Introduction To Social Action Theory

Question 1

Who is the main sociologist behind Social Action Theory?

Answer 1

Max Webber

Question 2

Name 5 features of social action theory.

Answer 2

1. The social structures do not have a separate entity above them. Social areas and social construction created by individuals.
2. People are not dictated by social institutions and have the freedom to express their their free will, identities and choices to do things. Volunteerism.
3. It is a micro approach. It focuses on small groups and individuals rather than large institutions.
4. People’s behaviours are driven by beliefs, meanings and feelings they give to a situation they are in, or the way they see things.
5. An interpretivist methodology is used in order to uncover meanings and definitions individuals give to their behaviour.

Question 3

Summarise social action theory.

Answer 3

Weber believed that in order to fully understand society, you need to use a combination of both structural and action approaches. Eg: The protestant work ethic.

Structural cause: Protestant reformation, introduced on new belief system- Calvinism. This changed people’s worldview and therefore their behaviour.

Subjective meaning: work took on a religious meaning, glorifying God through labour and aestheticsm. Making them the first modern capitalists.

Question 4

What is a micro approach?

Answer 4

Looking at individuals in society and how they shape the world around them.

Question 5

Name 4 types of action.

Answer 5

1. Instrumental rational action: Social actors works out the most efficient way to reach a goal (E.g the most efficient way to make profit is to pay low wages).
2. Value rational action: Action towards a goal that seen as desirable for its own sake (E.g Believing in God and performing rituals for salvation).
3. Traditional action: Routine, customary or habitable actions that are done without thought or choice (E.g “We have always done this).
4. Affectual action: Action that expresses emotion. Weber saw this as important in religious and political movements with charasmatic leaders who attracted followers based on emotional appeal (E.g weeping with grief or violence caused by anger).

Question 6

Evaluate Weber (referencing other sociologists).

Answer 6

Alfred Schutz: Too individualistic and doesn’t explain shared nature of meanings (E.g student raising their hand to answer a question, the student using this gesture to signal this, and the teacher and other students knowing what the intention of the gesture is).

Application: It is difficult to apply these ideas as meanings can be misinterpreted and reinterpreted by different individuals (E.g Trobriand islanders exchanging gifts with other islands called “Kula” which could either be seen as a tradition action as they have done this for countless generations, or an instrumental rational action because it cements relations).

Verstehen: It is never possible to truly put yourself in the shoes of another person, therefore we cannot really know or understand these motives.