Simulating symbolic interaction*

Conflict of interest between DRH's roles as Special Issue editor and co‐author was averted by submitting this paper to Editor Patrick Doreian, who reviewed it as a regular submission to the Journal of Mathematical Sociology.

We describe a program for simulating symbolic interaction. The program processes verbal inputs using empirically‐based equations and a cybernetic theoretical model, while making reference to dictionaries of culture measurements. Results are verbal outputs suggesting what behaviors, emotions, attributions, and labelings will occur in the given situation. The program's structure is described by means of a picto‐graphic algorithm. An illustrative application uses the program with its U.S.A. and German dictionaries to analyze some problems of role directives within multi‐national corporations.

Notes

Conflict of interest between DRH's roles as Special Issue editor and co‐author was averted by submitting this paper to Editor Patrick Doreian, who reviewed it as a regular submission to the Journal of Mathematical Sociology.