Doing Modernity: Studies in Critical Interactionism

  The Recursive Discovery Fallacy:  A Theoretical and Methodological Challenge in Studying Naturally Occurring Interaction Wayne Martin Mellinger, Ph.D. Introduction In the study of naturally occurring interactions, researchers often struggle with the challenge of perception and interpretation. How do we ensure that we are uncovering new insights rather than simply rediscovering prior theoretical constructs? The Recursive Discovery Fallacy refers to the tendency of scholars, influenced by prior research, to repeatedly identify the same patterns and categories while overlooking other significant aspects of social settings. This dynamic creates a cycle in which certain narratives become dominant, shaping what is seen and recorded while marginalizing alternative understandings. This issue is both theoretical and methodological, shaping how interactionist scholars construct knowledge. It is particularly relevant to critical interactionism, which examines power structures and the...

                                                              REFLEXIVE PRAXIS AND BEING AN ALLY: A CRITICAL INTERACTIONIST AUTOETHNOGRAPHIC SKETCH Wayne Martin Mellinger, Ph.D.   Abstract This essay explores the concept of reflexive praxis as a critical tool for dismantling systems of oppression, particularly in the context of everyday interactions. Drawing from Critical Interactionism (Mellinger, 2024), Stuart Hall’s notion of "societies structured in dominance" (Hall, 1980), and theories of praxis from Paulo Freire (1970) and bell hooks (1994), I argue that the unexamined reproduction of social norms maintains hierarchies, while intentional, justice-oriented interventions can disrupt them. Using autoethnographic reflections, I analyze moments of both engagement and silence in the face of oppressiv...