Doing Modernity: Studies in Critical Interactionism

 "Understanding Micro-Sociology” By Wayne Martin Mellinger, Ph.D. Micro-sociology, a branch of sociology, focuses on the intricate details of social interaction and how individuals construct meaning in their everyday lives. Sometimes referred to as "sociological social psychology" or under the rubric of "interactionism", micro-sociology contrasts with macro-sociology, which examines broad social structures and institutions.  Instead, it delves into the "micro" level, analyzing face-to-face interactions, small group dynamics, and the symbolic processes that shape our social world. This approach offers a rich understanding of how social life is produced, reproduced, and challenged through ongoing interactions between individuals. Foundations Several key scholars laid the groundwork for micro-sociology: Max Weber, the great German founder of Sociology, introduced the concept of "verstehen" (German for "understanding"), emphasizing the...

  ETHNOMETHODOLOGICAL CONVERSATION ANALYSIS By Wayne Martin Mellinger, Ph.D. For the Blog Everyday Sociology (January 2024) Edited by Karen Sternheimer Everyday talk-in-interaction is the medium through which our identities are enacted and our relationships are negotiated. It is often through situated activities such as talk that the practical problems of our lives get resolved, the tasks of our workplaces get completed, and the business of society gets managed. Talk-in-interaction is a fundamental mechanism through which culture is enacted, providing the very infrastructure of social institutions.  Everyday talk-in-interaction is indeed the fundamental site of human sociality. Conversation Analysis (CA) is an approach to studying everyday social interactions which focuses on how participants in a conversation collaboratively build meaning and organize their interactions through verbal and non-verbal behaviors. It closely analyses the moment-by-moment unfolding of social life...