Social Action Theory Flashcards
Level of cause
Objective structural factors that’s shape people’s behaviour
Level of meaning
Subjective meanings that individual attach to their actions
Action theories
- Micro approach
- Bottom up
- Actions and interactions of individuals
- Free will
Weber’s study - Calvinism
Promoted a work ethic
= ⬆️ capitalism
= Accumulated wealth
Instrumentally rational action
Individual calculates/decides the best way to achieve a goal whatever it may be
Value rational action
Action towards a goal that an individual sees as desirable, it is uncertain to know if these actions are effective to reach the goal
Traditional action
Involves routine or habitual actions
- not rational action = no thought has gone into it
Affectual action
Action expressing emotion
- important in religious and political movements
Mead
Our behaviour is not fixed
- we respond to the world giving meanings
Mead - How to interpret other people’s meanings
Putting ourselves in the place of the other person
- seeing ourselves as others see us
Blumer
Even though our action is partly predictable it is not completely fixed
