George Herbert Mead's perspective on symbolic interaction theory “relies on the symbolic meaning that people develop and rely on the process of social interaction. It analyzes society by addressing the subjective meanings that people impose on objects, events and behaviors. I applied Mead's theory to an opportunity I was given a few weeks ago: visiting the San Luis Obispo County Jail. Before the tour, a prison was just a strange concept to me; something I had seen in movies and TV shows. It was something I never gave much thought to, because I just accepted it as it was. The visit allowed me to gain a lot of knowledge about how a prison operates, as well as the amount of work and organization required to maintain it. The purpose of the justice system is to protect the innocent and punish criminals who pose a threat. Personally, I believe that the idea of ​​locking people in cages to justify their actions is not a justified system of punishment. Although the majority of our society thinks this is right; the system works and creates harmony. The system creates order and keeps our society in balance. “For example, each of the social institutions contributes to important functions for society. » The justice system operates jointly in several parts, such as police departments, courts and correctional facilities. “The functionalist perspective emphasizes the interdependence of society by focusing on how each part influences and is influenced by other parts. » They are united based on the common beliefs that we have developed in our society. “Functionalists use the terms functional and dysfunctional to describe the effects of social elements on society. » These systems can be considered productive or destructive depending on how they directly affect societies. I now see how society is made up of parts that work together, and without these shared beliefs, our society could not have developed systems to enforce these beliefs.