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...
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.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller naomilines101. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £5.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
