Interactionism/ Social Action Theories

Question 1

Key argument 1: Blumer- Symbolic interactionsim

Answer 1

Interactionism has 2 basic features:
1. People act in terms of symbols which are often gestures, words and expressions to which individuals have attached meaning and they act in accordance to the meaning
2. Successful interaction occurs when we can interpret what sort of person you are dealing with and how they see you and also what they expect from you. This suggests that we have the choice and are constantly negotiating roles, they are not fixed as structuralists suggests

Question 2

Key argument 2: Weber- empathy/ verstehen

Answer 2

Verstehen (understanding)
Disagreed with Marx who he felt was too deterministic with people’s lives controlled by economic forces. Weber did not reject the idea that society influenced people’s behaviour but he felt people could also make choices about their actions (free will) it can be argued this is an intergrated approach

Question 3

Key argument 3: Becker- Labelling theory

Answer 3

• Becker thought that it was not society but other individuals and groups that has an influence on our behaviour
• labelling could be seen as a form of determinism navies it could control how people behaved, it views people as passive victims of the labels that are attached to them

Question 4

Key argument 4: Goffman- the presentation of self

Answer 4

• Goffman made an analogy between life and a play or drama
• when we interact with others we play a role and we seem to present ourselves in a particular way
• we try to make others see us the way we want them to
• ‘impression management’
• AO3: Marxism and feminism- structures of society do matter and determine treatment and actions- class, gender