Action Theory

Question 1

what are the key beliefs?

Answer 1

-we shape society through our actions and interactions
-voluntaristic actions (free will)
-bottom-up approach
-micro scale research

Question 2

who came up with symbolic interactionism?

Answer 2

Mead

Question 3

what is symbolic interactionism?

Answer 3

we attach symbols an symbolic meanings to human behaviour

Question 4

analyse symbolic interactionism?

Answer 4

-actions are driven by symbols
-people attach meaning to these symbols and act accordingly
-meanings are not fixed but they change based on interactions over time.

Question 5

why does mead say we use symbols rather than instincts like animals?

Answer 5

-unlike animals, our behaviour is not fixed with pre-programmed instincts
-before we respond, we attach learnt meanings that are developed through day-to-day interactions

Question 6

what is the AO2 for symbolic interactionism?

Answer 6

we do this by ‘taking the role of the other.’
-we put ourselves in the shoes of others and react
-this is how we shape society

Question 7

what is the AO3(a) for symbolic interactionism?

Answer 7

-human behaviour is studied on a micro-scale
-to find a true understanding (Verstehen)
-gained through empathy

Question 8

what did Cooley come up with as an extension of symbolic interactionism?

Answer 8

-looking glass self
-our self concept comes from how others see us, so we begin to see ourselves as others see us (mirror image)

Question 9

what did Mead say that links to the mirror image ideology?

Answer 9

‘I and Me’
-we act with the me (we think about how others perceive us)

Question 10

what is a label?

Answer 10

when a judgement/assumption is made about an individual, based on stereotypes, and then attached to that individual

Question 11

what is the order of the self-fulfilling prophecy?

Answer 11

-label is attached
-individual treated accordingly
-label is internalised
-self-fulfilling prophecy, become label
-label controls identity and becomes the master status

Question 12

what topics link with the self-fulfilling prophecy?

Answer 12

-education
-crime and deviance

Question 13

what are some evaluation points against the self-fulfilling prophecy?

Answer 13

-contradiction= if we have free-will, why do we internalise/become the label
-self-refuting prophecy
-power of interaction, don’t have free-will of others
-lacks usefulness, creates doubt and loses credibility of theory, goes against core beliefs/foundations

Question 14

who came up with Dramaturgical Model?

Answer 14

Goffman

Question 15

what is the Dramaturgical Model?

Answer 15

the idea that you control the way others see you, so behaviour differs around different people
-we are actors, with scripts and props to convince our audience of our role
-we are only our own true self when we are alone

Question 16

what is a quote that links with the dramaturgical model?

Answer 16

‘one person in their time plays many parts.’

Question 17

what is the AO2 for the dramaturgical model?

Answer 17

Impression Management
=techniques to control how others see us
-still relevant now (social media)

Question 18

what is the AO3(a) to the dramaturgical model?

Answer 18

-creates public persona
-something we manipulate
-manage it to create the ‘best version of ourselves.’
-we are totally in control of the ‘ME.’

Question 19

what is the evaluation of the dramaturgical model?

Answer 19

-don’t under-estimate the social structures and how they control us
-Feminists= patriarchal structures decide and influence the ‘persona’
-need to control the ME or there will be consequences if you don’t

Question 20

what is the solution for the dramaturgical model?

Answer 20

have free-will to react as an individual, but institutions still control us