T&M - Social Action Theories Flashcards
What is the primary focus of social action theories?
They take a bottom-up approach to studying society and emphasize individual agency and free will.
How do social action theories differ from structural theories?
Social action theories are less deterministic and believe individuals shape society through their choices, meanings, and actions.
Who is considered one of the originators of social action theory?
Max Weber
What does the term ‘Verstehen’ refer to in Weber’s theory?
Understanding society by examining both structure and action.
What are the two levels Weber identified for understanding society?
- Level of cause (structure)
- Level of action
What are Weber’s four ideal types?
- Traditional Action
- Affective Action
- Value-Rational Action
- Instrumentally Rational Action
Which two categories of action does Weber consider measurable?
- Value-Rational Action
- Instrumentally Rational Action
What does Weber advocate for in understanding social actors?
The use of Verstehen to see the world through the eyes of social actors.
True or False: Social action theories view individuals as passive puppets responding to societal structures.
False
According to Mead, how do we interpret meanings?
By taking the place of the other person.
What are the three key principles identified by Blumer in social action theory?
- Actions are based on meaning
- Meanings are not fixed
- Meanings arise from taking the ‘role of the other’
What is the ‘Looking-Glass Self’ as proposed by Cooley?
Our self-concept arises from our ability to see ourselves as others see us.
What is the Dramaturgical Model as described by Goffman?
The idea that individuals actively construct their self by manipulating others’ perceptions.
What does ‘Impression Management’ entail in Goffman’s theory?
The process of presenting a particular image to an audience.
According to Goffman, what is ‘Role Distance’?
The space between our real self and the roles we perform.
What criticism do Functionalists have of social action theories?
They see individuals as puppets who conform to societal norms and perform roles in predictable ways.
What is Giddens’ concept of DUALITY OF STRUCTURE?
The idea that structure and action depend on one another.
List the assumptions of Giddens’ theory.
- People are knowledgeable about the social world
- People are not puppets of external forces
- Sociology is not a natural science; there are no social laws
- People create and reproduce existing structures
What are the two components of social structures according to Giddens?
- Rules
- Resources
What does the reproduction of structures through agency mean?
Using existing rules and resources in everyday life to ensure the continued existence of structures.
What can lead to changes in structures according to Giddens?
- Deliberate reflection on actions
- Unintended consequences of actions
