Interactionalism

Question 1

What type of theory is interactionalism and explain it

Answer 1

Action theory - our reality is constructed on on interactions with others

Question 2

Explain Mead’s symbolic interactions

Answer 2

Our behavior is a response to meanings we attach to the world around us, we interpret a meaning before choosing to respond

Question 2

explain Mead’s taking the role of the other

Answer 2

Putting yourself in their shoes to think and reflect on yourself

Question 2

explain cooley and the looking glass self

Answer 2

the idea of who we are is depending on how well we take the role of the other
see ourselves in the way people respond to us
self fulfilling prophecy occurs

Question 3

How did Blumer develop Meads ideas?

Answer 3

meanings of things are modified depending on our experiences with certain things

Question 3

disadvantages of interactionalism

Answer 3

descriptive rather than explanatory
ignores class which may have an impact on how people construct meanings and labels

Question 3

Explain Thomas’ definition of the self

Answer 3

if people see a situation as real it will have real consequences and if we believe something as true it will affect how we act on it

Question 3

explain becker and what he means by career

Answer 3

stages with which someone progresses different status and problems

Question 3

positives of interactionalism

Answer 3

recognizes people create society through choices and meanings

Question 4

explain webers social action theory.
Verstehen and cause and meaning

Answer 4

verstehen = empathetic understanding
cause = structural factors that shape behavior
meaning = meanings which individuals attach to actions

Question 5

what are the 4 actions we take according to weber?

Answer 5

Instrumental rational
value rational
traditional
affectual

Question 6

explain instrumental rational action and value rational action according to weber

Answer 6

instrumental = most efficient way of reaching an end goal
value rational action = goal is desirable but you’re not sure of the best way to reach it

Question 7

explain traditional and affectual action according to weber

Answer 7

traditional = traditional action, something you’ve always done
affectual action = actions which have emotions attached to them

Question 8

negatives of webers social action theory

Answer 8

• too hard to apply, some actions fit in more than one category
• cant truly understand the meanings f others
• cant explain shared meanings

Question 9

explain a positive of webers social action theory

Answer 9

individual motives can lead to major structural changes

Question 10

explain duality of structure and who’s theory it is

Answer 10

Giddens theory
means that structure and action can’t exist without one another

Question 11

explain structuration and who’s theory it is

Answer 11

giddens theory
actions produce structures but structures are what allow us to have actions

Question 12

negatives of giddens structuration theory

Answer 12

archer = underestimates structures resist to changes from action
craib = doesn’t explain what’s actually happening in society
and doesn’t unite structure and action