Sociology Action Theories

• What are bottom-up theories in social action?

  Micro theories focusing on individual actions
• What do bottom-up theories argue about actions?

  Actions are voluntaristic and based on free will
• Name one theory included in bottom-up theories.

  Social Action Theory
• Who developed the Social Action Theory?

  Max Weber
• What are the two levels of understanding in Weber's theory?

  The cause level and the meaning level
• What does the cause level refer to in Weber's theory?

  Objective structures shaping behavior
• What does the meaning level refer to in Weber's theory?

  Subjective meanings attached to behaviors
• What are the four types of subjective meanings according to Weber?

  Instrumental, value, traditional, affectual actions
• What is instrumental rational action?

  Calculating efficient means to achieve goals
• What is value rational action?

  Action towards a goal regarded as desirable
• What is traditional action?

  Customary actions without conscious thought
• What is affectual action?

  Action expressing emotions
• What did Weber argue in "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism"?

  Calvinists' actions led to the emergence of Capitalism
• What is a valuable corrective according to Weber's view?

  Importance of subjective meanings in explaining actions
• What does Schutz argue about Weber's view of action?

  It is too individualistic to explain shared meanings
• What is a limitation of Weber's typology of interaction?

  Difficulty in determining action types
• What is "verstehen" in Weber's theory?

  Empathetic understanding of subjective meanings
• What does symbolic interactionism focus on?

  Creating the social world through interactions
• What role do symbols play in Mead's theory?

  They convey meanings in social interactions
• How do humans socially construct meaning according to Mead?

  By grouping symbols into categories
• What example did Mead use to illustrate communication?

  Handshake as a means of communication
• What is the significance of taking the role of the other in Mead's theory?

  It develops self and cooperative action
• What are Blumer's three assumptions of symbolic interactionism?

  Reactions based on meanings, meanings are social, meanings are reflective
• How does Blumer view society?

  As an ongoing process of interaction
• What is labelling theory?

  Application of interactionist ideas in various areas
• What are the three interactionist concepts underpinning labelling theory?

  Definition of the situation, looking-glass self, career
• Who used the dramaturgical approach?

  Erving Goffman
• What did Goffman observe in the Shetland Islands?

  Islanders allowed cottages to decay for rent reasons
• What is impression management in Goffman's theory?

  Staging a performance using props and actions
• How does interactionism differ from structural theories?

  It recognizes people create society through choices
• What is a criticism of interactionism?

  It is descriptive rather than explanatory
• What does interactionism ignore according to critics?

  Wider social structures like class inequality
• What is a limitation of Weber's 'traditional action' category?

  Much behavior is unconscious and routine
• What is Giddens' argument in Structuration Theory?

  Actions produce and reproduce structures over time
• What are the two elements that allow reproduction of structures in Giddens' theory?

  Rules and resources
• How can agency change social structures according to Giddens?

  Through reflexive monitoring and unintended consequences
• What does Archer claim about Giddens' theory?

  It underestimates structures' capacity to resist change
• What does Craib argue about Structuration Theory?

  It is a description, not a theory
• What is the emphasis of Phenomenology according to Schutz?

  Internal workings of the human mind
• What are typifications in Schutz's theory?

  Concepts attached to classes of experiences