ABSTRACT

The Routledge International Handbook of Interactionism demonstrates the promise and diversity of the interactionist perspective in social science today, providing students and practitioners with an overview of the impressive developments in interactionist theory, methods and research. Thematically organized, it explores the history of interactionism and the contemporary state of the field, considering the ways in which scholars approach topics that are central to interactionism. As such, it presents discussions of self, identity, gender and sexuality, race, emotions, social organization, media and the internet, and social problems. With attention to new developments in methods and methodologies, including digital ethnography, visual methods and research ethics, the authors also engage with new areas of investigation that have emerged in light of current societal developments, such as policing and police violence, interactionism beyond binaries and social media. Providing a comprehensive overview of the current state and possible future of interactionist research, it will appeal to interactionist scholars, as well as to established sociologists and students of sociology who have an interest in latest developments in interactionism.

part 1|21 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|19 pages

Introduction

part 3|81 pages

Self, identity and emotions

chapter 8|13 pages

Click, validate, and reply

Three paradoxes of the terminal self

chapter 9|10 pages

Animal selfhood

chapter 10|12 pages

The self and the supernatural

chapter 13|10 pages

Symbolic interaction beyond binaries

chapter 14|12 pages

Culture and emotion

Interactionist perspectives 1

part 4|96 pages

Social organisation

chapter 16|11 pages

Symbolic interactionism, social structure, and social change

Historical debates and contemporary challenges

chapter 17|10 pages

Mental health and symbolic interactionism

Untapped opportunities

chapter 18|16 pages

Handling video of [police] violence

Theoretical versus practical analyses

chapter 22|11 pages

Collective memory

part 5|79 pages

Interactionism, media and the Internet

chapter 24|10 pages

Public fear and the media

chapter 26|12 pages

Interactionism and online identity

How has interactionism contributed to understandings of online identity?

chapter 28|11 pages

Happy birthday, Michael Jackson

Dead celebrity and online interaction

chapter 29|11 pages

Multiplayer online gaming

part 6|45 pages

New developments in methods

part 7|46 pages

Reimagining interactionism