Theories: Action Theory

Question 1

[🕺] what are the features of a social action theory ?

Answer 1

• Society and institutions are socially constructed by individuals
• Determinist approach of structuralism: emphasis on free will, choice and people forming their own identities
• Sociological research is placed on individual/small group rather than overall structure. Eg: sociologist may focus on a juvenile gang and how they are seen and labelled as deviant
• People’s behaviour is viewed to be driven by their beliefs, feelings, meanings and emotions they give to situations
• Preferred by interpretivists, using qualitative data, to uncover and interpret meanings of behaviour

Question 2

[🚺] what is symbolic interaction is ?

Answer 2

MEAD & BLUMER
- Sees society as built up by interactions between people which take place on the basis of meanings held by individuals

Question 3

[🚺] what are the 3 key principles of symbolic interactionism ?

Answer 3

• BLUMER
  1. People act in terms of symbols ( like objects, words, expressions or gestures) that stand for something else and to which individuals have attached meanings
  2. These meanings develop out of the interaction of an individual with others, and can change during the course of interaction
  3. Meanings arise from an interactive process, as people try to interpret the meanings others give to their actions by imaging themselves in their position and taking on their role.

Question 4

[🚺] what is the ‘ looking-glass self ‘theory ?

Answer 4

COOLEY
- The process of negotiated interaction
- How our image is reflected back to us ( like a mirror) in view of others. Therefore we may modify and adapt our behaviour
- Eg: if an individual may see themself as friendly and sociable but if a person sees them as introverted and standoffish the individual may adopt their behaviour to act in accordance

Question 5

[🏷️] what is labelling theory ?

Question 6

[🎭] what is the dramaturgical approach ?