The primary basis of symbolic interaction theory is the assumption that people create their view of the world and interpersonal meanings jointly through the nature of their encounters (Leeds-Hurwitz, 2016). These respective views and opinions become a person's new reality. Its key area of focus is gaining an understanding of the role people or communities play in the construction of such reality. According to Fairhurst and Grant (2010), the theory that has evolved over a long period draws its roots from the symbolic interactionist model. At the time, the major assumption was that as people construct their social and cultural worlds, the worlds have the same effect on such individuals. Furthermore, it is a consensus that the most insignificant of realities are products of longstanding but meaningful interaction between various social agents (Fairhurst & Grant, 2010). The theory incorporated and recognized the role that communication and language play, which, over time, has introduced a linguistic aspect into the model.
According to Fairhurst and Grant (2010), language and communication are critical tools in the creation of reality. During its evolution, the social construction theory became instrumental in demanding for change by rejecting the deeply rooted idea that categories and realities are natural (Marques, 2017). It has always been used to understand personality and initiate transformation among individuals. Currently, the theory has found applicability in a wide range of areas. One particular area of application is social work. The social work profession involves interacting with a wide variety of people and solving their problems (Navratil & Bajer, 2018). Social workers apply the theory in understanding the basis of these problems and formulating solutions as appropriate. It provides useful skills in understanding from the client’s standpoint, incorporating conscience, and recognizing the importance of customers’ experiences (Queiro-Taialli, 2017). Other current areas of application include educational psychology, systemic therapy, and even communication studies.
Application
The social construction theory can be used to understand the various experiences that Jeanette Walls faces in The Glass Castle: A Memoir. In the story, Jeanette encounters a sad adventure that characterizes her life. In her youth, Jeanette had low self-esteem and considered herself unattractive as she was extremely tall, thin, and frail, with big protruding teeth (Walls, 2005). From a social constructivist point of view, these feelings stem from Jeanette’s interaction with her peers. Her twisted reality and assumption about her looks originate from a common understanding of the world around her. In school, classmates criticized her looks, making her even more worried about a scar she picked from a burn at the age of three. The joint nature of social constructions is seen in the fact that both Jeanette and her classmates disapprove of her looks. Both of them are social agents, and their views affect each other. It is not clear whether Jeanette held a low perception of herself before she went to school and had her classmates point out her weaknesses.
The reciprocal nature of social constructionism is further seen when Jeanette’s view changes as soon as she meets her second husband. According to Walls (2005), he regarded her as an interesting and fine-textured person whose scars are a sign of massive strength. Unlike her mean classmates and anyone else who used the scars against her before, she has found someone who accepts and embraces all her flaws. According to Walls (2005), owing to the newly constructed view of herself, her spirits have been lifted, she has become more self-conscious and even loves herself more. She drastically changes from a case of self-hate to a self-loving woman as a result of her second husband’s attitude.
In application, social construction is critical in transforming people, helping them draw meaning out of their experiences, and formulating better-coping mechanisms for every situation. By learning from the behavior and character, she develops her own set of characteristics and takes responsibility. Rose Mary, her mother, is a painter. She spends most of her time painting while ignoring the welfare of her children, including Jeanette. Rose Mary is so selfish that she sometimes eats in secret despite her children going hungry for days. Raised in comfort, Rose Mary thinks she is encouraging her children to be sufficient and strong. Her husband, Rex, is a manipulative thief with a passion for gambling. The two parents were utterly negligent and absent. From their undesirable characters, Jeanette becomes an agent of change in her world. Unlike her parents, she loves and cares for her siblings, thus acting as a parental figure. Notably, in an attempt to cultivate opposite characters from her parents, she is committed, works hard, and brings home money for food. In fact, at the age of seventeen, she becomes independent by taking her sister Lori out and making their own lives. From a social constructivist point of view, her desirable characters are an unconscious campaign to make her current world better than the previous one.
Critique
In as much as the social construction theory explains, to no small extent, the reasons why Jeanette found her way out of the ways of her parents, including selfishness, alcoholism, gambling, and negligence, there are some drawbacks. For instance, the objectivity of the ideas formed cannot be ascertained. It is not possible to gauge the degree to which Jeanette’s experiences as a child contributed to her outlook on life. It is hard to determine whether the socially constructed knowledge Jeanette gathered in the course of her life is reliable. This doubt is further compounded by the fact that Jeannette’s siblings have entirely different outlooks on life despite being raised under similar conditions. Social construction, therefore offers a partial explanation of the outcome of Jeanette’s life.
However, Erickson’s theory could help to understand Jeanette’s actions and behavior better. Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development postulates that human beings undergo distinct transitions physically, cognitively, and mentally as they grow up. According to Erik Erikson, human beings develop in eight stages from birth through old age dealing with developmental tasks and resolving crises particular to each stage (Rogers, 2016). Based on this definition, Jeanette’s behavior in The Glass Castle can be better explained using Erikson's theory than by symbolic interactionism. This is evidenced through Jeanette's changing behavior as she grows, which is consistent with the provision of Erickson’s theory whereas symbolic interactionism only explains the meanings attached to the interaction between individuals in society. While Jeanette detests her father’s behavior of excessive drinking and her mother’s irresponsibility and selfishness, the rest of her siblings do not seem concerned by the problem. Consequently, Miss Walls quits the family and heads to New York, in search of a new life. Walls' attempt at refreshing herself and rediscovering life is better explained by Erickson’s theory which provided that human beings move through the stages of psychosocial development despite unresolved crises experienced at earlier stages. This better explains the by explaining that Jeanette is more successful and negotiating the crises of each stage enabling her to maintain better control over her emotional state and environment enabling her to better adapt and adjust to her environment.
Conclusion
“The Glass Castle” is a story about siblings who must learn to care for themselves because their parents are irresponsible. Jeanette’s free-spirited parents inspire her while causing her immense pain. She admires her father, who, when sober, is a fountain of knowledge. When he drinks, however, he makes terrible decisions and is incapable of providing for his family. The social construction theory explains to a certain degree, how Jeannette uses her childhood experiences to form her reality. As an adult, she moves to New York after gathering all the money she owns and works hard to build a life free of pain and poverty.