symbolic interactionism

Sociological method, founded by the US pragmatist George Mead, that studies the behaviour of individuals and small groups through observation and description, viewing people's appearance, gestures, and language as symbols they use to interact with others in social situations. In contrast to theories such as Marxism or functionalism that attempt to analyse society as a whole through economic or political systems, it takes a perspective of society from within, as created by people themselves.