The third major framework of sociological theory is symbolic interaction. Instead of thinking of society in terms of abstract institutions, symbolic interaction emphasizes immediate social interaction as the place where “society” exists. Because of the human capacity for reflection, people give meaning to their behavior. The creation of meaning is how they interpret the different behaviors, events, or things that happen in society.
As its name implies, symbolic interaction relies extensively on the symbolic meaning that people develop and employ in the process of social interaction. Symbolic interaction theory emphasizes face-to-face interaction and thus is a form of microsociology, whereas functionalism and conflict theory are more macro sociological.
Derived from the work of the Chicago School, symbolic interaction theory analyzes society by addressing the subjective meanings that people impose on objects, events, and behaviors. Subjective meanings are important because, according to symbolic interaction, people behave based on what they believe, not just on what is objectively true. Symbolic interaction sees society as socially constructed through human interpretation. Social meanings are constantly modified through social interaction.
People interpret one another’s behavior; these interpretations form social bonds. These interpretations are called the “definition of the situation.” For example, why would young people smoke cigarettes even though all objective medical evidence points to the danger of doing so? The answer is in the definition of the situation that people create. Studies find that teenagers are well informed about the risks of tobacco, but they also think that “smoking is cool,” that they themselves will be safe from harm, and that smoking projects an image—a positive identity for boys as a “tough guy” and for girls as fun-loving, mature, and glamorous. Smoking is also defined by young women as keeping you thin—an ideal constructed through dominant images of beauty. In other words, the symbolic meaning of smoking overrides the actual facts regarding smoking and risk.
