Theory and Methods- Action Theories Flashcards
What do action theorists say?
People make their own choices and take their own action rather than being controlled by social structure or reacting to it
What do action theorists say about how society is constructed?
From people’s meanings, interpretations, behaviours and negotiations
Why are action theories often called micro-theories?
Because they look at individuals, rather than the big structures of society
What do action theorists argue about social order?
It isn’t generated by institutions and social order is part of everyday life, everyday life is a series of interpretations
How is social order a social construction?
A product of individual’s minds, people want to believe that there’s order in society so they behave towards others in a way that convinces them that there is order
How do different people give different meanings to actions?
Every person will interpret an action differently to others depending on the meaning they attach to it
Why can’t sociologists predict people’s behaviour?
People don’t passively react to external stimulation in exactly the same way every time- they act differently according to the circumstances and according to their own personal opinions
Why are action theorists criticised for their subjective and relativist nature?
Critics worry that if the world is seen as subjective and based on assumptions and interpretations then nothing is true or false
What does Weber argue?
A sociologist needs both structural approaches and action approaches in order to understand society
What are the two levels that Weber argues that human behaviour needs to be described?
The level of cause and the level of meaning
What is the level of cause?
Explains how behaviour is shaped by objective structural factors
What is the level of meaning?
Looks at the subjective meanings that people attach to their actions
What are the four types of action that Weber identifies?
Instrumentally rational action
Value-rational action
Traditional action
Affectual action
What is instrumentally rational action?
Based on the most efficient means of achieving a goal
What is value-rational action?
Taken because something is important for its own sake
What is traditional action?
Based on habit
What is affectual action?
Based on emotion
How has Weber been criticised? (2 points)
- For focusing too much on individual meanings and not explaining how we develop shared ones
- It can be difficult to classify actions into one of four types
What does symbolic interactionism focus on?
How we relate to others
What did Mead claim?
That the most human interaction is symbolic
What is ‘taking the role of the other’?
You must put yourself in the other person’s position to understand how they interpret the meaning of interactions
How does Mead suggest that we learn to interpret symbols?
Through social interaction
What does Blumer say? (3 points)
- Actions aren’t instinctive but are based on meanings we attach to the world around us
- These meanings come from the ways in which we relate to others, so sometimes they can change
- We mostly relate to others by taking the role of the other
What does ethnomethodology argue?
That ‘society’ is only a construct
How does Garfinkel see society?
As something created from the ‘bottom up’ and it is not an objective structure, but something we all construct ourself through our behaviour
What does ethnomethodology study?
The methods we use to create meanings
What is indexicality?
Meanings are always potentially unclear because they are dependent on context
What is reflexivity?
Using our common sense to determine the meanings of behaviour and communication so we can maintain social order
Why do we engage in reflexivity?
To stop lack of clarity from causing chaos
What does Giddens believe?
Sociologists should look at both the interactions between individuals and the social structures that influence these interactions
How are structuration theorists similar to structural theorists?
They say that individuals have to conform to the rules of social structures and social systems
What do structuration theorists also say?
That social structures can be changed by the actions of individuals
Why do individuals respond to the structures in different ways?
Individuals have an awareness of the social rules and structures and have some level of choice about how to react to them
What doe structuration theory assume that Marxists and feminists would disagree with?
That if people want to change the world, they can manage fairly easily
