In a small community, residents often greet each other with a specific wave and smile. One day, a new member of the community fails to greet others in the same way and is met with confusion. Which principle of symbolic interactionism best explains the community's reaction to the new member's behavior?

The principle of symbolic interactionism that best explains the community's reaction is the idea of shared symbols and meanings. In this community, the specific wave and smile are symbols of friendliness and belonging. When the new member did not use these gestures, it created confusion because they did not follow the established social norms that everyone else understands and practices. For example, if someone moved to a new place and didn’t wave back when others greeted them, it could lead to misunderstandings about their friendliness or willingness to connect. This shows how important symbols are in shaping our interactions and understanding within a community.