Social interaction is the process by which people act and react to one another. It is the basic building block of society. A conversation, a handshake, a fistfight, a text message — all are forms of social interaction. Without interaction, there is no society.

Erving Goffman studied the micro-level of interaction. He showed that people manage impressions, follow unspoken rules, and repair breaches. A person who trips in public quickly looks around to see if anyone noticed, then laughs it off. That is impression management.

Forms of interaction

• Exchange: give and take, like trading favors
• Cooperation: working together toward a goal
• Competition: striving for the same reward
• Conflict: opposing others to achieve goals
• Accommodation: adjusting to avoid conflict

Interaction is shaped by status, role, and context. A doctor and patient interact differently than two friends. The same person can be dominant in one setting and deferential in another. Social interaction is where structure and agency meet.