social action theory

• Who was Max Weber?

  One of the founding fathers of sociology
• What two factors did Weber see as necessary for understanding behavior?

  Structural and individual factors
• What are the two levels of meaning in Weber's sociological explanation?

  • First level: Objective structural factors
  • Second level: Subjective meanings individuals attach to actions
• What happens when both levels of meaning are accounted for in an explanation?

  The explanation becomes complete or falsifiable
• How did Calvinism affect people's behavior according to Weber?

  It changed their worldview and behavior
• How can Weber's concepts explain hooliganism and unemployment?

  • Hooliganism: Objective factors (e.g., social environment) and subjective meanings (e.g., group identity)
  • Unemployment: Structural causes (e.g., economic conditions) and personal meanings (e.g., self-worth)
• What are the four types of action according to Weber?

  Instrumentally rational, value-rational, traditional, affectual
• What characterizes instrumentally rational action?

  Calculating efficient means to achieve a goal
• Give an example of instrumentally rational action.

  Lowering wages to maximize profit
• What is value-rational action?

  Actions taken for their own sake, regardless of outcomes
• How does Weber define traditional action?

  Customary, routine, or habitual actions
• What is affectual action according to Weber?

  Action that expresses emotion
• Why did Weber see affectual action as important?

  It plays a role in religious and political movements
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Weber's ideas?

  Strengths:

  • Corrective to structuralism
  • Emphasizes subjective meanings

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Criticized for individualism
  • May overlook social nature of actions
• What is the focus of symbolic interactionism?

  Social actions based on meanings we give
• Who is G.H. Mead?

  A key figure in symbolic interactionism
• How do humans differ from animals in terms of behavior according to Mead?

  Humans respond to meanings, not instincts
• What is a symbol according to Mead?

  Something that represents something else
• What does "taking the role of the other" mean?

  Seeing ourselves as others see us
• How do we develop the ability to take the role of the other?

  Through social interaction and imitative play
• Who systematized Mead's ideas after his death?

  Herbert Blumer
• What are Blumer's three key premises of interactionism?

  1. Actions are based on meanings we give
  2. Meanings arise from interaction processes
  3. Meanings result from interpretive procedures
• How does Blumer's view of human conduct contrast with functionalism?

  Blumer sees individuals as active, not passive
• What is labelling theory?

  Application of interactionist ideas to various areas
• What are the three key concepts of labelling theory?

  • Definition of the situation
  • Looking-glass self
  • Career deviance
• What does the definition of the situation refer to?

  A label that defines a situation
• What did W.I. Thomas observe about definitions of situations?

  If defined as real, they have real consequences
• What is the looking-glass self?

  How we develop our self-concept through others' perceptions
• How does labelling affect an individual's self-concept?

  Labels become part of their self-concept
• What is a career in the context of labelling theory?

  Stages of progression in an occupation or identity
• How do labelling theorists view the impact of labels on individuals?

  Labels can create self-fulfilling prophecies
• What is Goffman's dramaturgical model?

  Analyzing social interaction through drama analogies
• What is impression management according to Goffman?

  Controlling the impression we give to others
• What is the goal of impression management?

  To present a convincing image of ourselves
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Goffman's approach?

  Strengths:

  • Highlights active self-construction
  • Emphasizes impression management

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • May overlook structural influences
  • Can be seen as overly individualistic
• Who is the interactionist that describes self-construction through impression manipulation?

  Erving Goffman
• What analogy does Goffman use to analyze social interaction?

  Dramaturgical analogy
• How do we present ourselves according to Goffman?

  By manipulating others' impressions
• What is the purpose of impression management in Goffman's theory?

  To present a convincing image to audiences
• What are the key concepts in Goffman's dramaturgical approach?

  • Presentation of self
  • Impression management