George Herbert Mead's Symbolic Interaction Theory

George Herbert Mead’s perspective of symbolic interaction theory “relies on the symbolic meaning that people develop and rely upon in the process of social interaction. It analyzes society by addressing the subjective meanings that people impose on objects, events, and behaviors.” I have applied Mead’s theory to an opportunity I was given a couple weeks ago, to tour the San Luis Obispo County Jail. Prior to the tour, a jail was merely a strange concept to me; something I had seen in movies and television shows. It was something that I had never given much thought to, because I had just accepted it for how it was. The tour provided me with a lot of insight into how a jail is run, along with how much work and organization it takes to keep it
The purpose of the justice system is to protect the innocent, and punish the criminals that impose a threat. Personally, I believe the idea of locking people in cages as cause for their actions is not a justified punishment system. Although, the majority of our society believes that is right, therefore; the system works and creates harmony. The system creates order, and allows for our society to remain in balance. “For example, each of the social institutions contributes important functions for society.” The justice system works conjointly in multiple parts, such as the police departments, courts, and correctional facilities. “The functionalist perspective emphasizes the interconnectedness of society by focusing on how each part influences and is influenced by other parts.” They are held together based on common beliefs we have developed in our society. “Functionalists use the terms functional and dysfunctional to describe the effects of social elements on society.” These systems can be thought of as productive or destructive based on how they are directly affecting societies. I now see how society is made up of parts that work together, and without these shared beliefs our society, we could not have developed systems to enforce these