Social Action Theory

Social action theory (also known as interpretivism or interactionism) is a micro-level perspective that focuses on the meanings, motives, and interactions of individuals rather than on large-scale social structures. In contrast to functionalism and Marxism, which are structural ("top-down") theories, social action theory takes a "bottom-up" approach, arguing that society is created through the everyday interactions of individuals who actively construct social reality through the meanings they give to their actions.

Key Definition: Social action theory is a sociological perspective that emphasises the importance of understanding the subjective meanings that individuals attach to their actions. Society is not an external force that determines behaviour; rather, it is an ongoing accomplishment created through meaningful interaction.

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Max Weber (1864–1920)

Weber is the founding figure of social action theory. He argued that sociology must go beyond the positivist, structural approach of Durkheim and seek to understand the subjective meanings that individuals attach to their behaviour — a concept he called Verstehen (empathetic understanding).

Types of Social Action

Weber identified four ideal types of social action, each defined by the type of meaning or motivation behind it: