Social Action Flashcards
What was Garfinkles study called?
Ethnomethodology
What does Garfinkle say about external social structures?
Rejects ideas of external social. Argues there are unwritten rules governing everyday situations
When disrupted, demonstrates how fragile social life is
Why does Garfinkle say about real society?
Rejects real society, believes we construct own social world every time we interact with each other
What is a breaching experiment and who coined it?
Garfinkle- examine people’s reaction to breaching everyday assumptions of common rules
What was garfinkles breaching experiment?
Told Students to behave like lodgers at home, parents were confused
Reveals meanings we have placed with that role
What was Cooleys study called?
The looking glass self
What does Cooley say?
Image of ourselves reflected back to us like a mirror in the view of others
What’s an example of Cooleys looking glass self?
Indivual sees self as outgoing, others see them as introverted. May adopt new identity in accordance with how others see them
What does Cooley say about self concept and social roles?
Self concept and social roles are not handed down by social institutions, but socially constructed and subject to constant change through interaction
What was Goffmans study called?
The dramaturgical model
What is the dramaturigcal model?
Sees society as a stage
Front stage- actors able to see audience
Back stage- actors can release identity
What is goffmans presentation of self?
People project particular impressions of themselves called “presentation of self”
What is goffmans impression management?
Individuals try to convince us of the different identities they wish to assert- “impression manangament”
What does Weber reject?
“Crude determinism” of structuralist theories and particularly Marx’s economic determinism
What does Weber recognise?
People have choice and could act to change structure, not just puppets
People do not have completely free choice in how they behave
What does Weber not dismiss the importance of?
Does not dismiss the importance of social structures of inequality and how influenced people’s ideas, shaped lives
What is giddens theory called?
Theory of structuration
What is Giddens theory of structuration?
Structured only exist because of people’s actions and people can only act becasue structure allows meaningful action to take place
What’s an example of Giddens theory of structuration?
Law exists seperate and above of individual, only exists if ppl conform to it
International law change in cannabis use came into action due to society’s changing beliefs
What are two strengths of the social action theory?
Overcomes determinism of structuralist theories, recognize ppl have reason for actions
Shows how construction of meaning has consequences- e.g- labelling leading to self fulfilling prophecy
How does a Marxist criticise social action theories?
They believe it ignores power distribution in society. People more likely to listen to labels given to a person in power
How does a feminist criticise social action theories?
They believe it ignored social constructions influenced by gender
E.g- certain behaviour constructed to be “worse” if done from a women
