Final answer:
The constructionist approach, especially within constructivism in international relations, focuses on the formation of shared norms through interaction, shaping states' behaviors and societal understanding of deviance. It extends from symbolic interaction theory and asserts that our realities are constructs based on societal interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The constructionist approach is an important theoretical framework within social sciences, particularly in the fields of international relations and sociology. Constructivism asserts that shared understandings and perceptions of the world lead to the development of collective norms, which dictate expected behaviors and hold international systems together. These shared norms arise out of interactions and are sustained because they carry shared meanings, widely accepted across societies. Constructivists also stress the influence of norms in shaping state behavior within the international community where aligning with accepted norms can affect a state's political and economic standing.
Additionally, a constructionist approach is an extension of the symbolic interaction theory. It suggests that realities are socially constructed through cognitive processes informed by interaction. Within the scope of social deviance, this approach helps explore why certain behaviors are labeled as deviant, which varies greatly across different cultures. For example, the cultural responses to finding a lost wallet differ between Eastern and Western societies, reflecting their unique social constructs of proper behavior.