolicinteractionM andHnonSymbolicinteractionThe
fbrmerismediatedbyselfinteractionthelatterisnotIthasbeenthoughtthatsymbolicinteractionisthe
equlValentoftheuseofsignincantsymboIsHinMeadsterminologyandthatnonSymbolicinteractionis
theequlValentofMeadSconversationofgesturesMHoweverthegreaterprecisionofouranalysISOnSI
demonstratestheexistenceofatleasttwotypesofsvmbolicinteracfiondistinctlydifftrentfromeachother
LogicallyspeakingGesturesinGHMeadsterminologymustbeincludedinthecategoryofthisconceptsocial
objectSofromtheperspectiveofSTthemeaningsofgesturesarealsounderstoodassocialproductsThisview
ofmeanlngSisequlValenttotheviewofhmeanlngSinMeadstheoryofsocialinteractions
I1
4
AnIntroductiontotheSociologlCalPerspectiveofSymbolicInteractionismHerbertBlumersPerspectiveRevisited
SymbolicinteractioninwhichaslgncantsymboldoesnotyetexistbutparticlpantSintheinteractionare
trylngtOCallaslgnincantsymbolintobeingandsymbolicinteractionmediatedbysignincantsymboIscalled
intobeingbyparticipantsinaprecedinginteractionuseofsignincantsymboIsThelatteriscalleda
realfbrmOfinteractionInSISOCietyorhumansocietyis understoodasarealfbrmofinteraction
andthistypeofinteractioniscalledjointactionortransactionTherefbrejointactionortransaction
isinfacttherealfbrmofinteractionthatisequlValenttouseofsignincantsymboIs
Humansocietyisconceptualizedasjointactionscloselyinterlinkedwitheachotherinatimelineand
inspaceOrinotherwordsdiachronicallyandsynchronicallyJointactionrepresentsnotonlyahorizontal
linkageSOtOSPeakOftheactivitiesoftheparticIPantSbutalsoaverticallinkagewiththepreviousJOlnt
actionJoint actionthusisthefundamentalunitofsocietyIts analysisaCCOrdingly1ays bare the
genericnatureofsociety5
Joint actionis fbrmed through symbolicinteractionThatisinteractants construCt the realfbrm of
interaction through symbolicinteractionIn SISymbolicinteractionisformulated as a presentation of
HgestureandaresponsetothemeanlngOfthegestureThemeanlngOfthegesturehasthreecomponents
itslgnineswhataninteractantwhoispresentlngthegestureplanstodoWhatanotherinteractanttowhom
thegestureisdirectedistodoandthefbrmOfjointactionthatistoemergefromthearticulationoftheacts
oftheinteractantsAstateofmutualunderstandingOccurswhenthegesturehasthesamemeanlngfbrboth
interactantstheonewhohaspresentedthegestureandtheothertowhomithasbeenaddressedInthis
situationaslgnincantsymbolMoracommondennitionissharedbytheinteractantsandthetermsha
slgncant symbolandacommon dennitionHindicate thateachinteractantisconfbrringthesame
meanlngOnthegesturethroughtheirindividualprocessesofselfLinteraction
Joint action can take place only when a slgnincant symbolor a common definition exists among
interactantsIntumaCOmmOndennitioncanexistonlywheneachinteractantperformsaprocesscalled
HtakinglntOaCCOuntOftakinglntOaCCOuntafbrmofselflinteractionAsaresultofthisprocesstheyare
abletograspproperlyinterpretproperlythestandpointoftheotherandonesownstandpointinthe
eyesoftheotherSIproposesthatfbrinteractantsaPrOPergraSpOfthesetwostandpolntSispossibleonly
ifinterpretationsdennitionsaredirectedbyinterpretiveinstrumentSiePeT3peCtivesschemesofdenn
itionandgeneralizedrolesTheinteractantshavealrea4yobtainedsuchperspectivesfromgroupsof
othersAndfrom the SIperspectiveOnlyin thepresence ofacommon dennition canthe regularity
stabilityandrepetitivenessofjolntaCtion6bemaintained
InchapterthreeWeaddressthethirdproblemthenatureofhumansocietyistheoneofunpredictable
continualtransfbrmationSIhasemphasizedthathumansocietyorJOintactionmustbeseentohaveacareer
JBlumerHG1969SymboiclnteractionismPrenticeHallp20Blumer1969p70
hBlumer1969p71
5
67
OrahistoryitscareerisgenerallyorderlyflxedandrepetitiousbyvirtueofitsparticIPantSCommon
identiftcationordennitionintheirJ01ntaCtionThecareerofjointactionmusthoweveralsobeseentobe
opentomanypossibilitiesofuncertainty
WhymustJOlntaCtionSocietybeunderstoodashavingthecharacterofbeinghopentomanypossibilities
ofuncertainty7ToanswerthisquestionwiththefbcusontheconceptofselfinteractionHWhichWe
attempttoproveneCeSSarilyimpliesthatcontinuousregularityStabilityandrepetitivenessofjointactions
thatcomposehumansocietyareaCtuallyandlogicallyimpossibleInotherwordsacommondennition
cannotinpracticekeepltSglVenfbrmcontinuouslyunchanged
lnSIaCOnditioninwhichacertaincommondennitionismaintainedimpliesasituationinwhichacertain
slgnificantsymbolismaintainedamonglnteraCtantSThissituationcanbedescribedasastateinwhichan
individualseesagesturehehimselfpresentsintheidenticalwaylnWhichitisseenbythosetowhomitis
addressedlnordertomaintainthisstatetheinteractantwhopresentsthegesturemustinterpretanddene
properlythroughaprocessofselfinteractionthetwostandpolntSMoftheotherinteractantalteregoto
whomthegestureisaddressedMoreoverthevalidityofhisherinterpretationdeitionmustbecontinu
ouslymaintainedButthisisimpossiblebecauseofthenatureofthehalteregoorHother
AswehaveseeninchapteronetheHworldsMthatexistfbrhumanbeingsareareasthatconsistonlyof
oqectsTherefbreothersaStheyexistfbreachindividualmuStbeincludedinthecategoryconceptof
objectsocialoqectOqectsareaSWehavesaidabletobedescribedasapartoftheworldofreality
thatisseenbytheindividualfromhisherperspectivesTherefbreitcanbesaidthattheoqectisOnOne
handaPerCeptCreatedbytheindividualbutatthesametimeitcontinuestoexistundeniablyasaportion
oftheworldofrealityHowthenisthenatureoftheworldofrealitygraSPedAsclaredinchapterone
SIproposesthattheworldofrealitytobeinterpretedbyanactorhascontinuouspossibilitiesoftalkingback
tohisherinterpretationdennitionandtheactorcantherebyknowwhetherhisherinterpretationhasvalidity
ornotIfanindividualsinterpretationisfbundouttobeinvalidtheglVeninterpretationwillbemodined
ThismeansthatSIunderstandsinterpretationalwayshasthepossibilityofbeingformedandrefbrmedfrom
Fromthesegroundsitfbllowsthattheindividualcannotcontinuouslyusethesameinterpretationdenni
tionofaglVenOqeCtTherefbrebecausetheotherisalsocategorizedasanobjectandaspartoftheworld
ofrealityitfbllowsthattheOtherMwhichistobeinterpretedbyanactorhascontinuouspossibilitiesof
talkingbacktotheactorsinterpretationdefhitionanditalsofbllowsthattheindividualcannotcontinuously
glVe the sameinterpretationdennition to theotherWith whom theindividualis engagedin
interactionsjointactionsTheotheroralteregofbrtheindividualexistsasablackboxLuhmannN
fbrever
lBlumer1969p71
6
AnlntroductiontotheSociologlCalPerspectiveofSymbolicTnteractionismHerbertBlumersPerspectiveRevISited
1nsummaryoftheaboveinSIanycommondennitionmustaSamatterOffactbeconsideredimpossible
tosustainaparticularfbrmfbreverFbreverfbrthenatureoftheotherblackboxnessdoesntallow
anactortocontinuetousethesameinterpretationdennitionOrtOCOnfraparticularmeanmgthrougha
PrOCeSSOfselflinteractionfbreverTheotherhascontinuouspossibilitiesoftalkingbackandtheresultant
need ofthe actorto change ormodifyanygiveninterpretationdennitionmeaningendlessly persists
HenceanyCOmmOndeflnitionmustinevitablyberefbrmedeventtlallyandhenceanyJOintactionmustalso
inevitablyberefbrmedeventually
ThennalchapterconcernStheproblemoffindingasuitableresearchmethodologyfbrexaminlngthe
StandpolntOftheactoraSthemeanstotestlngemplricallytheSImodelofsocietythatistheDynamic
Society1aidoutinthepreviouschapters
1nchaptersonetWOandthreeWeClarifledtheSlmodelofhumansocietyFirstandfbremosthuman
SOCietyisconceptualizedasasystemofinterlinkedsocialinteractionsbyinteractantsandinrealityhuman
SOCiety exists only asa realfbrm ofinteractionsietranSaCtionsor10int actions1n SlSOCial
interactionisthefundamentalunitofsocietyWhich exposesthegenericnatureofhuman societyTo
understandsocietyWeneedonlytostudythisrealfbrmofinteractiontranSaCtionJjointactionThiswas
theinitialhypothesisofSIfbrthestudyofsociety
SummarizlngthemodelofsocialinteractiondescribedinthepreviouschaptersfbrSIsocialinteraction
is aninteractionin whichinteractantseaCh havlng the nature ofblack boxnessfor otherinteractants
PerfbrmtakinglntOaCCOuntOftakinglntOaCCOuntasafbrmofselfLinteractioninordertograspdenne
PrOPerlyboththestandpolntOftheotherandonesownstandpointintheeyesoftheotherThusSOCial
interactionisasocialprocessinwhicheachinteractantmustcontinuetoguesstwothingsiefromwhat
Standpointsareothersperceivlngtheworldandhowaremyperspectivesbeinggraspedbyothersby
theprocedureoftakinglntOaCCOuntOftakinglntOaCCOuntAdditionallybecauseofthenatureofblack
boxnesswhich characterizes allinteractants with respect to one anothertheinteractants are necessarily
fbrcedintoredeningthesituationandasaresultofthisreTdeflnitiontheirinteractionsortheirJOlntaCtions
arefbrcedtochangeintoyetanotherfbrmThesepossibilitiesofchangecontinueadif7Pnitum
We have discussed the conceptlOn Ofsocialinteractionin the nrst three chapters ofthis articleThis
COnCePt10nShouldbecategorizedasasensitizlngCOnCePtintermsofSlsmethodologyThismeansthat
thisconceptlOnmuStnOtbetakenasaselfLevidenttruthoraprioriassumptlOnOnWhichagrandtheorycan
be built by a purely deductive approachbut must be understood as merely a hypothesis or tentative
PrOPOSitionwhosevaliditymustbetestedemplrlCallyTheapproachtoemplricaltestlngreCOmmendedbySI
is as fbllowsOne moves outfrom a concept to the concrete distinctiveness oftheinstanceinstead of
embraclngtheinstanceintheabstractframeworkoftheconcept8
Blumer1969p149
7
67
SlhaspromotedHnaturalisticlnqulryMastheidealresearchmethodfbrthesocialsciencesThismeansa
HcontinuinginteractionbetweenguidingideasandemplrlCaobservationThemethodologyofnaturalistic
lnqulrylSaCOntinualtestlngandrevislngOftheconceptswithrespecttotheinvestlgatOrSsubjectofresearch
throughemplricalobservationButHHowcantheinvestlgatOrknowwhetherornottheglVenCOnCeptSOfthe
subjectofresearcharevalidThatishowdoesSIenvisagetheprocessoftestlngandrevislnglnSlterms
thisisconsideredtobepossiblebywayoftheuresistlngMOrtalkingbackfromtheemplricalworldunder
studytotheconceptsoftheinvestigatortheoccurrenceofthenegativecase
whatthenisthemethodologlCalpositionoftheinvestlgatOrWhencarrymgOutthenaturalisticlnqulry
withtheconceptsofsocialinteractionrootimagesofSI1aidoutinchaptersonetWOandthreeThe
positionassumedisidenticalwiththeqpproachjlomthestanointQltheactorTheinvestigatormust
takeonthesameactivityasthatoftheinteractantdescribedinSItheory
ThenalchapterillustratestheproblemsandthepolntStObekeptlnmindWhenactualemploylngthis
approachtoresearch
ThestudyofsocietyfromthepositionoftheactorMrequlreSthattheinvestlgatOrtakesontheroleofthe
actorunderstudyandseeshisherownworldfromhisherstandpolntTheconceptofactorembraces
notonlyanindividualbutalsoagrInordertomakethisclearSIoftenusesthetermHactlngunitto
refbrtoHactorThenrstproblemiswhethertheHgroupMcanbeproperlylocatedinthecategoryorconcept
Ofactlngunit
whethertheHactlngunitHconsistsofanindividualoragroupltSaCtivitiesmustbeequallyunderstoodas
theproductsofitsowninterpretiveprocessesTheassertionofSIisthatevenincaseswheretheactlng
unitMrepresentsagrotpWemuStadopttherOaChomthestaointQltheactorandHtaketheroleoftheactlngunitHoweverOuranalysISmakesitclearthatSIdoesnotexplainpersuasivelyandsystemati
callyhowitispossiblefbrtheinvestlgatOrtOtaketheroleofanentiregroupandthatthediscussionabove
onlyprovidesthatonlyanindividualcanbeincludedinthecategoryofHactlngunitifwearetodothe
prOdC0J0JCrlO
ThenextproblemHCanwetaketheroleoftheactlngunitintherawisdiscussedbelow
supposlngthatsocialinteractionsoccurbetweentwointeractantsthenintermsofouranalysISthetwo
interactantsareconsideredtobeengagedintheHtakingintoaccountoftakingintoaccountafbrmof
9BlumerHG19771992CommentonLewisTheClassicAmericanPragmatistsasForerunnerStOSymboliclnteractionismHamiltonPedGeoeHerberfadCriticalAssessmentsVOl2SeC2RoutledgeP15410AccordingtoMamoruFunatsuhoweverBlumerstheoryonsocialproblemsbasedonSIhasapotentialfbrmakingslgnincantcontributionstodevelopamacrotheoryofSlSeenexttwoarticlesFunatsuM1990InterpretativeApproachtoSocialProblemsTheStuQrSocioogy55TohokuSociologicalAssociationpp155174Blumer197lsocialProblemsasCo11ectiveBehaviorSociaProblems182983062006tranSlatedbyKuwabaraTandYamaguchiKHGBlumerSocialProblemsasCollectiveBehaviorJournalQlEconomicsandSocioogy66TheEconomicSocietyofKagoshimaUniversitypp41551nthistranslationbyusabriefexaminationastorelationshipsbetweenBlumerstheoryonSIandSocialConstruCtionismisincluded
8
AnIntroductiontotheSociologlCalPerspectlVeOfSynlbolicInteractionlSmHerbertBlumerS PcrspectieRevisited
Selinteractioneachotherinordertograspthestandpointoftheotherandonesownstandpointinthe
eyesoftheotheranditisfurtherconsideredthateachofthetwointeractantshasthenatureofablack
boxnessfbrtheotherSoWhenaninvestlgatOrattemPtStOStudysocialinteractionomthestandpolntOf
an actorheshe must takeinto accouIlttheassumptlOn Ofblack boxnessthat theinteractants can never
knowtherealidentltyOftheotherandalsorruStbuildtheresearchmethodormethodologycompatiblewith
thisassumptlOnAsaresultdelimitlnganaWareneSSCOnteXtalwaysrequlreSthatthesociologlStaSCertajn
inderendentlytheawarenessofeachinteractantThesafbstmcthodistoobtaindatathroughobservationor
intcrviewomeachinteractantonhisownstateofawarenessToacceptthewordofonlyoneinftnllantis
riskyCVenPerhapsfbrtheopenaWareneSSCOnteXt
It mustalso be borneillmind that aninvestlgatOrwho studies socialinteraction becomes one oflhc
acTOrSOrJli17g77irYOnthesamelevelasthetwointeractantsstudiedSoanaCtOfstudyiIgOrareSearCh
zICtby theinvestigatormust also be understood as oneolhJi71le7PrilCiCCSand theinteraction
betweentheinvestlgatOrandtheinvestlgatedequallylocatedinthecategoryofsymbolicinteraction
andeenfbrtheinvestlgatOrthetwointeractantswhoscrolesareunderstudyalsohaethecharacterofhak
rrnLJYLbForthisreasonaltllOughtheresearchactinvoIvestakingthestandpolntOftheactorlitnevermeanS
takingdilcchltheul14inli11heraltThestandpolntOftheactorastakenbyaninvestlgatOrCanOnlybe
thereconstructionofconstructionsNaohitoTokugawal
HowthenCantheinvestlgatOrrelativizethisreconstructionofconstruCtionslandtestitsvalidityThe
obviousanswertothisquestiollderivedfromSItheorythattheinvestlgatOrCandothisinthelightoftalking
backfr0111anemplricalworldisunsatisfhctoIYItistooincompletefbrpracticaluseinsociologlCalresearch
ArnOrissuebeingtobedealtwithinfhtureworkistodevisetestlngStandardsthatcanverifemplricaHy
theSTconceptlOnOfsocialinteractionoritsmodelofsocietynamelytheDynamicSociety
Acknowledgements
WearedeeplyindebtedtomanypeoplefbrtheirassistanceinthewritlngOfthisarticleSpecialthanksgo
toMHougetsuProftssoratRitumeikanUniversityKIharaAssociateProftssoratKagoshimaUniver
sityMakoto KuwabaraHonorary Proftssorat Tokyo Universityand SCodaAssociate Proftssor at
KagoshimaUniversitywhogaveusnluChadviceandmanyhelpRllsuggestions
EhGlaserBGand StraussAL19641970Awarcness Contexts and SocialInteractionStoneGPand Farberman
HAedSCluFITlChngrThrmlghmbliclnleraclioXeroxCoHegePubllShingp33fi1TokugawaN2001TheIndividualandCollaboratlVeCharacterofNarrativeActionsKltamuraTetaledT7te
RenlJiEN7FltmanBcif7gYi712Jvtce7flVHassakushaP29
9
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