Sociological Theories Action Theories

Sociological Theories Action Theories

1. Definitions

   • Structural Theories
     • Macro - Look at society as a whole
     • Top Down Approach
       • Deterministc
         • explain how society shapes the people
     • EXAMPLEs: Functionalists / Maxists / Feministis
   • Action Theories
     • MICRO - sees individuals as having free will & interactions
     • Bottom Up Approach
     • EXAMPLES: Social Action Theories / interactionism / Phenomenology / Ethnomethnology

2. !) Social Action Theories

   • Interpretivism
   • Criticism of Structural Theories
     • Come up with a theory then find evidence
   • Small groups of people, examining how they are influenced by those around them.
     • Max Weber
       • stressed the need to see the world through the eyes of those involved
         • Known as Verstehen
           • Therefore gaining a deep understanding through empathy, often using methods such as, extended participant observaton.
             • However
               • He saw BOTH structural and actions approaches as necessary for understanding human behaviour, arguing that an adequate explanation involves to levels:
                 • The level of cause
                   • Structural e.g. Protestant reformation introduced a new belief system - Calvinism
                 • The Level of Meaning
                   • Subjective meanings individuals attach to their actions e..g.. Work had a religious meaning for Calvinist - work was a calling by God - became first modern capitalists (by accident!)
     • Another Example
       • David Gillborn (1990)
         • Study showed Afro - Carribean pupils are more likely to be reprimanded by teachers than Asian pupils whose behaviour was similar.
           • Gillborn identified this through 2 years of observations at a comprehensive school (Verstehen) & then made the link between the attitude of teachers & racism in a wider society (structure)
             • BOTTOM UP Approach

3. 2) Symbolic Interactionism

   • Focuses on how we choose to present ourselves and others see us,
     • James (1890) identified 3 different version of 'the self'
       • Spiritual Self
         • Our underlying personality
       • Material Self
         • The appearance we present to the rest of the world
       • Social Self
         • concept of ourselves as a result of others reactions
           • Codley (1922)
             • 'the looking glass self' - links with labelling theory
               • Goffman (1959)
                 • Similar idea but related behaviours to the Theatre
                   • Dramaturgical analogy - 'front region' - self we show the world. 'Back Regions' - how we behave in informal enviroments
                     • E.G. - Teacher in classroom Vs Teacher in Staffroom

4. 3) Phenomenology

   • Another branch of social action theory
   • Examines the social construction of a particular phenomena & how this impacts on peoples attitudes and behaviour
     • Jack Douglas (1967)
       • studied the concept of suicide has for the deceased.
         • For some it may be a cry for help, for others a way of getting revenge, & for some it is an act of spiritual hope of reaching a better place
           • According to Douglas, the meaning of suicide is CONSTRUCTED by the individual.. It cannot be regarded as a single type of act
             • How people view childhood and Crime & Deviance has also been studies extensively to find out how we 'construct' different 'phenomena' such as childhood or crime in a particular society and what it MEANS to us at a particular time, place or social context

5. 4) Ethnomethodology

   • Examines how people speak to each other & interact in everyday conversations & in relationships at home,
     • Study of unspoken rules & what happens if they are broken e.g. having a door open for someone (or not), invadng personal space, responding at length to a social 'how are you?'
       • The Point?
         • identifying norms in society & recognising how we take them for granted and how essential they are for social norms.
           • + for comparing behaviours across different societies

6. 5) Structuration

   • Giddens (1984)
     • Suggests that to take either of our role in contemporary society is to oversimplify matters
       • We are as somewhat constrained by structural factors such as gender, age and income but we are also free to some extent to take action to change our circumstances.
         • Hence Giddens calls his theory structuration
           • a combination of the words structure & action