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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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