Integrated approaches

WEBER Often regarded as the original social action theorist. First sociologist to emphasise the importance of understanding the subjective meanings people held and how they viewed the world. ‘Verstehen’ (fair-shtay-en) – means understanding. Researchers trying to put themselves in the position of those they are studying in an attempt to see the world through their eyes and discover the meanings behind their actions. Rejected structuralism theories, in particular Marx’s economic determinism and recognised people had choice and could act to change structures. People were not simply puppets. He did not dismiss the importance of social structures, particularly the structures of inequality. With his concepts of class, status and party he looked at how they shaped people’s lived, influenced their ideas, and limited choices available to them. Weberian sociology combines both structure and action approaches, with a full understanding of society and human behaviour.

Reflexivity – people are constantly reflecting on the things they do. Structuration Giddens (1986) Attempt to combine both structure and action – 2 parts of the same process. They depend on one another and structures exists because of people's actions, and people can only act because the structure enable meaningful action to take place. Duality of structure – 2 way process by which people are shaped by society and social institutions, but these structures can only exist as long as people to take action to support them and can take action to change them. Reflexivity – people are constantly reflecting on the things they do. Existence of social structure provides people with a framework or rules and established ways of doing things that enable them to live in society, and by doing so, they are reproducing that structure. At the same time, individuals can change this structure by modifying or replacing rules or conventional ways of doing things.

Structuration & the law Legal system is part of society. The Law has an existence separate from and above the individuals living in society at any one time. People are forced by the law to behave in a certain way which allows people to go about their daily lives and act in an orderly fashion. Most people abide by these rules, and the action allows the law to exist from one generation to the next. However – the laws can only continue if people continue to support and conform to it. Giddens suggests people are constantly reflecting on their everyday behaviour and may decide some laws are outdated and no longer relevant to the way they live their lives, and choose to break the law (e.g think about the changing laws/views/ use of cannabis). This shows humans can create and reinforce, or change and destroy, structures. The law constrains human action, but also enables human action to take place in an orderly way.

It doesn’t mean people can act in anyway they like. WHAT does this mean? It doesn’t mean people can act in anyway they like. Reactions and expectations of others will limit their possibilities of doing so. Even minor infringements of social rules can shock people. Some sociologists have criticised structuration because it over emphasises individual’s ability to change society and for under estimating the constrains of individual choices of action. Additional research/ evaluation Margaret Archer Craib