Final answer:
The interactionist perspective differs from the macro-level Functionalist and Conflict perspectives by focusing on micro-level, day-to-day interactions and the shared understanding of symbols between individuals and groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
The interactionist perspective differs from other sociological perspectives, like the Functionalist and Conflict perspectives, by adopting a microanalytical view of society. Unlike the Functionalist perspective, which takes a macro-level view to examine how various parts of society are interconnected and maintain social stability, and the Conflict perspective, which also conducts macro-level analysis to investigate issues of power and inequality, the Interactionist approach focuses on the day-to-day interactions between individuals and groups.
Researchers using the Symbolic Interactionist perspective delve into the nuances of social interaction on a smaller scale, emphasizing the importance of shared symbols and meanings that arise from these interactions. For instance, an Interactionist studying a social movement might concentrate on how group dynamics and leadership styles vary across different locales, rather than the broader societal functions or power dynamics highlighted by Functionalist and Conflict theories respectively.