Interaction Theory and us

 This entry will be about interaction theory and how that influences young adults and their perspectives on marriage. 

In class this week we were invited to read a part of an article discussing family theories. One of the theories talked about was the interaction theory. Google defines interaction theory as, “Interactional theory, a key concept in sociology, emphasizes that individuals' behavior and social reality are shaped by their interactions with others. It suggests that society is not a predetermined structure but a product of the ongoing social interactions of individuals, who actively interpret and create meaning in their interactions.” 

This is fascinating. Think about all the people you have come across. All of them have specific connections that make them who they are. I think of one of my sisters and how she differs from me even though we are very close in age. She and I grew up really close. We had mostly the same friends, experiences, and views on things. For some reason, some difference between us, we had different ways of responding to others. When my mom told us to be home by 9, I was home by nine sharp, yet my sister pushed the threshold until the latest time that she could.

As we grew up, the friends we chose helped shape us into the people we are today. Growing up, I was more often than not left out of friendships and activities. Because of this, I try very hard now to include everyone. Her friends impacted her as well. She had friends that tested limits more than others, and this led to her following their example. Over the years we have changed, met similar and different people. We are different. We see things differently because of the interactions we both have had. They have shaped our behavior and our reality. 

Now, some of my interactions have created a negative perspective on marriage for me. I have met people who have regretted their marriages and talked about it with me. This has influenced how I view other peoples' relationships. I also have had a lack of male interaction or attention to this today, which I believe has created a skewed perception that boys don’t like me at all. My process of thinking is this: I will never get married, so I shouldn’t ever want to get married, so my hopes and dreams won't be crushed. Weird, right? 

For you young adults who don’t want to get married. Think of why! What are some interactions that you have had that lead you to this conclusion that it is not for you? I deeply agree that when we discover the root by which we think what we think, and why we do what we do, we then can more easily change ourselves if that is our desire. 

This week I also learned about how our family roles influence us. In this discussion there were roles mentioned such as, the peacemaker, the troublemaker, the third parent, the clown, and the jack of all trades. I believe this can influence how we see marriage.

I am the youngest. I have grown up observing and listening. Furthermore, I am the jack of all trades. I am the peacemaker, the third parent in a sense, the funny character, but I am not the troublemaker. Because I have taken on these roles, I believe that it has influenced the information I have internalized about relationships. Family roles are connected with interaction theory. They both take the people we are affected by and which family roles we have assumed to create how we interact with others and how that changes our relationships.

As I have acknowledged the difficult parts of relationships, that has given me a darker view on it as I have said in the past. I urge you to look on the bright side. Marriage can be a wonderful experience and partnership that will give fulfillment to your life.

"Getting married in your 20s is not necessarily a recipe for disaster, professional failure, or misery. It is not, or at least shouldn’t be, thought of as problematic. The best age for marriage will vary from person to person. Truly, at the individual level, I wish people the best and hope they do what makes them happy. But I know that the more time goes by, the happier I am that I found my wife when I did." (https://ifstudies.org/blog/im-glad-i-got-married-young)