Symbolic Interactionism in Sociology

As many of you may know, conflict lies between those who study and respect symbolic interactions in sociology and those sociologists who think it's irrelevant in sociology. Symbolic interactionism is the study of symbols, how individuals interpret them, and how individuals use these symbols to interact in society.

Sociology focuses on society as a whole rather than the individuals that make it up; many sociologists believe that actions are based on roles set on individuals in society. On the other hand symbolic interactionsts studies symbols and how individuals interpret them, because they believe that individuals’ actions and behavior are based on their interpretation of symbols. The focus of other sociological perspectives and the symbolic interactionist perspective are different, and because of this symbolic interactionism is criticized in sociology.

One that studies symbolic interactionism may justify their perspective by saying that in order for one to fully understand society and the roles within it, one must first study the actions of individuals and factors that contribute to those actions. Once an individual studies the tree -its primary functions and why or how it performs them, that individual can then move on to studying the whole forest -and why specific types of trees contribute what they do to the forest as a whole.

Symbolic Interactionism is the connecting bridge between sociology and psychology, but it is also the foundation for better understanding society as a whole.


To the founding fathers of symbolic interactionsism Rest in Peace: