Giddens and agency Flashcards
What are agent? (2)
Active and Knowledgable
What are the three types of consciousness?
- Practical
- Discursive
- Unconsciousness
What is Practical Consciousness?
whereby routines and activities, those that make up the basics of being a human, are practised by the individual
What is Discursive Consciousness?
a questioning of their practical conscious actions
What is unconsciousness?
the underlying need for routines which is submerged into an agents subconscious.
What is Agency?
The practice of agents
What are 3 key features of agency?
- Decoupled from intention
- Related to the capability to do things
- Purposive (not purposeful)
What does agency require?
reflextive monitoring of actions
What is the reflextive monitoring of actions?
whereby agents continually reevaluate actions. and rationalise their action based on knowledge and understanding
What happens to agency in Giddens’ redefining of power?
agency carries a positive connotation, suggesting that power effects someone ability to be active and perform an act, rather than being constrained.
What is a criticism of Giddens?
Structural form are more implicit. Marxists would suggest that working class people are constrained under power, rather than liberated.
How does Giddens counter Marxist criticism?
Agency is a part of Structure - agency stresses the creativity and reflexivity of humans whereby social structures are either underplayed or are the outcome of the practice
