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Social Interaction & Performance: Crash Course Sociology #15

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How do sociologists study and understand social interaction? Today we'll explain the language sociologists use to discuss how we interact with the social world. What are statuses and roles? How are they different? How do you acquire them? We'll talk about why these things matter by exploring the socially constructed nature of reality.

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What is Symbolic interactionism?

Introduction

'Symbolic interactionism' refers to the theory which states that we create the social world through our actions and interactions, and the meanings we give to situations. We convey these meaning through symbols, especially language.

See this page for further Sociological videos on theory: Theory and Methods

This video will cover:

GH Mead: symbolic v instincts

Herbert Blumer

The looking glass self

Voluntaristic theory

Goffman dramaturgical model

Impression management

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What is Symbolic interactionism? Social Action Theory Part 2

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'Symbolic interactionism' refers to the theory which states that we create the social world through our actions and interactions, and the meanings we give to situations. We convey these meaning through symbols, especially language.

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What is Social Action Theory?Part 1: Max Weber Social Action Theory

Video Resources

There are some key differences between structural and action theories. Structural theories are macro or large scale, are deterministic, and claim that people are almost like passive puppets at the mercy of social structures.

By contrast, action theories are micro theories, which look at small-scale interactions. These theories are voluntaristic, as they believe we possess agency and free will.

Arguably the most important action theories are:

* Weber's social action theory
* Symbolic interactionism
* Phenomenology
* Ethnomethodology

Max Weber's (1864-1920) social action theory wished to combine an understanding of structure and action and the result of these on behaviour. Find out more watching the video.
The different types of Action
Though action may have infinite meanings, Weber tries to classify meanings into four types.

Learn more about other sociological theories such as Functionalism and Feminism.

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What is Social Action Theory? Part 1: Weber

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Video Resources There are some key differences between structural and action theories. Structural theories are macro or large scale, are deterministic, and claim that people are almost like passive puppets at the mercy of social structures. By contrast, action theories are micro theories, which look at small-scale interactions.

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What is Ethnomethodology?

Video Resources

Introduction

Ethnomethodology (EM) emerged from the work of Garfinkel (1967) and the theory of phenomenology.

Like Functionalists such as Parsons, Garfinkel is interested in how social order is achieved. For Parsons, this is achieved through socialisation into a shared value system, in line with his top down-structural approach. Garfinkel on the other hand, believes the opposite.

People create social order from the 'bottom up'. People actively construct social order through their everyday lives using common sense knowledge.

EM is interested in how we do this and it studies the methods people use to understand the world.

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Video Resources Ethnomethodology (EM) emerged from the work of Garfinkel (1967) and the theory of phenomenology. Like Functionalists such as Parsons, Garfinkel is interested in how social order is achieved. For Parsons, this is achieved through socialisation into a shared value system, in line with his top down-structural approach.

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Weber: Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism

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Weber: Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism