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Three Social interaction and interactive agency

Abstract

This chapter describes agency as an element of human interaction. It also shows that social interactions have a dynamic of their own. The dialogical character of the developmental context is discussed. Interactive agency has a narrative and a performative nature. The development of interactive agency is a two-way process between individual and society. This development is inevitably influenced by societal changes. The chapter also presents the worst-case scenario in the development of interactive agency: developmental processes that have been deeply disturbed and have resulted in loss of a sense of reality and serious psychiatric syndromes. Children’s interactive agency depends on their interpretation of the social context in which they communicate with others rather than merely the objective characteristics of such a communicative situation. Different cultures demand different interactive skills and in contemporary western societies these demands are changing at an unprecedented rate.

Abstract

This chapter describes agency as an element of human interaction. It also shows that social interactions have a dynamic of their own. The dialogical character of the developmental context is discussed. Interactive agency has a narrative and a performative nature. The development of interactive agency is a two-way process between individual and society. This development is inevitably influenced by societal changes. The chapter also presents the worst-case scenario in the development of interactive agency: developmental processes that have been deeply disturbed and have resulted in loss of a sense of reality and serious psychiatric syndromes. Children’s interactive agency depends on their interpretation of the social context in which they communicate with others rather than merely the objective characteristics of such a communicative situation. Different cultures demand different interactive skills and in contemporary western societies these demands are changing at an unprecedented rate.

Chapters in this book

  1. Front Matter i
  2. Contents v
  3. About the author vi
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Child, welfare, agency 5
  6. The development of individual agency 17
  7. Social interaction and interactive agency 33
  8. Social agency and social context 51
  9. Diagnosis and dialogue 71
  10. Change and co-construction 89
  11. Dialogical management 113
  12. Dialogical child welfare: conclusion 131
  13. References 137
  14. Appendix: Transcript conventions and abbreviations 153
  15. Index 155
Children's Agency, Children's Welfare
This chapter is in the book Children's Agency, Children's Welfare
https://doi.org/10.56687/9781847424907-005

Chapters in this book

  1. Front Matter i
  2. Contents v
  3. About the author vi
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Child, welfare, agency 5
  6. The development of individual agency 17
  7. Social interaction and interactive agency 33
  8. Social agency and social context 51
  9. Diagnosis and dialogue 71
  10. Change and co-construction 89
  11. Dialogical management 113
  12. Dialogical child welfare: conclusion 131
  13. References 137
  14. Appendix: Transcript conventions and abbreviations 153
  15. Index 155
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