Whats "symbolic interactionism shifts the focus of social theory from social from social structure to behavior

Question

Explain what is meant by the statement, "symbolic interactionism shifts the focus of social theory from social structure to social interaction." Why is this an important distinction in helping to understand social behavior?

I dont get it i need help pleasee

Answer 1

Symbolic interactionism focuses on small-scale societal issues - basically, symbolic interaction between people. Symbolic interactionism believes that life is nothing but a constant exchange of symbols with others. For instance, your hand gestures, words you speak, even objects you use have a symbolic meaning that pertains to the society you live in.

A good way to illustrate that everything is defined by society rather than the other way around is - imagine a doorknob. If you or I looked at it, we'd go, "So what? It opens doors." But if you drop it in the middle of a jungle somewhere and some native man who has never seen a door, so much a doorknob in his life finds it, he might believe the doorknob is a symbol that stands for something completely different - he might think it's a sign from the gods that rain is coming or who knows what. EVERYTHING you say, do, see, smell, taste - it's meaning, definition and basic role in society is strictly symbolic for what society defined it to be.

Symbolic interactionism doesn't focus on social structure like other sociological perspectives do - for instance, functionalism looks at everything in society and believes it has a place and meaning; conflict theory focuses on power and the epic struggle between classes to achieve and maintain power. Symbolic interactionism doesn't look at these massive, social structure issues and instead is based on small, mostly person to person ideas and perspectives on what symbols mean between people in cultures, what interaction is like, and how interaction between people can impact or reflect upon society as a whole.