Theoretical perspectives of Youth Cultures: Interactionalist

Interactionist Views on Youth Cultures

Interactionists focus on individual action and interaction within society, rather than viewing society as a system with predefined rules and functions.
They believe that youth subcultures are generated from the actions and interactions of individuals, not determined by societal pressures or structural elements.
Interactionist perspective views youth cultures as an arena where individuals experiment with their identities, discovering and defining who they are through their interactions.
This perspective suggests that youth subcultures evolve dynamically in response to the changing needs and experiences of young people.

Youth subcultures are seen as influential in shaping an individual’s values, behaviour, and self-perception. They provide a space where identity can be negotiated and constructed.
From an interactionist viewpoint, youth cultures provide opportunities for individuals to resist mainstream societal norms, therefore offering the possibility of social change.
Interactionists suggest that mature societies are adaptable and can tolerate a certain level of subcultural divergence as it is a necessary ingredient for societal evolution.

Critics argue that the interactionist perspective puts too much emphasis on individual agency and does not adequately account for structural constraints, such as socio-economic conditions.
The interactionist view is said to romanticise subcultures, depicting them as conscious, coherent responses to societal pressures, ignoring the element of power dynamics within and between these groups.
Critics also argue that interactionists often disregard the wider societal context and the influence of societal structures on youth cultures. They believe that the interactionist view is overly micro-focused, losing the broader picture of youth cultures in society.
Some critics argue that interactionism lacks a clear, testable hypothesis and that its theories are often vague and ambiguous, making them difficult to assess or challenge.