Symbolic interactionism deals with social interactions mediated by symbols. It tries to clarify human subjectivity produced by “interpretative” process. Here is a main characteristic of this theory.
This paper considers developments of symbolic interactionism in macro-level of society. Symbolic interactionism has been thought of as a micro-scopic approach. But G.H. Mead, H. Blumer and many other symbolic interactionists have treated of macro-level problems.
Symbolic interactionism is possible to clear up human subjectivity in macro-level. A concept of “generalized other” is useful to do it. And the image of society in symbolic interactionism is not a fixed, static “social structure”, but a fluid, dynamic “social process”.
With the idea of “society as process”, macro-level society can be regarded as negotiations among actors, and as ongoing process including social changes.
