Symbolic behavior is “a person’s capacity to respond to or use a system of significant symbols” (Faules & Alexander, 1978, p. 5). The symbolic behavior perspective argues that the reality of an organization is socially constructed through communication (Cheney & Christensen, 2000; Putnam, Phillips, & Chapman, 1996). Symbolic messages are used by individuals to understand their environment and create a social reality (Faules & Alexander, 1978; Mills, 2002). When faced with uncertainty, individuals continually organize themselves within their group based reality and respond within that reality (Weick, 1995).
Read more about Symbolic Behavior: History, Symbolic Behavior Perspective Viewpoints, Symbolic Behavior Perspective Propositions, Tools of Symbolic Behavior, Limitations of Symbolic Behavior, Performances Involved in Symbolic Behavior, Types of Rituals, Related Theories
Famous quotes containing the words symbolic and/or behavior:
“An ancient bridge, and a more ancient tower,
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An acre of stony ground,
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“This whole business of Trade gives me to pause and think, as it constitutes false relations between men; inasmuch as I am prone to count myself relieved of any responsibility to behave well and nobly to that person who I pay with money, whereas if I had not that commodity, I should be put on my good behavior in all companies, and man would be a benefactor to man, as being himself his only certificate that he had a right to those aids and services which each asked of the other.”
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