Symbolic Interaction

Symbolic Interaction is the third in a trilogy of Sociological Perspectives taught in an introductory Sociology course. The basics of which are founded upon the idea that in every human behavior there is a meaning attributed to the behavior. For instance, let's take cheating. I just read on a black gossip blog (nameless cause I'm a little ashamed that I even read the mess) that Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith have an open marriage--meaning they sleep with other people when they get ready, as long as they forewarn the other. The act of "adultery", or having an extramarital sexual relationship holds different consequences depending on the meaning of the marriage, functions of the marriage, and the meaning of sex in the relationship(s). Having an affair may end a marriage for some couples because the spouse understands having sex or an emotional relationship with someone else to mean they are being disrespected or un-loved. In the case of Smith and Pinkett-Smith it means they may be attracted to someone else and want to have sex with them--and it doesn't have to interfere with the marriage. It's that simple.

In our society, we learn and agree that sex outside of marriage is non-virtuous, i.e. something we shouldn't do. Thus, our actions dictate how we will/should behave in a relationship. If a mate cheats, we feel hurt, contempt, anger, sadness, and decide whether to dissolve the relationship or work it out--based on the meaning that the action of "cheating" holds.

Symbolic Interaction is a micro-level approach because it observes society from individual interactions rather than macro-level or large-scale view as does Structural Functionalism or Social-Conflict. I'm also a little ashamed to admit that Symbolic Interaction is perhaps my favorite theory. Ashamed because it's by far the easiest to use in terms of explicating human behavior, especially if you have good working knowledge of the historical context of everyday behaviors. Symbolic Interaction is also easier for Westerners to grasp because it's focus is the individual rather than the widespread influence of group dynamic.

When we interpret symbols to mean different things, then we have problems. Luckily for the Smiths, their understanding has led to a 13+ year marriage. In Hollywood, that's golden!!!

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