Weber's Interactionism

Question 1

What is voluntarism?

Answer 1

People have free will and behaviour is driven by beliefs, meanings and feelings

Question 2

What is needed to understand behaviour?

Answer 2

Structural and action approaches

Levels of cause and meaning as well as verstehen

Question 3

What are the 4 types of social action?

Answer 3

Instrumentally rational
Value rational
Traditional
Affectual

Question 4

Define instrumentally rational action

Answer 4

Actor calculates the most efficient means of achieving a goal. The goal doesnt have to be desireable.

e.g. capitalists keep wages low to maximise profit

Question 5

Define value rational action

Answer 5

Action towards a goal that is valueable for its own sake. No way of calculating effectiveness

e.g. a believer worships God to get into heaven

Question 6

Define traditional action and give example

Answer 6

Customary and routine practices that are not rational bevause no conscious thought goes into it

e.g. burning a wooden cut out of Guy Fawkes on 5th Nov

Question 7

Define affectual action and give an example

Answer 7

Expresses emotion. Important to religious/political movements who attract followings based on emotion

e.g. weeping out of grief

Question 8

Criticisms

Answer 8

Schutz: too individualistic and does not explain shared meanings in society like shaking hands

Typology of action is difficult to apply