Symbolic interactionism is a sociological theory that focuses on the meanings that people impose on objects, events, and behaviors through social interaction. It analyzes society by addressing the subjective meanings given by individuals, who behave based on their own beliefs rather than objective truth. The theory looks at how individuals and groups construct meaning through language and shared understandings. It posits three premises: that people act based on their meanings of things, that these meanings arise from social interactions, and that people interpret and modify meanings through ongoing social processes.