Interactionism

1. Interactionism • Interactionism differs from Functionalism and Conflict perspectives • Functionalism and Conflict perspectives are Macro perspectives because they give general explanation of society as a whole - They regard society as a system also called system perspectives - They tend to see man’s behaviour shaped by the system (society) For eg: Talcott Parsons (functionalist): norms and values Karl Marx (conflict theorist): economy

2. Interactionism Contd.. • But Interactionism is a Micro perspective because it focus on small scale interaction between people rather than society as a whole • Rejects the notion of society as a system • Does not regard human action as a response to the system

3. Interactionism Contd.. • Interactionism or symbolic interactionism is concerned with social interaction between individuals and groups • For eg: class inequality Interactionists study how classes are defined and how people perceive and treat members of their own class and of other classes • So this perspective seeks to understand action between individuals and understanding of action requires an interpretation of the meanings which individuals gives to their activities

4. Interactionism Contd.. • This perspective concentrates upon what meanings people find in other people’s actions. • People interact mainly through symbols which include sign, gestures and most importantly written and spoken words (language) • Symbols are culturally derived social objectshaving shared meanings that are created and maintained in social interaction. For eg chair, school, motorcycle etc • This perspective focus on the symbols (i.e. What these symbols mean and how people interact with each other)

5. Interactionism Contd.. • George Herbert Mead (1863-1931) introduced this perspective in 1920s • According to this perspective, people attach meanings to symbols and they act according to their subjective interpretation of these symbols • (Objective reality: real regardless of our perceptions of them (real facts): for eg: sun, moon, stars, human beings etc • Subjective reality: For an individual the other persons, groups and institutions are what that individual perceives (it differs from person to person); It exists in the mind; it emphasize on actors views and interpretations)

6. Interactionism Contd.. • Subjective meanings are given importance because it is believed that people behave based on what they believe and not just on what is objectively true. • For eg: why would young people smoke cigarettes even when all medical evidence points to dangers of smoking? • Studies find that youngster are well informed about the risks of tobacco, but they also think that smoking is pleasant, they themselves will be safe from harm and that smoking projects positive image to their peers. So the symbolic meaning of smoking overrides that actual facts regarding smoking and risk

7. Interactionism Contd.. • This perspective focus that only subjectively- defined objects have meaning • This perspective see meaning as the fundamental component of human interaction • Studying human interaction requires getting at that meaning • This perspective see society as the product of the everyday interaction of individuals.

8. Key assumptions of Interactionism 1) Subjective rather than objective - Interactionism assumes that objective aspects of society do not accurately explain or predict societal behaviours. Instead interactionism says that subjective elements of social interaction shape society - Interactionists believe that humans are always adjusting their behaviours based on their interactions with other human beings and not based on prescribed norms put forth by macrolevel social institutions such as governments or religion

9. Key assumptions of Interactionism 2) Active rather than passive - Interactionism talked about active participants but not passive one - Interactionists claim that people are actors (role play) not passive observers in their relationship to society - They believe that people are constantly re-evaluating and adjusting their life through daily interactions with other people

10. Key assumptions of Interactionism 3) Meaning dictates behaviour - Understanding of human action requires an interpretation (explanation) of the meanings Eg: A man with a woman is lighting a candle in a room This action requires several interpretations • They require light due to power cut • They may be celebrating a birthday or wedding anniversary • Some form of ritual where lighted candle is necessary In each case different meaning is attached to the act of lighting a candle. Therefore to understand act it is necessary to discover the meaning

11. Key assumptions of Interactionism 4) Language aids individual processing - Interactionism assumes that language is essential to the negotiation of meaning - Human beings use language as the primary means of interacting with one another. Therefore interactionists believe that language is essential to the constant negotiation of individual meanings, thoughts and behaviours that shape society - Language need not be verbal. Body language, written word are also included under language based interaction

12. Key assumptions of Interactionism 5) Roles govern interactions - Individuals adopt and perform various roles during interaction with other human beings - These roles are assumed based on social expectations that are generally determined by social position or status For eg: Women typically act socially prescribed role of ‘mother’ by adopting caregivingbehaviors toward their children

13. Symbolic Interactionism George Herbert Mead • Human beings interact in terms of symbols. Symbols impose particular meanings on objects • Without symbols there would be no human interaction and no human society • Social life can only proceed if the meanings of symbols are largely shared by members of society • In order for interaction to proceed each person involved must understand the meanings and intentions of others. This is possible by role-taking

14. Symbolic Interactionism • The process of role-taking involves the individual taking on the role of another by imaginatively placing himself in the position of the person with whom he is interacting • for eg: if the person observes another person smiling or crying he will put himself in that persons position in order to understand his intention and meaning • Human interaction thus is a continuous process of interpretation with each taking the role of the other • Mead argues that through the process of role taking the individual develops a concept of self

15. Symbolic Interactionism • Thus the origin and development of a concept of self lies in the ability to take the role of another • Mead sees three stages in the development of self. They are imitation stage, play stage and game stage

16. Symbolic Interactionism Herbert Blumer • Blumer conceptualized symbolic interaction into three main points 1) Human act towards things (including other individuals) on the basis of the meanings they have for them 2) The meaning of things arises out of the social interactions one has with one’s fellows (the meaning of something is a social product it is not inherent in things) 3) Meanings are handled and modified through an interpretive process • By taking the role of the other, actors interpret the meanings and intention of others

17. Symbolic Interactionism Criticism of Symbolic Interactionism • Symbolic interaction theory works very well for describing individual behaviours (microanalysis). It is not helpful in describing the behaviours of groups (macroanalysis) • Focussed on small scale face to face interaction with little concern for its historical or social setting • Committed in the study of everyday life and social formation of the self but fails to analyze the social structure