Jacobs G "Influence and canonical supremacy: An analysis of how George Herbert Mead demoted Charles Horton Cooley in the sociological canon" Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences 45(2):117-144, Spring 2009

[Eugene Garfield]

E-Mail : Glenn Jacobs : glenn.jacobs at umb.edu

TITLE : INFLUENCE AND CANONICAL SUPREMACY: AN ANALYSIS OF HOW GEORGE 
HERBERT MEAD DEMOTED CHARLES HORTON COOLEY IN THE SOCIOLOGICAL CANON \

Author(s): Jacobs G (Jacobs, Glenn)   

Source: JOURNAL OF THE HISTORY OF THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES    Volume: 45    
Issue: 2    Pages: 117-144    Published: SPR 2009     

Times Cited: 0     References: 108     Citation Map       

Abstract: 
This analysis assesses the factors underlying Charles Horton Cooley's place 
in the sociological canon as they relate to George Herbert Mead's puzzling 
diatribe-echoed in secondary accounts-against Cooley's social psychology 
and view of the self published scarcely a year after his death. The 
illocutionary act of publishing his critique stands as an effort to project 
the image of Mead's intellectual self and enhance his standing among 
sociologists within and outside the orbit of the University of Chicago. It 
expressed Mead's ambivalence toward his precursor Cooley, whose influence 
he never fully acknowledged. In addition, it typifies the contending 
fractal distinctions of the scientifically discursive versus literary 
styles of Mead and Cooley, who both founded the interpretive sociological 
tradition. The contrasting styles and attitudes toward writing of the two 
figures are discussed, and their implications for the problems of scale 
that have stymied the symbolic interactionist tradition are explored.

Reprint Address: Jacobs, G (reprint author), Univ Massachusetts, Boston, MA 
02125 USA  
Addresses:  
1. Univ Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02125 USA  

Publisher: JOHN WILEY & SONS INC, 111 RIVER ST, HOBOKEN, NJ 07030 USA  
IDS Number: 437BJ  
ISSN: 0022-5061  
DOI: 10.1002/jhbs.20363