Herbert Blumer and Symbolic Interactionism
In defining his theory of symbolic interaction, Herbert Blumer states that the possession of a self enables a person to interact with himself while he is interacting with others. This self-interaction enables a participant in the social act to act in an unexpected or unique way (Blumer, 1981, p. 152). Such a perspective differs from others that view society as a place of structure and inherent, inevitable conflict by creating the possibility that human beings can objectively view their conduct and adjust it accordingly. Blumer's perspective offers an optimistic treatment of multicultural issues in the United States and provides the foundation for developing a curricula and school policy that would address the problems of interpersonal interaction between multicultural students and teachers.
Generally, problematic social situations or situations that demand new interpretations are the foci of analysis for symbolic interactionism (Wallace & Wolf, 1995, p. 206). Herbert Blumer argues the more unstructured the situation, the more likely it is symbolic interactionist analysis is indispensable to its understanding (Wallace & Wolf, 1995, p. 207). Unfortunately, a strong argument can be made that the subordination of non-European minority groups in the United States is a very structured occurrence, whereby the tradition and history of the nation has served to maintain that structure. However, the increasing influx of non-European immigrants (estimates state one-third of the U.S. population will be people of color shortly after the year 2000) and the country's obligation to educate the children of such immigrants demands a more multicultural, pluralistic perspective than has traditionally been the case. Symbolic interactionism offers the opportunity for educators, administrators, and students to study empirically the manifestations of prejudice and discrimination that would inhibit the i...