Social action theorists view on society

Question 1

write a brief intro

Answer 1

social action theories
- bottom up, study society on micro scale
- behaviourally voluntaristic- analyse people as free agents, the have the individual power to shape their experiences

Question 2

what is the 1st argument POINT

Answer 2

Weber
- levels of cause and meaning people attach to their experiences

Question 3

what is the 1st argument EVIDENCE

Answer 3

Weber
- analysed rise of capitalism at the level of cause and meaning
1. cause- protestant ethic: reinvest profit for capitalism
2. meaning- attached religious meanings to their work so regarded it as ‘holy’

Question 4

what is the 1st argument ANALYSIS

Answer 4

Modern soc.
1. instrumental rational action - where a person calculates the most efficient way of achieving a goal
2. value rational action- where a person does something as desirable for their own sake

Pre-modern soc
1. traditional actions- routines and meanings like family traditions
2. affectual action- emotions use by religion and political movements

Question 5

what is the 1st argument EVALUATION

Answer 5

Collins
- Weber overemphasised rationalisation, emotions are key to both creativity and in modern societies

Question 6

what is the 2nd argument POINT

Answer 6

Symbolic interactionism

Question 7

what is the 2nd argument EVIDENCE

Answer 7

Mead
- human behaviour shaped by symbols rather than animalistic instincts
1. animals have an automatic response to a stimulus
2. humans are able to interpret the stimulus and look for meanings attached to symbols
3. understand the symbols by ‘taking the role of the other’

Question 8

what is the 2nd argument ANALYSIS

Answer 8

Labelling theory
- Cooley : looking glass self
1. self concept, how we see ourselves
2. self concept develops and we ‘take the role of the other’
3. self fulfilling prophecy

Question 9

what is the 2nd argument EVALUATION

Answer 9

Goffman
- dramaturgical model: compares society as a drama
- individuals can voluntarily create meaning by the way the present themselves

Question 10

what is the MARXIST critique POINT

Answer 10

structural conflict theory on society and historical change
- division between an dominant r/c who exploit the subordinate w/c through means of production

Question 11

what is the MARXIST critique EVIDENCE

Answer 11

Rehmann
- Weber is pro-capitalist
- celebrates how capitalism created new meanings about work
- the idea of rational action acts as a disguise for promoting the actions of r/c for maximising profit

Question 12

what is the MARXIST critique ANALYSIS

Answer 12

Williams
- criticises Weber’s view on self-concepts
- the r/c have a great influence on people’s self-concept
- create false consciousness, in the way people see themselves
- ‘take the role of the r/c’

Question 13

write a PEEAL on the POSTMODERNIST CRITIQUE

Answer 13

key things to include:
- globalisation, 1970s, tech e.g computers
- Lyotard
-Giddens and Beck - individualisation thesis, do it yourslef biography