Social Action Theory - Interactionism

Question 1

What do social action approaches focus on?

Answer 1

Emphasis on the freedom of individuals to director own actions

Question 2

Using the example of marriage, how are social action approaches different social system of approaches?

Answer 2

With social system marital roles are prescribed
Whereas with social action they are not prescribed by the social system but are developed from negotiated meanings during the process of interaction

Question 3

Many interactionists View society as if it was like a theatre stage. Goffman calls this ‘impression management’. What does he mean by this?

Answer 3

He analyses the techniques we use in order to influence how are the scissors. E.g. Someone would say “I like your food”. The cook would check how much was eaten, facial expressions etc. 

Question 4

W.I Thomas wrote : ‘ If meant to find situations as real, they are real in the consequences’. What does he mean by this ?

Answer 4

People act in terms of the way they define situations. For example someone walking on the street filled with bandages on them. Some would think it’s a dare or someone would think they had a serious injuries etc

Question 5

How can Interactionism be criticised?

Answer 5

Focus on small-scale interaction situations