interactionism

• interactionism

  -action theory

  -made up of ideas from different theorists

  -sees individuals as having free will

  -focuses on interactions between people in society

  -investigates how signs, symbols & interactions create meaning through how they're interpreted

  -micro sociology (small scale interactions)
• principles of symbolic interaction

  -actions based on the meanings we give to symbols

  -meanings we give to symbols based on our own experiences of world

  -meanings can change - one symbol can have variety of different meanings
• labelling theory - BECKER


  -type of interaction (labelling)

  -attaching definition to someone/thing, sorting them into categories

  -may internalise labels and act upon them - self fulfilling prophecy

  -reinforces others labels of the individual, becoming a master status
• looking glass self - COOLEY


  -individuals understand who they are through way others react to them

  -people's reactions tell truth about ourselves & what they think of us

  -interactions can influence self-concept
• symbols

  words

  gestures

  actions
• dramaturgical theory- GOFFMAN


  -explains how we interact through analogy of drama

  -social interactions = performing 'ourself' like on stage

  -different situations = different roles with different scripts

  -adjust performance to portray particular role based on impression we want to leave

  -true & authentic self = back stage
• strengths

  -less deterministic than other theories (acknowledges role of individual in creating society)

  -focus on individual is more relevant today as world is more individualistic

  -changed way sociological research is conducted

  -used to investigate 'underdogs' and give better understanding to those labelled deviant
• criticisms

  -still little deterministic (assumes concepts influence behaviour, rather than free will)

  -ignores impact of structures in wider society that may shape social behaviour (patriarchy, capitalism)

  -methods used aren't always useful -- qualitative (small scale, not much evidence, may not be representative, based on interpretations)
• key concepts


  > symbols vs instincts

  > meaning

  > symbolic interactionism

  > labelling

  > self-fulfilling prophecy

  > looking glass self

  > self-concept

  > dramaturgical analogy

  > impression management
• effect of labelling

  -individuals may internalise labels

  -act upon them

  > self fulfilling prophecy