![]() Read our featured insights. Rational Choice Theory. Sociology 3. 19. February 8 and 1. Rational Choice Theory (RCT)1. Introduction A different approach to the theory of social action from that discussed so far is rational choice theory. The theories discussed earlier consider individual and group actions to be social in that they are concerned with meaning, interpretatio. Weber and Parsons differ from the interactionists in terms of how they define meaning and the relative importance that each attributes to subjective conscious. Rational Choice Theory structures of reciprocity and social obligation. What distinguishes rational choice theory from these other forms of theory is that it denies. In psychology, decision-making is regarded as the cognitive process resulting in the selection of a belief or a course of action among several alternative possibilities. But all these perspectives emphasize that action is social in the sense that social values and norms, and social order, are integral to their explanations of human interaction. Each of these approaches emphasizes shared meanings. Rational choice theories adopt quite a different approach to the study of social action, human agency, and social systems and structures. As with other sociological perspectives, there are many variants of rational choice theory, but each tends to diff. First, RCT begins from the viewpoint of the individual, rather than from several individuals interacting together, from social situations, or from groups. The emphasis on the individual and his or her interests is always a startin. Different theorists of rational choice may make somewhat different assumptions about the individual and proceed in different ways from the individual to larger social groupings and systems, but each begins with t. ![]() Abell notes that . Each of these basic assumptions show the methodological individualism of RCT . From this basis RCT may sho. A second major aspect of RCT is that it is sociologically minimalist. RCT begins with a few simple assumptions about the individual and the relationship among individuals, and from these builds models of social action and interact. This approach is very different from the systems and structural approaches of Durkheim or Parsons, who make social norms and values at the societal level an ess. It also differs from the writers in the Marxian and Weberian traditions that emphasize large- scale, global, and historical social forces. RCT also runs counter to the symbolic interaction, interpretive, and feminist ap. The latter consider meaning, interpretation, emotions, experiences, and a wide variety of aspects of human existence, none of which can be reduced to the other, nor. Much recent sociological theorizing has emphasized the complexity of the individual, the variety of individual experiences, and the diverse ways that individuals develop selves and social action. The terms thick descript. ![]() In contrast, RCT adopts a relatively spare and simple model of t. RCT also is an example of a more formal theoretical perspective in the . Variety and Uses of RCT. As with the other theoretical approaches, RCT has many varieties. While they all are methodologically individualist and minimalist, each may adopt somewhat different assumptions. Following this, each develops these in. The concerns of various theorists in this tradition are quite different, although all attempt to build a model that explains various social phenomena or society as a whole. In his introduction to Section III of the text, Turner notes that RCT is . RCT is not modest about its claims, and some theorists in this tradition argue that RCT provides the only overall explanation of social systems and society, and the only solid basis for progress toward a unified social theory. RCT so. ciologists tackle issues related to individual action and social interaction, and also attempt to explain social norms and collective behaviour. While this perspective begins from minimalist assumptions, its scope is very broad . James Coleman ambitiously titles his book Foundations of Social Theory. Because of the emphasis on the individual, RCT is sometimes regarded as neoliberal or part of right- wing ideology . While RCT could be turned in this direction, it does not necessarily lead to an individualistic overall model of society. For example, part of Coleman. In doing this, Coleman does. Durkheim and Parsons took for granted. In addition, some neo- Marxians are rational choice theorists. While there are many different aspect to Marx. Some recent Marxist theorists (most notably Jon Elster and John Roemer . These h. ave been useful in showing how exploitation can emerge in ways other than the exploitation of labour directly in the labour process . Decision theory (or the theory of choice) is the study of the reasoning underlying an agent's choices. Decision theory can be broken into two branches: normative. PAD 6436 lecture 2 Page 1 of 7 University of North Florida Master of Public Administration program PAD 6436 Ethics Understanding ethical decision-making. Roemer argues that . Roemer shows how exploitation can exist in socialist societies and h. As with any other sociological theory, RCT should be considered on the basis of its ability to help us explain and understand the social world. There is no doubt that each of us is an individual, and if a theory developed from this point of view can he. In addition, in our society considerable amounts of social action are explicitly rational actions undertaken by individuals . Where the choices are not entirely conscious and rational, it is possible that RCT models may help explain much social action. Critics of RCT note several problems . One tendency that RCT sociologists have is to justify any human action as rational. What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention, and a. Collective Moral Responsibility. Focusing on groups through the lens of collective moral responsibility has broadened the scope of moral philosophy. For example, we are all involved in s. RCT tends to argue that in the end, these are all inspired by individual pursuit of self- interest. As a result, RCT sometimes attempts to explain too much . While it is not the most common sociological approach, it has active proponents who have developed many interesting ideas and many testable hypotheses. Background. There are many different influences on RCT . As soon as rationality is mentioned in sociology, Weber. For Weber, rationality was a driving social force in society, especially modern society. He used rationality in several different senses but Holton notes. The instrumental approach to action takes values as given and focusses instead on the efficient choice of means. In such action, a primary focus is on conscious action by the individual social actor attempting to achieve particular goals in some sort of logical manner. Weber regarded this as characteristic of modern society, and tended. Abell also notes that RCT can be regarded as one way of working out an explanation of the social world in a Weberian manner. Weber argued that sociologists should develop an interpretive understanding of social action in order to explain . For Weber, action is social in that it takes account of the . While most sociologists working in the Weberian tradition adopt a more complex view of meaning and interp. Abell notes that RCT provides one possible way of explaining social action. RCT provides an interpretation for individual action, it shows what the effects of this are, and it certainly is focussed on goals and ori. Abell reiterates this on p. RCT and showing that these parallel the three conditions of Weber: (i) interpretive understanding, (ii) social action, and (iii) c. Utilitarian Economics. Much economic theory, originating from Adam Smith and developed by many nineteenth and twentieth century economists, foreshadows RCT. In fact, it may be that sociologists, impressed with the overall power and rigour of. RCT as a sociological counterpart to utilitarian economic models. In general, such models are based on the assumption that economic actors are . These economic models usually begin with an individual who has certain preferences and faces constraints. Presented with various options, the individual economic actor decides how best to achieve the preferences, given the set of constraints and ch. Models that explain how individuals deciding to purchase certain commodities or supply labour that adopt this approach have proven to be powerful economic models. As noted earlier, nineteenth and twentieth century sociologists were concerned that such economic models could not explain social order. Durkheim argued that the rational economic actions, economic exchange, and contracts by themselves could not work w. Similarly, Parsons argued that action could not be aimed at purely utilitarian ends, but had to be guided by social norms and values. Adam Smith himself had set his economic models within a framework of balancin. This aspect of Smith. A related influence on RCT is that of game theory . Issues such as strategies, preferences, and decision- making processes come to the fore in these situations. Vilfredo Pareto (1. Italian- French ancestry who became a professor of economics in Switzerland in 1. Italy, where he supported the Fascist regime of Mussolini. Pareto had many c. Actions which might be regarded as leading to the former, such as war, nation. Pareto was concerned to preserve individual utilities and argued that individual utilities were noncomparable. As a result, he argued that public policy sh. Pareto optimum . For example, in a social situation it may be possible to make both persons better off. In other situations, it may be possible to improve the situation of one party without hurting the other. A Pareto opt. imum is reached when there are no further possible improvements to the situation of one without harming the other party. There may be several Pareto optima, with each noncomparable with the other in terms of which is preferable for society, so that there. What Pareto. Recent Contributors. The names most associated with RCT are George Homans and Peter Blau, who examine social exchange and the benefits and costs of alternative courses of action. Their concerns parallel economic issues, but focus on social ra. Ritzer, p. A major theoretical work on RCT was published in 1. James Coleman (1. United States) just a few years before his death. Coleman was a sociologist who received his doctorate at Columbia University, working with Robert Merton and Seymour Mar. Lipset. He studied public policy and in the 1. Coleman Report. This advocated busing and other educational policies to improve equality of educational opportunity . In later years he concentrated on mathematical sociology and RCT, publishing The Foundations of Social Theory in 1. Coleman argued that sociologists should be concerned with the social settings in which social action occurs.
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