ABSTRACT

The concept of self is an integral component of any symbolic interactionist analysis. The investigator went into the field with the expectation that the logger’s occupational self would be relatively monolithic and further that the role identity “logger” would tend to be the dominant component in the individual’s collection of role identities. The logger’s occupational identity was observed to focus on four interrelated themes: Independence, pride in skill, pride in facing danger, and a sense of being in a unique category of workers. Pride in skill is a recurrent theme in the conversations loggers have with each other and with non occupation members, as well as in the stories they tell. Despite the tendency of most of the loggers interviewed to include occupational fellows in their circle of friends, and to spend a portion of their spare time with loggers, only a small minority restrict their friendships exclusively to other loggers.