Interactionism

"I am because we are" dancing for social change!

“…Responses indicated that interactions in the dance education classroom disrupted students' existing thinking, effecting perspective transformation and, ultimately, personal transformation. This happened through inner dialogues with the self (Atkinson & Housley, 2003 Dance education experiences enabled her to recognise a common, shared humanity that prompted her to transform her perspectives of her classmate. Reflections and inner dialogue with the self, brought about by interactions such as these, transformed interpretations of the world, ultimately altering behaviour towards others.…”

“…Rather, it requires a process by which meanings are reevaluated and adjusted as instruments for generation of action (Blumer, 1986). Of particular relevance for this study is Atkinson and Housley's (2003) assertion that meanings can be transformed in order to adjust reaction and social conduct towards objects (including people). This revision of meaning occurs during an inner dialogue through which the individual communicates and interacts with the self (Atkinson & Housley, 2003).…”

“…Of particular relevance for this study is Atkinson and Housley's (2003) assertion that meanings can be transformed in order to adjust reaction and social conduct towards objects (including people). This revision of meaning occurs during an inner dialogue through which the individual communicates and interacts with the self (Atkinson & Housley, 2003). It is through these interactions with the self that individuals are able to construct conscious action towards the other and the world, rather than responding through mere automation (Blumer, 1986).…”

The geography of disciplinary amnesia: Eleven scholars reflect on the international state of symbolic interactionism

“…Even though such interdependence tends to be international, rather than interdisciplinary (Atkinson & Housley, 2003), the value of cross-fertilization is nonetheless high. This point is forcefully captured in the following statement by Gobo (personal communication):…”

“…British interactionism, as described by Atkinson and Housley (2003), has the disadvantage of having had to grow without a formal or even unofficial school of thought; yet much British qualitative research that is interpretive and interactionist in nature has accumulated over the years. British interactionists and interactionist utilizers on the other hand have had the advantage of operating in an academic environment in which social scientific work has ''become increasingly coloured by the so-called cultural turn'' (Atkinson & Housley, 2003, p. xvii).…”