Perspectives offer sociologists theoretical paradigms for explaining how society influences peopl... more Perspectives offer sociologists theoretical paradigms for explaining how society influences people, and vice versa. These help sociologists understand and evaluate social phenomena at different levels and from different perspectives. From concrete interpretations to sweeping generalizations of society and social behavior, sociologists study everything from specific events (the micro level of analysis of small social patterns) to the " big picture " (the macro level of analysis of large social patterns). 1. Symbolic Interactionist Perspective This leads sociologists to study about the symbols and details of everyday life, what these symbols mean, and how people interact with each other. According to this perspective, symbols are given meaning by the people upon perceiving it, and then they act according to their subjective interpretation of these symbols. Verbal conversations, in which spoken words serve as the predominant symbols, make this subjective interpretation especially evident. Words' meaning varies to each person. The meaning of a word may differ from the sender to the receiver. Thus, words are not static and does not have absolute definition and meaning; this require review and interpretation. Conversation is an interaction of symbols between individuals who constantly interpret the world around them. Critics claim that symbolic interactionism may miss the idea of the bigger picture, that by focusing too much on the parts rather than the whole.
Perspectives offer sociologists theoretical paradigms for explaining how society influences peopl... more Perspectives offer sociologists theoretical paradigms for explaining how society influences people, and vice versa. These help sociologists understand and evaluate social phenomena at different levels and from different perspectives. From concrete interpretations to sweeping generalizations of society and social behavior, sociologists study everything from specific events (the micro level of analysis of small social patterns) to the " big picture " (the macro level of analysis of large social patterns). 1. Symbolic Interactionist Perspective This leads sociologists to study about the symbols and details of everyday life, what these symbols mean, and how people interact with each other. According to this perspective, symbols are given meaning by the people upon perceiving it, and then they act according to their subjective interpretation of these symbols. Verbal conversations, in which spoken words serve as the predominant symbols, make this subjective interpretation especially evident. Words' meaning varies to each person. The meaning of a word may differ from the sender to the receiver. Thus, words are not static and does not have absolute definition and meaning; this require review and interpretation. Conversation is an interaction of symbols between individuals who constantly interpret the world around them. Critics claim that symbolic interactionism may miss the idea of the bigger picture, that by focusing too much on the parts rather than the whole.
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