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A framework that distinguishes between the study of face‑to‑face interactions (microsociology) and the study of large‑scale social structures (macrosociology), while insisting that the two are inseparable. Microsociology examines how individuals construct meaning, maintain identities, and negotiate reality in everyday encounters—think Goffman’s dramaturgy or conversation analysis. Macrosociology examines institutions, class structures, and historical trends—think Marx or Wallerstein. The theory argues that macro‑structures are reproduced through micro‑interactions, and micro‑interactions are shaped by macro‑structures. Neither level can be understood without the other. It’s a core principle of sociological method, emphasizing that social life happens simultaneously at both scales.
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