Abstract Whether it is a house, apartment, bungalow or some other dwelling, homes are very important to the people who live in them. The architectural design of these homes often times can affect how we behave and how we relate to others. This study focuses on how the architectural design of houses impacts social behavior. It looks to symbolic interactionism to examine this topic further and finds that, people who live in homes that have been designed to take into consideration their personal preferences will be happier because, architecture reflects and expresses self, architectural symbols affect our environment, and designed physical buildings act as agents that invite self-reflection. To examine this topic, research of existing sources …show more content…
This idea sparks questions such as, how does architecture affect human behavior, or what style of architecture has the greatest, positive affect on human relations? Sociologists have been trying to answer similar questions for many years. However, little research has been conducted in the field of architectural sociology. “Architectural sociology is the study of how socio-cultural phenomena influence and are influenced by designed physical environment” (Smith & Bugni, 2006, p.123). There are many different types of buildings in the world and they all affect humans in different ways. For example, most prisons are designed with very few windows which causes the interior of the building to be dim and reliant on artificial light, which results in depressed moods in the prison environment. This paper focuses on how the architecture of houses impacts social behavior. This topic is sociologically significant because knowing the answers to how architecture affects human behavior and human relations will help architects make better houses for people if they know how design affects the inhabitant’s behavior. If we can better understand how architecture affects families, then this knowledge will eventually result in a better society for all people to live …show more content…
Mead is known as the founder of the Symbolic Interaction theory in sociology, which serves to explain hypothesis of this study. Symbolic Interactionism is a theory that “sees interaction and meaning as central to society and assumes that meanings are not inherent but are created through interaction” (Ferris & Stein, 2014, p.29). This sociological theory was founded mainly by the teachings of George Mead, however there are several other contributors to the theory. After Mead’s death, Herbert Blumer took over his work and gave the theory its name. Blumer summed up symbolic interactionism into three main principles: first, “we act toward things on the basis of their meanings”, second, “meanings are not inherent; rather they are negotiated through interactions with others” and third, “meanings can change or be modified through interaction” (Ferris & Stein, 2014, p.32). An example of the first principle would be that a dining room has a sense of togetherness because generally it is a place where families eat together. The second principle is illustrated by the fact that a dining room is not just for dining, but because of our consistent interaction with family in that room it has a sense of togetherness about it. An example of the third principle can be seen in the case of a family argument taking place in the dining room which would cause
As a result of searching the existing literature, the researcher was able to obtain data that correlated exceptionally well with the research topic. Indeed, the researcher gathered pertinent information from secondary sources; however, the primary sources of data were needed to draw a logical conclusion of the research at hand. So, the next step was major section III, Research Methodology. Being
The subtle but accepted social norms can be categorised neatly into two categories; folkways and mores. While both of these are informal social rules; folkways carry almost no punishment, although, mores are rules that when broken reap heavy consequences. The study of social norms is best done under the symbolic interactionalism lens. Symbolic interactionalism allows us to look at society on a micro level, meaning, we are able to focus on individuals, particularly, emphasizing verbal and physical gestures and how we interpret them.
The 60’s in the United States, the peak in popularity of postmodernism in architecture and philosophy, are also the years that mark the construction of millions of residential houses across the United States. But as the famous American architects such as Venturi, Graves and Neutra explore the modernist ideas of simplicity and functionality while building skyscrapers and residential complexes for wealthy clients, one architect decides to experiment on his own with the concept of a modern house, and builds one for himself trying to test some of his original ideas. The Moore House built in 1962 by Charles Moore in the outskirts of sunny Orinda, California, peacefully sits on the slope of a sunlit valley surrounded by an oak forest that gives the
The building follows intimacy gradient eg homes. Thus having a balance between both. For example, the rosa park elementary school is designed with the participation of the
The Tiny Home Movement Like other social movements that have gained popularity in the United States over the years, the Tiny Home Movement is quickly gaining popularity. This essay sheds light on the movement and gives examples of the major Tiny Homes that are in place today as well as the benefits and challenges of permanently living in a Tiny Home. Also, the paper presents my views on whether the Tiny Home Movement is a sustainable design movement. Owning a big house with several rooms has often been the dream of many people across the world.
In the movie, Stand By Me, by Stephen King, four boys, Gordie, Teddy, Vern and Chris, set out in search of the body of a young boy who had been missing. They had overheard where the body might have been located and went to see if they could find it. The boys endured several different obstacles whether it was a train, sleeping in dark wilderness filled with vicious animals, or older boys who were also intent on finding the body, but they continued on until they found the body. Throughout the movie there were several sociological concepts such as, growing up/coming of age, the idea the people will go to great length to achieve fame, and the idea that people perceive people that may be different then how they actually are. The movie uses all three of the sociological perspectives, but the one that stood out to me most what the symbolic interactionist perspective.
This theory “Sees interaction and meaning as central to society and assumes that meanings are
Author Rasmussen’s book Experiencing Architecture further elaborates on this architectural experience by emphasizing “You must observe how it was designed for a special
The references used in this study will be used to build knowledge on the subject, and to identify
Utilizing that knowledge in architectural and urban design can guide architecture towards a more humane experience.
The data for this thesis paper will be obtained from research online, from
In order to serve this purpose, the following research questions are
These sensory signals have a large impact on our relationship and experience of an environment because they are able to physically and emotionally engage and connect us to the architecture. Although these types of sensorial qualities may not make or break the successfulness of architecture, they must remain of high importance because of their ability to reinforce an individual’s personal connection to a place. Juhani Pallasmaa, claims that our design culture has forgotten the importance of the senses in engaging our whole being- physical and emotional- in an architectural experience. This theory speaks to an experience that goes beyond a visual relationship between a person and architecture.
This study views how George Herbed Mead, who is one of the founders of Pragmatism, and an American sociologist Erving Goffman, had a considerable impact in the 20th century’s social theory in the history of interactionist perspective. Symbolistic interactionism indicates that various meanings given to symbols influence peoples’ behavior in society. As technology integrated to society, everybody can easily understand the technological symbols and use them to perform a particular action. For instance, everybody knows a “power” button, which appears on each device to turn on it on or off. Moreover, smartphones use various icons designed to represent phone calls, mailbox, the internet or gallery (folder of photos).