Structural vs Action Theories

Question 1

What are structural theories?

Answer 1

Macro- level theories that have a top-down and deterministic approach (i.e. society shapes its member’s ideas - individuals are like puppets, manipulated by society).

Question 2

What do structural theories argue?

Answer 2

To understand people’s behaviour, we must first understand the social structure (institutions) that shape it.

Question 3

Give some examples of structural theories.

Answer 3

Functionalism, Marxist Theories, Feminism, New Right, Realist Theories etc.

Question 4

What are action theories?

Answer 4

Micro-level theories that have a bottom-up approach, focusing on the actions and interactions of individuals (actions are not determined by society. Society’s members are individuals each with their own free will, creating and shaping society through their choices, meanings and actions). They aim to understand human behaviour by gaining verstehen and using qualitative methods.

Question 5

What are the 4 main types of action theory?

Answer 5

Social action theory, Symbolic interactionism, Phenomenology, Ethnomethodology