Herbert Blumer's "Symbolic Interactionism: Perspective and Method"

Herbert Blumer's "Symbolic Interactionism: Perspective and Method" presents a sociological approach that focuses on how people create and interpret symbols—like language, gestures, and signs—in everyday interactions. It emphasizes that our understanding of reality is shaped through social processes, where individuals actively interpret these symbols to make sense of their world. The perspective highlights that society is constructed through ongoing communication, and our actions depend on shared meanings. Blumer also outlines methods for studying these interactions, advocating for close, qualitative examination of people's experiences and social exchanges to better understand human behavior.