nduction of such a perspective.
Blumer argues the raison d'etre of social psychology lies in the fact of human association (Blumer, 1969, p. 101). Thus, most of the analysis produced by the symbolic interactionist perspective is of small-scale interpersonal relationships where individuals are viewed as active constructors of their own conduct who interpret, evaluate, define, and map out their own action. Symbolic interactionism emphasizes the symbolic or communicative aspects of human behavior (Lindesmith, 1968, p. 7). Its central position states the distinguishing feature of human behavior is that man is a symbol manipulator whose social groupings depend on and are pervaded by complex symbolic processes (Lindesmith, 1968, p. 7). Thus, interaction between and among humans is viewed as a symbolic interaction. The specific forms, directions, and outcomes of such interaction depend on the interactants' membership in certain social groups or structures that make them carriers of symbols (beliefs, attitudes, and perspectives). Membership in these groups also makes the interactants who they are in terms of personal commitments, allegiances, and personal styles and idiosyncracies (Lindesmith, 1968, p. 7).
Blumer's theory of race prejudice
Blumer did observe and write about trends in race relations (Killian, 1970, p. 180). He approached race relations from the perspective of a broader theory of human behavior that analyzed racial prejudice as a reflection of social structure rather then individual predisposition. Thus, for Blumer, racial prejudice was one of the recognized social structures that could possibly affect an individual's interaction, but it was not itself lodged in individuals and arising from individual lines of experience (Killian, 1970, p. 184). For Blumer, racial attitudes are a product of collective experience and are directed toward a conceptualized group.
Blumer adheres to what has been called the...