Artikel

De Amerikaanse klassieken: Cooley en Mead

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Abstract

American classics : Cooley and Mead - This article begins with the treatment of the distinction between the pioneers of American sociology (Ward, Sumner, Giddings, Ross) and some of the classics. Special attention is given to the significance of Charles Horton Cooley (1864-1929) and George Herbert Mead (1863-1931). What are the influences, which have formed their thought? The influence of European sociology, especially of German sociology, has been considerable. They are modified by the particular experiences of developing American society. The sociology of Cooley has a strong psychological character. Although he himself never did any fieldwork, his impact on modern research has been very impressive. Especially attention is given to the sociology of the small group and his ideas about reference group behavior. Mead has led the foundations of the so-called school of symbolic interactionism. In contradiction to the opinion that Mead was one of the prominent members of the Chicago-school, the fact is underlined that Mead was teaching in the department of philosophy at the new university of Chicago. Nevertheless his teaching had a big influence on the development of American sociology. The significance of the “philosophy” of Mead for actual theorizing and research in Europe is still growing.

How to Cite:

Goddijn, H., (1972) “De Amerikaanse klassieken: Cooley en Mead”, Tijdschrift voor Sociale Wetenschappen 17(3), 263–277. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/tvsw.95917