social action

• bottom up approach - individuals shape society through their actions - look for meanings individuals attach to situations through mirco interactions
• we have free will to perform social functions eg. PLP micro approach starts from POV of individuals and meanings given to their relationships - looks how individuals construct and defines relationships beyond traditional sociological definitions
• AO3 - ignores influence of wider social structures on relations eg. functionalism argues society has basic needs and individuals act in ways to meet them

  although PLP rejects top down it sees personal relationships as performing important functions of providing social solidarity
• symbolic interactionism - focus on meanings attach to different situations expressed through symbols in language or physical gesture

  eg. thumbs up - interpretated meaning and take the role of the other which is developed through our social interactions

  AO3 - doesnt take account impact of social structure in actions eg. feminism patriachy shapes interactions of men and women eg. male gaze
• labelling theory - define and interpret world through names attached to individuals - focus on label effects to themself and social relation - useful for micro eg. becker ideal pupil leading to SFP due to appearance,language and attitude

  AO3 - too deterministic assuming everyone will accept labels
• methodology - weber argues research should generate verstehen, understand meanings held in social interactions - use qualitative methods to insight individuals worldview

  AO3 - positivists critical of qualitative RM as they lack reliability and subjective open to interpretation