Interactionist Perspective

What is the Interactionist Perspective?

A micro-sociological perspective focusing on individuals and small groups.

It views people as active agents who shape society through symbols, interactions, and meanings, rather than being passive

How does the Interactionist Perspective differ from Functionalism and Conflict Theory?

Unlike macro perspectives that study society as a whole, the interactionist perspective emphasizes the individual’s role in constructing social reality through everyday interactions.

What are the main approaches within the Interactionist Perspective?

• Symbolic Interactionism (George Herbert Mead)

• Ethnomethodology (Harold Garfinkel)

• Phenomenology (Edmund Husserl → Alfred Schutz)

• Dramaturgy (Erving Goffman)

Who is the key figure in Symbolic Interactionism?

George Herbert Mead (1863–1931), who emphasized the role of symbols, the self, and interaction in shaping social life.

What are the three principles of Symbolic Interactionism?/ [How meanings can change according to the context]

• Ascribed Meanings → Actions are based on the meanings attached to things.8888

• Communication → Meanings emerge and change through interaction.

• Interpretation → Individuals assign meanings that shape behavior depending on context.

What is ethnomethodology?

The study of the ways in which individuals make sense of everyday life using common-sense reasoning.

Key idea of “Order vs. Chaos”?

Social life appears orderly, but people actively impose meaning.

What is the Documentary Method?

Individuals, as social actors, make sense of social life by observing a set of unwritten rules that guide routine situations

Focus of Phenomenology?

Understanding social reality through lived experience.

What is “Essence of Social Phenomena”?

Discovering subjective meaning of objects, events, and interactions.

What is Typification?

Categorizing phenomena through common-sense knowledge and experience.

Key idea of Dramaturgy?

Social life is like a theatrical performance; people perform roles.

What is Impression Management?

Controlling how others perceive you.

Front Stage vs. Back Stage?

Front Stage = public behaviour; Back Stage = private self.