Symbols

As I learned about Symbolic Interaction Theory this week, I realized how the principles in this theory have greatly impacted my life, for good and bad. Symbolic Interaction Theory deals basically with our perception of various situations. In plain terms, everything has different meanings or symbols to different people. And sometimes these symbols get mixed up and affect our communication, feelings, and interactions with others. Essentially, we may be easily lost in translation of the same experience! This of course is true UNLESS we recognize there is potential for miscommunication when we do not clarify the symbols someone has associated for a similar experience.

I think an example will clear up any confusion on the matter:     
Every morning, a woman's husband had to leave early in the morning before she woke up. Every morning, this woman woke up to all the drawers in their bedroom left open. She thought this was an extremely rude gesture of her husband to open all the drawers without closing them. She knew he was doing this just to spite and annoy her. Finally, this woman confronted her husband and told him she could not stand it one more morning. She would not have him be so unkind to her anymore. The husband was stunned by this confrontation; he left the drawers open every morning in order to not wake his wife with the noise of closing the drawers.

I believe understanding each others symbols and associations to human actions is huge in our communication with family members, spouses, and with anyone whom we associate with. When we can empathize with and gain perspective of the feelings and emotions of anyone we interact with, our own perspective will change. We will more readily be able to effectively associate and communicate with all those around us. Our families will learn through this way how to interact in a more loving and understanding nature.

I challenge you to understand the symbols of a situation to another person who's perspective on the matter may be completely different from that of yours. Discover why they feel that way about this particular action.