Structural and Social Structural and Social Action TheoriesAction Theories

What are they?What are they?

Who uses them? Who uses them?

What’s the difference?What’s the difference?

Structural perspectives and social action Structural perspectives and social action perspectives differ in the way they approach the perspectives differ in the way they approach the analysis of societyanalysis of society

One analyses the way in which society fits together or One analyses the way in which society fits together or how society is structured as a whole. Human behaviour how society is structured as a whole. Human behaviour is largely determined by societyis largely determined by society

One sees society as being the product of human activity. One sees society as being the product of human activity. Human behaviour is seen as critical in the development Human behaviour is seen as critical in the development of society. of society.

Examples of Structural TheoriesExamples of Structural Theories

Despite being very Despite being very different, Functionalism different, Functionalism and Marxism examine and Marxism examine society in terms of society in terms of structure and use a structure and use a model of how society model of how society works.works.

What are these models What are these models and how are they and how are they different?different?

Examples of Social Action TheoriesExamples of Social Action Theories

Max Weber was the firstMax Weber was the first sociologist to advocate a sociologist to advocate a social action approach.social action approach.

In contemporary In contemporary sociology there are two sociology there are two main varieties of this type main varieties of this type of sociology.of sociology.

Symbolic interactionism Symbolic interactionism and Ethnomethodology.and Ethnomethodology.

Describe the differences Describe the differences between these theoriesbetween these theories

Choice over DeterminismChoice over Determinism Anthony Giddens 1978-84Anthony Giddens 1978-84 According to Giddens, humans According to Giddens, humans

are constantly intervening in are constantly intervening in the world by their actions and the world by their actions and in doing so , they have the in doing so , they have the capacity to transform it. capacity to transform it.

He rejects the view that human He rejects the view that human behaviour is entirely behaviour is entirely determined by outside forces determined by outside forces

He rejects the view that He rejects the view that humans have complete free humans have complete free willwill

His theory, structuration is a His theory, structuration is a combination of these views.combination of these views.

Applying Giddens’ theoryApplying Giddens’ theory

Paul Willis’ study Paul Willis’ study “Learning to Labour” “Learning to Labour” was praised by was praised by Giddens.Giddens.

How can this study be How can this study be applied to applied to Structuration theory?Structuration theory?