Interactionism aka Interprevitism

www.educationforum.co.uk

Structuralism and Interactionism

• The sociological theories that emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries fall into two categories:

1.Structural theories e.g. Functionalism and Marxism, and

2.Interactionism - including social action theory, symbolic interactionism and phenomenology

Structure and ActionSTRUCTURAL THEORIES – macro-theories such as functionalism and

Marxism – complete theories of society which see ‘society’ first and the individual second

SOCIAL ACTION THEORIES - micro-theories which start at the individual first and ‘build up’ theories to explain social phenomena using ideas such as labelling, self fulfilling prophecy, self concept

Example – a Marxist will explain working class underachievement in schools with reference to structural issues such as class and material deprivation, whereas an interactionist might explain the same phenomenon by examining the interactions between teachers and pupils

Many sociologists will use elements of both to explain social phenomenon

Interactionism – key general ideas

• Interactionists stress the important of ‘meanings’• ‘meanings’ are the ways in which people interpret the

behaviours of others• ‘meanings’ develop and are negotiated during interactions

with others as a people get a feeling for the intentions of others

• All humans develop a ‘self concept’ – an image of themselves through their interactions with others

• ‘Self concepts’ are very susceptible to labels from others• Ones self concept very often becomes very similar to how

others view you – self fulfilling prophecy

3 broad strands

• Interactionism is a broad description of sociological approaches which emphasise the importance of micro sociology

• There are 3 broad types1. Social action Theory – ‘moderate’ – both micro and macro are

important in understanding society . E.g. Weber2. Symbolic Interactionism – micro is much more important than

macro e.g. Blumer and Mead3. Phenomenology/Ethnomethodology – e.g. Atkinson – only

the micro is important – macro is an illusion

Social Action Theory

Starts from the premise that if you really want to understand people and society you start with the individuals themselves and work up – seeks to establish meanings through studying interactions.

Weber – ‘sociology is the science which attempts the interpretive understanding of social action to arrive at causal explanations’

Looks for ‘verstehen’ or deep understanding of motives and therefore favours qualitative methods.

Sociologists must try and see the world ‘through the eyes’ of social actors themselves

Symbolic Interactionism

A special sort of social action theory associated with the University of Chicago and academics such as Mead and Blumer.

SI emphasises than individuals are active rather than passive receptors of culture, socialisation or capitalism. People CHOOSE their actions and their reactions.

A person’s identity and self concept is created by their interactions with others

SI invented ‘labelling theory’ which has been very important in modern sociological research

3 main elements of SI

The symbol – the self – the interaction

The Symbol

• People and objects are classified through interactions into symbols and given a name ‘tree’ ‘car’ ‘terrorist’ ‘hero’ ‘chair’ ‘villain’ ‘gay’ ‘deviant’ etc.

• The names given to symbols are not neutral – they imply a variety of meanings and therefore responses from different people

The Self

• People can respond to symbols and others only when they have a clear sense of self i.e. who they are and where they fit in the scheme of things – this is learnt in childhood through play

• One’s self concept is very susceptible to the opinions of others

The Interaction

• Is where symbols and different ‘selfs’ come together in interactions

• It is through interaction that meaning is created.

• People aware of themselves and others and negotiate meanings, norms and values which are temporary and subject to renegotiation and change

Phenomenology• Reality ONLY exists in meanings negotiated through interactions• Macro sociological theory is an illusion• The job of the sociologist is to discover meanings and nothing more• Phenomenology rejects completely ‘scientific’ sociology and ‘objectivity’,

‘social facts’ and ‘structures’• There are no causes to be uncovered only meanings to be understood• E.G. Atkinson ‘Discovering Suicide’ – research involved the study of how

coroners categorised deaths as suicide i.e. What ‘meanings’ were used to classify suicide. No attempt to discuss causes, or analyse rates or compare patterns

Contribution to Understanding of Society

• Labelling in education – Becker, Keddie, Ball, Rosenthal and Jacobson – as an explanation of underachievement (Revision Guide page 56)

• Labelling in health – as an explanation of insanity (Revision Guide page 73 Szasz, Goffman,)

• RD Laing’s critique of the nuclear family – radical psychiatry http://www.educationforum.co.uk/sociology_2/ps.htm

• Crime and Deviance and labelling – Howard Becker