Social Action Theory Flashcards
What do social action theorists believe?
Social action theorists believe instead of society shaping individuals, individuals have autonomy and navigate the social world without complete regulation and can make changes from the bottom up.
Individuals…
Social action theorists see individuals as active and complex in regards to how they react to the social structures around them.
People don’t blindly accept norms and values, they make judgements about what they believe to be right or wrong.
What research methods do social action theorists use?
They use qualitative research methods as this gains more in-depth data.
Goffman - Life is a Stage
Goffman believed that when we are born, we are thrust onto a stage called everyday life, and that our socialization consists of learning how to play our assigned roles from other people. We enact our roles in the company of others, who are in turn enacting their roles in interaction with us.
Labelling theory
Labelling theory was developed by Howard Becker and is most associated with the sociology of deviance. It is applied to education in relation to teachers applying labels on their pupils in terms of their ability, potential or behaviour. These labels can be positive or negative and can result in a self-fulfilling prophecy. Labelling is seen as an internal factor that could explain differential achievement in schools by class, ethnicity or gender.
