Symbolic interaction theory and the cognitively disabled: A neglected dimension

Symbolic interactionists have by and large not explored how individuals with mental illnesses—specifically, delusional misidentification syndromes—are able to exercise the cognitive factors necessary for successful interaction. Such factors include: recognition of self and others, situated interpretation, inferring others’ cognitive and emotional states, anticipating what others might say or do, empathizing, maintaining a cogent belief system, etc. What needs to be addressed is how the mentally ill manage—and fail to manage—these cognitively-informed activities as they slip more and more into cognitive and existential chaos, and the associated loss of meaningful dialogue with self and others. Clinical accounts of the cognitively dysfunctional could widen and deepen our understanding of cognition, belief states, self, and self-other relations, central concepts for symbolic interactionists. Accordingly, this paper is as much a critique of symbolic interactionism as a contribution to a humanistic social psychology.