MICRO - sees
individuals as having
free will & interactions
Bottom Up
Approach
EXAMPLES:
Social Action
Theories /
interactionism /
Phenomenology /
Ethnomethnology
!) Social Action Theories
Interpretivism
Criticism of
Structural
Theories
Come up with a
theory then find
evidence
Small groups of people, examining how they are influenced by those around
them.
Max Weber
stressed the need to see
the world through the eyes
of those involved
Known as Verstehen
Therefore gaining a deep
understanding through empathy,
often using methods such as,
extended participant observaton.
However
He saw BOTH structural and actions approaches
as necessary for understanding human behaviour,
arguing that an adequate explanation involves to
levels:
The level of cause
Structural e.g.
Protestant
reformation
introduced a
new belief
system -
Calvinism
The Level of Meaning
Subjective meanings
individuals attach to
their actions e..g.. Work
had a religious meaning
for Calvinist - work was
a calling by God -
became first modern
capitalists (by accident!)
Another Example
David Gillborn (1990)
Study showed Afro - Carribean
pupils are more likely to be
reprimanded by teachers than
Asian pupils whose behaviour was
similar.
Gillborn identified this through 2 years of
observations at a comprehensive school (Verstehen) &
then made the link between the attitude of teachers &
racism in a wider society (structure)
BOTTOM UP Approach
2) Symbolic Interactionism
Focuses on how we
choose to present
ourselves and others see us,
James (1890)
identified 3
different version
of 'the self'
Spiritual Self
Our
underlying
personality
Material Self
The appearance
we present to the
rest of the world
Social Self
concept of ourselves as a
result of others reactions
Codley (1922)
'the looking glass self'
- links with labelling
theory
Goffman (1959)
Similar idea but related
behaviours to the Theatre
Dramaturgical analogy -
'front region' - self we
show the world. 'Back
Regions' - how we
behave in informal
enviroments
E.G. - Teacher in
classroom Vs
Teacher in
Staffroom
3) Phenomenology
Another branch of
social action theory
Examines the social
construction of a
particular phenomena &
how this impacts on
peoples attitudes and
behaviour
Jack Douglas (1967)
studied the concept
of suicide has for
the deceased.
For some it may be a cry for
help, for others a way of getting
revenge, & for some it is an act
of spiritual hope of reaching a
better place
According to Douglas, the meaning
of suicide is CONSTRUCTED by the
individual.. It cannot be regarded as a
single type of act
How people view childhood and Crime &
Deviance has also been studies
extensively to find out how we 'construct'
different 'phenomena' such as childhood
or crime in a particular society and what
it MEANS to us at a particular time, place
or social context
4) Ethnomethodology
Examines how people speak to each
other & interact in everyday
conversations & in relationships at
home,
Study of unspoken rules & what
happens if they are broken e.g. having a
door open for someone (or not), invadng
personal space, responding at length to a
social 'how are you?'
The Point?
identifying norms in
society & recognising how
we take them for granted
and how essential they
are for social norms.
+ for
comparing
behaviours
across
different
societies
5) Structuration
Giddens (1984)
Suggests that to take
either of our role in
contemporary society is to
oversimplify matters
We are as somewhat
constrained by
structural factors such
as gender, age and
income but we are also
free to some extent to
take action to change
our circumstances.