Sociology Chapter 8 Summary

FINAL PAPER: CHAPTER 8 REVIEW The chapter begins by examining the relevance of symbolic interactionism, not only for deepening personal understanding of social life but also for improving social policy. It then moves on to consider how interactionism has moved beyond its early focus of interpersonal observations, particularly by broadening its scope to include analysis of mesostructure and organizational life. It concluded by discussing some of the new voices that have gained influence in interactionism during the past decades including feminist, neo-Marxist, and postmodernist perspectives. Interactionism can be beneficial in at least two important ways, it can enhance your understanding of the nature and consequences of (1) your personal
Interactionism, however, does not talk about freedom in a language of "individual choices" that separate these choices from the larger society or social structures in which they occur. Rather , interactionism recognizes that freedom is always linked with social structiure and constraint. You make choices, but these choices are always conditioned by your social experiences and relationships, and they are made within situations characterized by various forms of social control. In this way interactionism has merit in that it can help you recognize that often you so not exercise as much agency, or freedom, in decision making as you might think. However, interactionism also helps you remember that your choices and actions are not fully dictated by cultural expectations or the reactions of others. Interactionism emphasizes that because to think and use symbols, you have an important element of freedom as you form your behavior. In analyzing joint action interactionism offers a double
Following Karl Marx, these scholars believe that the central reason for doing social theory and research is not merely to understand the world but to change it, particularly in ways that promote justice and liberation. However, some interactionists have incorporated neo-Marxist ideas into their analyses developing a critical interactionist approach to social life. Some scholars have also blended interactionism with Marxist analysis through what they call critical dramaturgy, an approach that draws on Erving Goffman's frame analysis. The strength of frame analysis in examining social movements lies in its view of people as active agents who redefine and change the social conditions in which they