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Summary AQA A-level Sociology Book 2: Theory and methods: Action Theory A* revision notes $7.17   Add to cart

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Summary AQA A-level Sociology Book 2: Theory and methods: Action Theory A* revision notes

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If you want to get an A* in sociology then these summarised revision notes are your step to success. This document contains detailed notes on Action Theory in the Theory and Methods Topic. All notes are summarised and will save you hours of time which can be used revising these notes. Notes includ...

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  • Theory and methods: action theory
  • November 21, 2022
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  • 2022/2023
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Action theories:
MAX WEBER: social action theory

 Weber: adequate sociological explanation involves 2 levels
 Level of cause: objective structural factors that shape people’s behavior
 Level of meaning: subjective meanings individuals attach to actions.
 Eg: protestant reformation introduced Calvinism -> glorified God + promoted work
ethic -> worked systematically -> rise of capitalism,

Weber: 4 types of action:

1. Instrumentally rational action: actor calculates most efficient means of achieving
role
2. Value rational action: action towards desirable goal for actor for own sake.
3. Traditional action: customary actions, no conscious choice along with it.
4. Affectual action: action that expresses emotion (political movement)

Evaluation of Weber:

- Weber: corrective to over-emphasis on structural factors in functionalism
- Must understand actors subjective meanings if we want to explain actions well
- Schutz: too individualistic, cannot explain shared nature of meanings
- Critic of verstehen: cannot be other person as we never understood motives.

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM:

 Ability to create social world through actions/ interactions, interactions based on
meanings we give to situations

Symbol versus instincts:

 Mead: behaviour not shaped by pre-programmed instincts
 We respond to world by giving meanings to significant things
 We have to interpret meaning before know how to respond

Taking the role of the other:

 Put ourselves in the place of the other person
 Develops through social interaction
 Mead: to function as members of society we use shared symbols, become conscious
of how we act

Blumer: 3 principles:

1. Actions based on meanings we give to situations
2. Meanings arise from interactions (not fixed but negotiable)
3. Meanings due to interpretive procedures (taking role of the other)
 Blumer we internalize expectations of others so meanings not completely fixed.

Labelling theory:

 Definition of situation: Thomas: if people define a situation as real, it will have real
consequences.
 We believe something to be true -> change way we act.

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