Summary SOCIOLOGY A LEVEL ACTION THEORIES NOTES (A*)

action theories
Introduction

 can divide sociological theories into two broad types - structural theories and action
theories

STRUCTURAL

 e.g. functionalism and marxism - macro (large scale), top down and deterministic
 society is a real thing existing over and above us - shaping our ideas and behaviour
 individuals are like puppets, manipulated by society
 understanding of peoples behaviour comes from understanding the social structure
that shapes it

ACTION

 e.g social action theory, symbolic interactionism - micro, bottom up and focus on the
actions and interactions of individuals - more voluntaristic (see us as having free will
and choice)
 our actions are not determined by socierty - we are free agents
 we shape and create society through our choices, meanings and actions

Max Weber - social action theory

 saw both structural and action approaches as necessary for a full understanding of
human behaviour
 the level of cause - explaining structural factors that shape peoples behaviour
(objective)
 the level of meaning - understanding the meanings that individuals attatch to their
actions (subjective)

types of action

 classification of meanings of actions into four types

Instrumentally rational action - where the actor calculates the most efficient means of
achieving a given goal

 e.g. a capitalist may calculate that the most efficient way of maximising profit is to
pay low wages
 not about whether the goal is desirable, just about the most efficient way of reaching
that goal

Value-rational action - involves action towards a goal that the actor regards as desirable for
its own sake

 e.g. a bleiver worshipping their god in order to get to heavan

,  there is no way of calculating whether the means of achieving the goal are effective
(unlike IRA)

Traditional action - involves customary, routine or habitual actions

 Weber does not see this action as rational because no concious thought/choice has
gone into it
 the actor does it 'because we have always done it'

Affectual action - action that expresses emotion

 e.g. weeping out of giref, violence sparked out of anger
 seen as imporant in religious and political movements - gain followers based on their
emotional appeal

Evaluation of Weber

 valuable alternative to the over emphasis on structural factors seen in functionalism
and marxism

criticism

 Schutz - argues that Weber's view of action is too individualistic and cannot explain
the shared nature of meanings - we share meanings e.g. raising a hand to get attention
(everyone else understands the meaning of it, not just the actor)
 Weber's typology is difficult to apply - it does not fit all cultures
 Weber advocated the use of verstehen of the actors subkective meaning - as we cannot
actually be that other person we can never be sure we have truly understood their
motives


Symbolic interactionism
 focuses on our ability to create the social world through our actions and intentions
 intentions are based on the meanings we give to situationa

G.H Mead

Symbols versus instincts

 unlike animals, human behaviour is not shaped by fixed, pre programmed instincts
 we respond to the world by giving meanings to the things that are significant to us
 before we know how to respond to a stimulus, we have to interpret its meaning

Taking the role of the other

 put ourselves in the place of the other person and seeing ourselves from their point of
view
 this develops through social interaction