Which sociological perspective focuses on the implications of social interactions?

The focus of symbolic interactionism is on the meanings that individuals assign to social interactions and the symbols they use to communicate. This perspective emphasizes the significance of social interactions in shaping an individual's self-concept and the development of human behavior. It posits that human life is based on the interpretation of symbols, such as language and gestures, within social contexts. Through these interactions, people create and change social realities, thus highlighting the dynamic nature of social life.

In contrast, the other perspectives have different focal points: latent function pertains to unintended consequences within social structures, functionalism looks at how different parts of society work together to maintain stability, and post-structuralism critiques the underlying assumptions of structures and emphasizes fluidity in meaning. While all of these perspectives contribute to our understanding of society, they do not center on the individual meanings and interactions as symbolic interactionism does.