Action Theories (& structure and action theories)

Question 1

How many groups of action theories are there

Answer 1

4

Question 2

What are all the groups of action theories

Answer 2

Symbolic interactionism - 4
Phenomenology
Ethnomethodology
Structure and Action -2

Question 3

What are all the Symbolic interactionism theories/ sociologists

Answer 3

Mead: Interpreting symbols
Blumer: built on Meads
Becker: Labelling theory
Cooley: Looking glass self
Goffman: Dramaturgical model

Question 4

What is Meads Action theory

Answer 4

Humans do not act on instinct like animals
Individuals interpret symbols/ situations, attach meanings to this and then decided on appropriate responses
Taking the role of the other: Interpret others meanings and decide how to respond, put yourself in place of the other to see how they view and understand your perspective

Question 5

How did Blumer build on Meads action theory

Answer 5

Said that the meanings people attach are not fixed and can change overtime
People attach different meanings based on own experiences
Young children learn through imitative play - act like parents or teacher

Question 6

How is Meads and Blumer action theory useful

Answer 6

Explains how human behaviour can change depending on the person and situation

Question 7

What is Becker’s action theory

Answer 7

Labelling theory
Attach labels to thing in order for us to understand
Labelling can have real consequences - when we label something as true we act based on that definition
Leads to a SFP

Question 8

What is Cooley’s action theory and how did he build on Becker’s labelling theory

Answer 8

Using labelling theory to understand our self-concept
By taking the role of the other, we see ourselves mirrored in the way they respond - Looking Glass Self
Can lead to a SFP
We see ourselves based on what we think other people label us as

Question 9

What are examples of Becker’s and Cooley’s action theories (synoptic links)

Answer 9

Rist: tigers and clowns in class
Ideal pupil - Becker
Becker and Lemert: mental illness label becomes master status and stigmatised identity

Question 10

How is Becker’s and Cooley’s action theories useful

Answer 10

Explains individuals self-concepts are constructed through others behaviour towards them and individuals decide to interpret/ respond to the label
Could show that other control our identity
Combination of the two above show that it is not fully deterministic as we decide how to interpret others

Question 11

What is Goffman’s action theory

Answer 11

Dramaturgical model
We manipulate others impressions of us to construct our ‘self’ - always a conscious choice
We perform and act according to our audience (people around us) and adapt our responses, monitoring and adjusting - Impression management
Use props: tone of voice, gestures, facial expressions

Question 12

What are some exampled of the dramaturgical model (synoptic links)

Answer 12

Dual identity - Johal: Asian identity create British identity to fit in (white masking)
For job interviews we change our clothes and how we present ourselves

Question 13

How is Goffman’s Dramaturgical model useful

Answer 13

Understand free will to make identity and how it changes based on situations

Question 14

What is one positive of the dramaturgical model - Goffman

Answer 14

Offers unique and voluntarist perspective - acknowledges that there is always some room for negotiation and choice in how we construct our identity and performance of roles

Question 15

What are some negatives of Goffman’s dramaturgical model

Answer 15

Ignores wider structures that do restrict - class inequality
Becker - does not explain origins of the labels
Not all action is meaningful, some performances occur unconsciously
Cannot explain why most behave in a similar way
Functionalist: individuals are passive puppets who respond to the system needs, socialisation and social control ensure roles are fixed

Question 16

Who is the sociologist associated with Phenomenology

Answer 16

Schutz

Question 17

What is the Phenomenology theory

Answer 17

Society exists in the mind
People impose meanings
Typifications - shared mental categories which allows us to organise our experiences and behave accordingly - depends on context as some actions can have diff meanings
Recipe knowledge - shared typifications - follow without much thought to get desired result
Natural attitude - society seems to exist objectively and externally but it doesn’t - we attach meanings

Question 18

What is an example of the Phenomenology theory

Answer 18

Post - we assume when we post something, it will arrive but everyone has to do their role for it to work, it is not an external structure that just happens, but we assume it is

Question 19

How is the Phenomenology theory useful

Answer 19

It helps explain how people create shared meanings
Avoid determinism - acknowledges that reality is not fixed

Question 20

What is one negative of the Phenomenology theory

Answer 20

Society does not remain subjective - we make laws then laws govern us once it is external

Question 21

Who is the sociologist associated with Ethnomethodology

Answer 21

Garfinkle

Question 22

What is the Ethnomethodology theory

Answer 22

Social order is socially constructed - agree with schutz
Indexicality - there is always potential for society to break down - social order is fragile
Reflexivity - common shared meanings help avoid social order from breaking down - needs communication and cooperation to continue

Question 23

What is the Breachin experiment and what theory does it come under

Answer 23

Ethnomethodology
Ask individuals to go home and act as a hotel guest in there own home
Shows how quickly social order can break down

Question 24

What are two positives of the Ethnomethodology theory

Answer 24

Highlights how social order is created bottom up and is fragile - not seen before
Shows how we produce shared meanings as oppossed to labelling theory - just explains the effect of them

Question 25

What are two negatives of the Ethnomethodology theory

Answer 25

Ignores how structures of power affects the meanings that individuals construct - Marxism and ruling class ideology
Functionalism - social order is not created form bottom up but is from socialising into a VC

Question 26

What are the two theoies under social and action for action theories

Answer 26

Social action
Structuration

Question 27

What sociologist is associated with the Social Action theory

Answer 27

Weber

Question 28

What is the Social Action theory

Answer 28

Should study action and structure to gain true verstehen
Level of cause - objective structural factors that shape indiciduals behaviour
Level of meaning- subjective meanings that individuals attach to their actions
(Attend school as insitutions tell you too with timetables but also because you want qualifications for a job)

Question 29

What are the 4 catagories for level of meaning in the Social Action theory

Answer 29

Instrumentally rational - most effection way of reaching goals
Value-rational - action to achieve a desireable goal - not necessarily quickest or best
Traditional - routine action that does not require thought
Affectual - action expressing emotions

Question 30

What is one positive of the Social Action theory - Weber

Answer 30

It is unique as comibes structure and action

Question 31

What are 3 negatives of the Social Action theory

Answer 31

Schutz - too individualistic, cannot explain shared meanings that influence behaviour
Too simplistic - many different meanings behind actions so does not fit into one catagory
Weber talked about verstehen however it is difficult to apply - can never entirely place ourselves in somebody elses shoes

Question 32

What is the second structure and action theory

Answer 32

Structuration

Question 33

Which sociologist is associated with the Structuration theory

Answer 33

Giddins

Question 34

What is the Structuration theory

Answer 34

Duality of structure - structure and action cannot exist without each other
Through action we produce structures and structures make our actions possible in the first place
We follow structures but our actions change it

Question 35

What is an example of a structure for the theory of Structuration

Answer 35

Language - external but made by us but it now governs us
It is changed, reinforced, reproduced by individuals

Question 36

What is one positive for the theory of Structuration by Giddins

Answer 36

Makes an attempt to overcome structure and action divide - avoids determinism and overexaggeration

Question 37

What is one negative for the theoyr of Structuration by Giddins

Answer 37

Overemphasises structure - implies people can just change structurees whihc ignores structures resisting change e.g poor want to abolish poverty but have no power to do so and structure resists