SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY - Social Action / Interactionist Theories Flashcards
What is a Social Action Approach?
A Social Action Approach is an approach that believes that individuals demonstrate free will (agency) and is based upon interpretations and meanings that individuals themselves assign to signs, symbols and interactions (this is all socially constructed, so will be different from one society to another)!
What type of research is needed to be conducted with a Social Action Approach?
People will have different understandings of their role in society = This needs to be studied in a micro, qualitative way!
Who are the 4 main Interactionist Thinkers?
George Herbert Mead = ‘The Self and Interactions with Others’
Herbert Blumer = ‘The Importance of Meanings to Individuals’
Erving Goffman = ‘The Dramaturgical Approach’
Howard Becker = ‘The Labelling Theory’
(GEORGE HERBERT MEAD) What did he say about the concept of ‘Self’ and its signifiance to society? HINT: We develop our idea of ‘self’ based on human interaction with others!
He said that individuals develop a concept of ‘self’ through how they interact with others = People all have different views, opinions and beliefs!
He said that an individual’s self-concept can only develop if people understand how others perceive them and react to them in society = We base our own self-worth, our attractiveness and our levels of intelligence based off how other people perceive us and societal expectations!
- Suggests that people are more influenced by those close to them and those who make their reactions and how they perceive us more apparent
- People play significant roles in how we understand ourselves
(GEORGE HERBERT MEAD) Give an Example of Mead’s concept of ‘Self’? HINT: School Uniform!
Wearing a school uniform helps teachers and individuals perceive you in a positive light (you are following the rules, so you must be good etc)!
However, if you deviate from the uniform, people may perceive you as ‘troublesome’, such as by not wearing your tie!
- We consciously make choices to either dress appropriately and please teachers or dress inappropriately and gain status within our peer groups
(HERBERT BLUMER) What does he say about the Importance of Meanings?
He believes that people all behave in certain ways (agency) because of their interpretation of situations and what they believe is appropriate and not appropriate (their morals).
Interpretations of events are based on interactions with others and can change over time = We can change our interpretation; links to the free will and unpredictability of humans!
(ERVING GOFFMAN) What is the ‘Dramaturgical Theory’?
Goffman believes that individuals in society are ‘social actors’ = We assume a persona in the same way that an actor will assume a role!
Without positive social interactions with others, people may lose their sense of self or their persona, as they are not being accepted into society = Will this cause them to change??
(ERVING GOFFMAN) What is ‘Impression Management’?
This is whereby we choose how to present ourselves in a desirable way, via out clothing, language, body language and behaviour = We do this in order to give a particular impression of ourselves onto others!
We take on more than one role = EG: One role for our family, one for our friends, one for the workplace etc
We do this because we want to be socially accepted and desirable!! = Links to the Hawthorne Effect!
(HOWARD BECKER) What does he argue, in regards to the Labelling Theory and its Outcomes?
Becker builds on the idea of the ‘Looking-Glass Self’ = He suggests that labels placed upon us often come to be what individuals define themselves by (their Master Status which then work towards)!
People begin to internalise their labels and people see themselves how other people see them = Leads to the self-fulfilling prophecy!
How is Interactionism Deterministic?
It is deterministic, as it assumes that concepts, such as labels and the ‘self’, truly hold much influence over the behaviour and influence of individuals and their behaviour.
How does Interactionism ignore wider social conflict?
The theory ignores the influence of social class, gender, ethnicity and the background on an individual’s behaviour!
It offers a more physiological approach, rather than a sociological one!
Because Interactionism is a micro theory, what does this mean, in terms of research?
Micro Theory = Focuses on meanings and individuals’ behaviour in society
Includes small-scale research; focuses on verstehen; qualitative data; subjective data = Focuses on the ‘underdogs’ in society and their behaviour (often in post-structural societies, like the UK)!
What are the STRENGTHS of the Social Action Theory? HINT: There are 4 reasons here!
- It shows that people create and negotiate meaning in society = We are not puppets of the social system
- To fully explain actions, it is important to understand people’s motivation and means that people then attach to their behaviour
- It gives insight and verstehen into how meanings are socially constructed through interaction = Such as the SFP in Education!
- Social Action Methods have high levels of validity, due to their qualitative nature!
What are the WEAKNESSES of Social Action Theory? HINT: There are 4 reasons here!
- It largely ignores the importance of social structures, like social class, power, gender, ethnicity = This suggests that people do not have the same level of free choice. agency
- It does not explain where people get their meanings from in society and what they hope to achieve from their actions = The outcome is unclear!
- It ignores the uneven distribution of power in society = Not everyone can get power or significance in society
- Postmodernist Evaluation = They state that the Social Action Theory is just another metanarrative!
What Sociologist identified the ‘Looking Glass Self’?
Cooley!
