The fourth edition of Symbols, Selves, and Social Reality provides students with a succinct, engaging, and affordable introduction to symbolic interactionism--the perspective that social reality is created, negotiated, and changed through the process of social interaction. Focusing on how elements of race and gender affect identity, the authors use real-world examples to discuss the personal significance of symbolic interactionism, its expanding theoretical scope, and its relationship to other prominent perspectives in sociology and social psychology. They skillfully cover empirical research topics that are inherently interesting to students, such as the dynamics of self-development, impression management, identity transformation, gender play, rumor transmission, and collective action. New to This Edition * A new chapter (7) on emotions * Increased coverage of race, class, and sexuality in topical discussions * Updated discussions of recent social phenomena and movements

Kent L. Sandstrom is Professor of Sociology and Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at North Dakota State University.

Kathryn J. Lively is Associate Professor of Sociology at Dartmouth College.

Daniel D. Martin is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Minnesota, Duluth.

Gary Alan Fine is the John Evans Professor of Sociology at Northwestern University.