What does symbolic interactionism primarily focus on?

Symbolic interactionism primarily focuses on meaning-making and interactions in micro-level settings, emphasizing the importance of individual and small group interactions in shaping social reality. This perspective examines how people create and interpret symbols, such as language and gestures, which help communicate and construct social meanings. Symbolic interactionism is concerned with everyday social interactions and their roles in forming identities, relationships, and societal expectations.

By concentrating on the individual level, this approach acknowledges that social within-group dynamics play a significant role in the collective understanding of social phenomena, which can sometimes be overlooked when analyzing large-scale societal problems or structures. Thus, it is vital for understanding the nuances of human behavior within various social contexts.