Social Power and Status Dynamics
Open access
Peer reviewed
Abstract
Abstract
The symbolic interactionist (SI) tradition has been criticized for having an overly optimistic view of human development within democratic society. As we see an increasing trend toward authoritarian and fascist movements globally, it becomes especially important to foster a more critical theoretical framework for SI. Introducing Erich Fromm to SI allows for the exploration of new research questions that dig deeper into structural conditions and how they interact with unconscious emotional drives. We compare the social psychology of Fromm to the intellectual precursor of symbolic interactionism, G. H. Mead, and consider how to creatively combine their approaches. This “Frommeadian” synthesis is not without challenges, so we consider this combination in a way that is logically consistent while still being true to the source material. We present this integrated model with the hope it might inspire new research questions as we strive to understand the processes of ideological recruitment across social contexts.
Direct answer
What can I do from this paper page?
Use this page to scan "Symbolic Interaction in Authoritarian Times: A Frommeadian Synthesis" quickly: start with the summary and abstract, then check the authors, source, topics, and related papers. From here, open Scollr to follow Social Power and Status Dynamics research, save the paper, or map adjacent work.
Research areas
Follow related topics
Citation
BibTeX
@article{Boismier2026Symbolic,
title = {Symbolic Interaction in Authoritarian Times: A Frommeadian Synthesis},
author = {K. C. Boismier and Antony Puddephatt},
journal = {Sociological Theory},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1177/07352751261450980},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/07352751261450980}
}FAQ
Using this paper in a discovery workflow
How do I find related work for this paper?
Use the related papers and topic links on this page as starting points. In Scollr, you can also open the paper and build a literature map around its references, citing papers, and related work.
How can I keep up with new Social Power and Status Dynamics research papers?
Follow Social Power and Status Dynamics research in Scollr. New papers from the topic flow into a personalized feed, and you can save useful studies to revisit later.
Can I cite this paper from this page?
This page includes a static BibTeX block for Symbolic Interaction in Authoritarian Times: A Frommeadian Synthesis. Always verify the DOI, source, and publication details against the publisher record before submitting a manuscript.
Follow this research in Scollr
Follow the topics and authors behind this paper, save useful studies, and build a literature map when you are ready to go deeper.
Get the app