The term 'Symbolic Interactionism' was first introduced by whom amongst the following?

Correct option is B

Herbert Blumer

While George Herbert Mead is widely considered the foundational figure whose ideas laid the groundwork for symbolic interactionism (especially his work on the "social self," "mind," and "society"), he did not coin the term "symbolic interactionism" himself.

The term "symbolic interactionism" was formally introduced and popularized by Herbert Blumer. Blumer was a student and interpreter of Mead's work at the University of Chicago. He codified and systematized Mead's ideas into a coherent theoretical perspective, giving it the name "symbolic interactionism" in 1937. He articulated the core tenets of the perspective, emphasizing the importance of meaning, language, and the interpretive process in human interaction.

Let's briefly look at the other options:

1. George Herbert Mead: As mentioned, he developed the core philosophical and psychological ideas that symbolic interactionism is built upon, but did not use the specific term.

3. Charles Horton Cooley: Another key figure in the Chicago School of sociology, Cooley contributed concepts like the "looking-glass self," which are highly relevant to symbolic interactionism. However, he also did not coin the term.

4. Edmund Husserl: Husserl was a philosopher who founded the school of phenomenology. While phenomenology, with its focus on subjective experience and the nature of consciousness, has some conceptual overlaps and influences on interpretive sociology, Husserl himself is not directly associated with coining "symbolic interactionism." His work is more foundational to sociological approaches like ethnomethodology.

Therefore, Herbert Blumer is credited with formally introducing and naming the theoretical perspective of symbolic interactionism.