A Guide to Sociological Theory

Sociological Theory can be confusing, so here is a quick guide to some of the most common terms. These terms include Structure, Agency, Symbolic interactionism, and Motivation. These terms may not be familiar to all people, but they’re useful concepts to understand. To get a better grasp, consider reading this article. You’ll gain a better understanding of these theories and their importance to society. Besides, it will make you a better thinker, too!

Structure

One of the earliest theories of social structure is Alexis de Tocqueville’s. Later, other philosophers like Karl Marx, Herbert Spencer, and Emile Durkheim contributed to the concept. Marx was perhaps the most influential of all, contributing the concept of the “social will”.

Sociological theory identifies three types of structural elements: signification, legitimation, and domination. The first two are related to power, and the third is related to control of resources. Giddens also proposed another type of structure: symbolic and embodied. While this sounds like a complicated model, it is useful for understanding social life. This theory is particularly useful for studying social systems that are composed of many different kinds of actors.

Parsons, in his first book, focused on means-end structures and analytical theory. In his second book, he focused on common value-integration. Parsons expanded the scope of sociological theory by conceiving value pattern variables that could characterize social action dynamics. His famous “pattern variable scheme” included polarities. Ultimately, Parsons’s theory of social action reflects the ideas of a common value-integration.

Theoretical sociology was a relatively new branch of sociology. Its first major work, The Structure of Social Action (1937), shaped the field. It was inspired by the writings of Marshall, Pareto, and Durkheim, and it played a major role in the developments to come. Parsons aimed to move analytical social theory beyond its ‘traditions’ and limited viewpoints. However, he also recognized the importance of social action theory in the modern world.

Agency

Although overlapping with motivation and psychological traits, the sociological theory of agency distinguishes agency from both of these categories. Personal agency is a resource that people develop and demonstrate in a wide variety of capacities. Although agency varies across individuals and social strata, it is generally considered a universal capacity. In sociological terms, agency is a person’s ability to direct his or her behavior to achieve desired outcomes. It can also be seen as a way of channeling beliefs about one’s own control.

The current wave of social actor theory builds on Bourdieu’s work and emphasizes the nonrandom selection of individuals through social structures. It views agency as another instance of structural power and forces. In so doing, the current wave of theory tries to minimize the possibility of agency overriding the meanings of social positions that are internalized through structural position. However, a critique of these theories finds that these perspectives inevitably lead to a reduction of social agency.

The social agency definition is framed as an extension of social behaviorism, with LoAs being specific behavioral patterns that ground the concept of social agency. As a result, it tends to be sensitive to observed behavior. It is also a way to explain how people use technologies. Ultimately, it’s a way to understand the relationship between technology and social structures. But what is social agency? How does it affect the decision-making process of the people who use it?

Symbolic interactionism

Symbolic interactionism is a form of sociological theory that focuses on the role of individuals in social interactions. Its central premise is that people give meaning to things, both other people and events through the use of communication. This meaning is subjective and has developed through being a part of a group or culture. For example, an upper caste person learns how to act and relate to others by interacting with people of lower caste.

Blumer and Kuhn argued for a separate methodological approach to sociology. Blumer argues that symbols are used to create a social world, while Kuhn defends a deterministic approach. Blumer also believes that social interaction has the potential to be spontaneous. Neither Kuhn nor Blumer believes that social structures are determined by laws. They are created and maintained by the social actors.

The Indiana school of symbolic interaction tries to bridge the gap between individual meaning and social roles. A classic study in the symbolic interactionism school is Brooks’ The Self and Political Role. Another popular work in the school is West and Zimmerman’s Doing Gender, which argues that political beliefs are shaped by repeated socialization. The authors of Doing Gender argue that these ideas form an individual’s identity, which he then internalizes.

Motivation

The concept of motivation in sociological theory involves two primary types of motivation – social and individual. Social motivation involves the need for social recognition and identity. These two motivations often go hand in hand, causing people to work hard for their desired status and recognition in society. People often associate with other successful people. For example, people who are high achievers tend to have a large circle of friends and associate with people of similar status. Conversely, low achievers have few friends and a low self-esteem. Therefore, achievement in these areas increases their sense of belonging and self-confidence.

The drive-reduction theory was introduced by Clark Hull in 1943. According to this theory, people act to fulfill their needs when they become diverted from homeostasis. The psychological drive states arise from deviations from homeostasis, and direct behavior toward satisfying those needs. Humans, therefore, must choose between meeting their needs in order to maintain homeostasis. But this theory is often controversial because it fails to explain the underlying causes of pleasure-seeking behaviors.

The control-theoretic approach to motivation over-emphasizes cognitive appraisals and undervalues the role of the social environment in motivation. Mills’ vocabulary of motives suggests that people internalize motives, and that they are sensitive to external pressures. As a result, both intra and interpersonal motivations are based on the same concept of human desire to feel validated. Therefore, the concept of motivation is largely a matter of social context and not individual psychology.

Conflict theory

In sociological theory, conflict is a process wherein individuals pursue different interests. In an industrial setting, workers want to do as little work as possible and the owners want as much as they can get. Such incompatible interests are the foundation for conflict. Conflict can also occur within groups, like in school clubs and churches. It is a way to catalog ways in which those in power try to maintain control over others. All human relationships are based on competition.

However, the concept of conflict has not become a mainstream theoretical paradigm. It is not an independent theoretical approach but is often used to summarize sociological traditions dealing with conflict, power, and dominance. Some of the main authors of conflict theory include Hans Joas and Wolfgang Knobl. It also refers to the conflict sociology of Max Weber. It has been criticized by some scholars for not being a valid sociological theory.

The concept of conflict theory was developed by different philosophers in the 19th and 20th centuries. Although many of these thinkers contributed to conflict theory, Karl Marx is often considered to be the father of the theory. He made the theory popular by advocating proletarian revolution and rejecting the prevailing class. In this way, he has helped to shape sociological theories that emphasize the dynamics of social conflict. Once the concept of conflict becomes more widespread, it will help to better understand society and its problems.