The document discusses symbolic interactionism, which is a sociological theory that views society and human behavior as shaped through interactions between individuals. Some key points: - Symbolic interactionism sees people learning meanings and symbols through social interactions that allow for distinctively human thought and action. - The function of social work is to mediate the relationship between individuals and the social systems like family, school, and work that they interact with. - Groups form when people come together for common tasks and interact within relevant agencies or organizations. - Social workers have a responsibility to both individual clients and the groups or systems they are negotiating.