interaktsionism

Interaktsionizm is a sociological perspective that emphasizes the symbolic meanings that people attach to objects, events, and actions and the ways these meanings arise from social interaction. It argues that reality is constructed through human communication rather than pre-existing independently of us. The approach has its roots in the early 20th-century American sociology, especially the Chicago School, and was formalized as symbolic interactionism by Herbert Blumer, who built on the ideas of George Herbert Mead and the broader pragmatist tradition. Central to interaktsionizm are three propositions: meanings are created in social interaction; these meanings are modified through an interpretive process as individuals negotiate and interpret signs; language and symbols are the principal instruments of this negotiation.

Key concepts include the definition of the situation (the idea that a social situation is understood differently by participants and thus shapes behavior), role-taking, and the development of the self through reflected appraisals. The self is seen as arising from social interaction, with the "I" as the spontaneous, creative aspect and the "Me" as the internalized expectations of others.

Methodologically, interaktsionizm favors qualitative, micro-level analysis, such as participant observation and detailed examination of talk, gestures, and identity work. Applications span studies of deviance, identity formation, everyday life, organizations, and communication.

Critiques note that the approach underemphasizes macro-level structures, institutions, and power relations, and may overemphasize consensus or meaning, at times offering limited guidance for social change.