Social Interactionism Theory

Social interactionism theory attempts to describe interaction between social actors interact largely through examining subjective processes, as opposed to other social theories which focus on large macro-structures and entire social systems. Social interactionism theorists are concerned with how social interaction between people can create meaningful social experiences and the ways in which these experiences can, in turn, manifest in social action.

Social Actions

For social interactionists, people negotiate their social world by adapting to different situations. These situations are largely considered to be the result of actions taken by others. People take purposive action toward goals and desires within the restrictive situations in which they find themselves.

Interaction

Interactions take place between two or more individuals, and include all uses of language, exchange, confrontation and working with others. The goal of all such interactions is communication and meaning making. Through their interactions, people become active participants in creating their social world.

Symbols

Individuals interpret social actions symbolically to give meaning to their interactions. The meaning of these symbols is itself a matter of social construction; they have meaning only insofar as people agree they do. Symbols, therefore, are said to have meaning by virtue of intersubjective agreement, or agreement between individual subjects. Examples of this are language and money.

Social Process

As opposed to largely static norms and deterministic structures, social interactionists think of social organization as the result of continually changing social processes. Social interactionists think that social factors are constantly in flux as actors adapt to changing circumstances and relationships. They are opposed to functionalists, who think that social structures tend towards stability and consistency.

Dramaturgy

Social interactionists observe how people both create and enact roles in order to negotiate their social situations in a process called dramaturgy, in much the same way stage actors play roles on a stage. Social roles are themselves considered a kind of symbol which individuals act out in accord with their situation. These roles can to a large extent be improvised based upon how one thinks one is supposed to act in a situation. Thus, individuals both act out roles and are largely responsible for creating those same roles for themselves.

References

• Symbolic Interactionism