Blumer’s three principles of symbolic interactionism are: (1) the underlying meaning that something has to someone is the main reason for acting on it. This is a micro theory as it gives more agency to actors in understanding their actions. The meanings that things hold can be different for each person. An example is two people who own the same car, one might regard it as important for getting places, the other might just want to use it to look good in front of people. (2) Interactions with other people creates the meaning one holds for something. Things do not have a meaning until someone develops one. Meanings are created when people see how something can be used. An example is coming across a skateboard and thinking that one is supposed to sit on it because it seems inconceivably dangerous to stand and ride, however if you came across another person riding one it would be clear that this is the purpose. (3) There is a process of understanding that goes into creating and recreating meanings for things that one comes into contact with. This is particularly done when engaging in a new situation. An example is receiving a new form of greeting from someone from another culture that you do not yet understand. You will develop a meaning after you find out what the other person meant, though you may come to a different conclusion before that based on a guess. (Douglas 2007).
Mann, Douglas. (2007). Understanding society, a survey of modern social theory. Oxford University Press, USA
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