What is Symbolic Interactionism? The Social Construction of Reality and Microsociology Explained

What is symbolic interactionism and how can sociological theory help us understand the influence of society and culture on our perception of reality? Drawing from the work of George Herbert Mead and Herbert Blumer, symbolic interactionism has become a vital theoretical perspective in qualitative social science and was instrumental in the development of microsociology. In this episode, we cover the history, definition, and central premises of symbolic interactionism, as well as the most prevalent criticisms of the concept.

The host, Dr. Alexander K. Smith, holds an MA from Oxford University and a PhD in the anthropology of Tibet and the Himalayas from the University of Paris, France.

This video is an excerpt from our two-part series on the ten most important theories in the history of social science, which you can find here:    • The 10 Most Important Theories in Soc...  

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