action (theories) Flashcards
what r action theories the opposite of
structural theories
(functionalism n marxism)
what type of approach r they
bottom up, micro level
focus on actions n interactions of individual
what do they believe individuals have
free will and choice
more voluntaristic
what r the main action theories??
(4)
social action
symbolic interactionism
phenomenology
ethnomethodology
key functionalist for action theories
MAX WEBER
action theory- what r the 2 levels to understand human behaviour
- the level of cause
= understanding objective structural factors that shape behaviour. - level of meaning
= understanding the subjective meaning that individuals attach to their action.
what r the 4 types of action based on meaning for the actor??
(weber)
- instrumentally rational action
= actor calculate most efficient means of achieving given goal.
2.value rational action
=towards a goal the actor regards as desirable for its own sake e.g. worshipping to get to heaven
- traditional action
=custonmy, routine or habitual
4.affectual action
=express emotion e.g. crying out of grief
list all the topics in symbolic interactionism
- G.H mead
-symbols vs instincs, taking role of others.
2.Herbert Bulmer (3)
- labelling theory
- Gothmans dramatyrgical model
give definition of symbolic interactionism
focuses on how we create the social world thru our interactions. these interactions r based on the meaning we give to situations, conveyed thru symbols especially LANGUAGE
what was G.H mead
1. symbols vs instincts
unlike animals beh is governed by instincts, we respond by giving meanings to things that are significant to us.
create a world of meanings by attacking symbols to the things around us.
TF- an interpretive phase between stimulus & our response to it, in which we interpret its meaning.
what is G.H Mead
2. taking the role of other
we interpretative other pals meanings by taking their role i.e. putting ourselves in their place, seeing ourselves how they see us.
this ability develops thru interaction. young children internalise significant others such as parents, while later in life we see ourselves from the point of view of society in general
GENERALIISED OTHER
what was HERBERT BULMER
3 key principles of interactionism??
- our actions r based on the meanings we give to situations, ppl act. NOT automatic response to stimuli.
- these meanings arise from interactions n r able to some extent negotiable n changeable
3.these meanings we give to a situation r mainly the result of taking the role of the other.
so what is BULMER basically arguing
although our action is partly predictable bc we internalise the expectations of others there is always room for choice in how we perform our roles.
what r the 3 labelling key interactionist concepts??
- definition of the situation
- looking glass-self
- career
LABELLING
explain 1. definition of the situation
- defining something labels it.
THOMAS argues- if ppl define a situation as real, it will have real consequences: if we believe something to be true this will affect how we act & in turn may affect those involved.
LABELLING
explain 2. looking-glass self
- COOLEY
argues- our self-concept arises from our ability to take the role of other.
others act as a looking-glass to us: we see our self mirrored in how they respond to us & become what they see us as.
LABELLING
explain 3. career
- BECKER & LEMERT
apply this concept to mental patients.
the individual has a strict career funning from ‘pre-patient’ with certain symptoms thru labelling by a psychiatrist, to a hospital in-patient to discharge ect. ‘mental patient becomes our MASTER STATUS.
what r the 2 topics in rothmans dramaturgical model??
- presentation of self & impression management
- roles
brief explanation of dramaturgical model n how it differs to labelling:
labelling theory - sees individuals passive victim of other pols labels. G describes how we ACTIVELY contract our self by manipualting other ppl impression of us.
uses analogies with drama ‘actors’ ‘scripts’ ‘props’ ‘backstage’
G’s dramaturgical model
1. presentation of self & impression management
-we seek to present a particular imagine to our audiences, controlling the impression our performance gives.
IMPRESSION MANAGMENT:
techniques include, tone of voice, gestures, props, settings, dress, makeup, equipment, decor & premises.
As in the theatre, there is FRONT STAGE where we ACT OUR ROLES while BACKSTAGE we can STEP OUT OF OUR ROLE & ‘be ourselves’
e.g. teachers beh in the classroom & staffroom
G’s dramaturgical model
2. roles
is a ‘gap’ or role distance between our real self & our roles, which r only loosely scripted by society & allow us a lot of freedom in how we play them.
-ROLE DISTANCE implies: do not always believe the roles we play.
we may be calculating, manipulating audiences into accepting an impression that conceals our true self.
who discussed phenology
SCHUTZ
philosophy definition of phenology
term ‘phenomenon’ describes things as they appear to our senses. some philosophers argue we can nvr have definite knowledge of what the external world is rlly like: all we can know is what our mind tells us abt it (idealism)
SCHUTZ applies this - social world. share the categories that we use to classify the world with other members of society.
what does schutz call these shared categories
typifications
