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- Title
In Defense of Symbolic Convergence Theory: A Look at The Theory and Its Criticisms After Two Decades.
- Authors
Bormann, Ernest G.; Craan, John F.; Shields, Donald C.
- Abstract
This paper argues that not only is theory-building often unfashionable, but the spurious assumption that the presence of scholarly disputes signifies the need to abandon theory-building efforts adds to the difficulties of those willing to develop and expand general theories of human communication. We argue that the time is at hand to provide a new response to the published criticism of the symbolic convergence theory (SCT) and its attendant method of fantasy theme analysis (FTA). Since 1977, critics have made a number of charges about the usefulness of the symbolic convergence theory. We have collapsed the more frequently mentioned and argued points into four indictments of SCT: (1) SCT's proponents have not clarified the basic presuppositions that undergird the theory; (2) SCT is Freudian-based and therefore applies only to small group communication; (3) SCT's insights are researcher-dependent not dependent on the theory; (4) SCT is a relabeling of old concepts with ttivial jargon that lacks precision and clarity. This paper explains and refutes each indictment. The paper concludes with a discussion of constructive criticism and the harms resulting from indiscriminate and unjustified criticism on theory building in general.
- Publication
Communication Theory (1050-3293), 1994, Vol 4, Issue 4, p259
- ISSN
1050-3293
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1468-2885.1994.tb00093.x