Final answer:
Symbolic interactionism is a micro-level theory that focuses on the relationships among individuals within a society. It views the world in terms of symbols and the meanings assigned to them.
Step-by-step explanation:
Symbolic Interactionist Theory
Symbolic interactionism is a micro-level theory that focuses on the relationships among individuals within a society. It views the world in terms of symbols and the meanings assigned to them.
According to this theory, communication through language and symbols is how people make sense of their social worlds.
Role of Family in Symbolic Interactionism
Interactionists also recognize how family status roles are socially constructed and play a significant part in how people perceive and interpret social behavior.
They view the family as a group of role players or 'actors' who come together to construct a family. These roles are up for interpretation, and they have changed over time.
For example, the role of a 'good father' has shifted from providing financial security to promoting emotional well-being, social skills, and intellectual growth in children.
Symbolic Interactionism and Culture
Symbolic interactionism perceives culture as dynamic and fluid, shaped by how individuals interpret each other's actions and the meanings they assign to objects and actions.
Language serves as a means for people to represent and communicate their interpretations of these meanings. Every object and action has a symbolic meaning, and culture is created and maintained through interactions and interpretations.