Symbolic Convergence Theory
Dramatizing Message
Imaginative language by a group member describing past, future, or outside events, creative interpretations of there-and-then
Fantasy
-Creative and imaginative shared interpretations of events that fulfills a a group’s psychological or rhetorical needs
Sharing group fantasies creates symbolic convergence!
Fantasy Chain
A symbolic explosion of lively agreement within a group in response to a dramatizing message
Fantasy Continued
Symbolic Convergence
DEFINED
Fantasy Theme
- Content of the fantasy that has chained out within a group. Composed of a groups meanings, emotions, motives and actions
Fantasy type
- Cluster of related fantasy themes
Symbolic cues
- an agreed-upon trigger that sets off group members to respond as they did when they first shared the fantasy
Symbolic convergence theory is a communication theory that offers an explanation for the appearance of a group's cohesiveness, consisting of shared emotions, motives, and meanings.
Rhetorical Vision
A composite drama that catches up large groups of people into a common symbolic reality
Symbolic Convergence can continue on to affect large groups!
Fantasy Theme Analysis
- People create their social reality
- People's meanings, motives, and emotions can be seen in their rhetoric.
- Characters
- Plot Lines
- Scene
- Sanctioning Agent