Definitions of Social Action
Generally social action is an individual or group behavior that involves interaction with other individuals or groups, especially organized action toward social reform. Some definition is to be given below that help to better understand the social action.
Max Weber defines social action: action is social in so far as by virtue of the subjective meaning attached to it by acting individual it takes account of the behavior of others and is thereby oriented in its course. It includes all human behavior when and in so far as the acting individual attaches a subjective meaning to it.
According to Talcott Parsons "A social action is a process in the actor-situation system which has motivational significance to the individual actor or in the case of collectivity, its component individuals".
According to Max Weber, "An Action is 'social' if the acting individual takes account of the behavior of others and is thereby oriented in its course".
According to Talcott Parsons "A social action is a process in the actor-situation system which has motivational significance to the individual actor or in the case of collectivity, its component individuals".
According to Max Weber, "An Action is 'social' if the acting individual takes account of the behavior of others and is thereby oriented in its course".
Characteristics of social action
1. It has motivational significance
2. It has some aspects
3. It is a process in the actor-situation
4. Social action is not isolated
5. Has a meaningful understanding
So from the above definition we can say that social action refers to an act which takes into account the actions and reactions of individuals
2. It has some aspects
3. It is a process in the actor-situation
4. Social action is not isolated
5. Has a meaningful understanding
So from the above definition we can say that social action refers to an act which takes into account the actions and reactions of individuals
Types of Social Action
According to Max Weber social action like other social forms of action may be classified in the following four types
- Rational Action: In terms of rational orientation to a system of discrete individual ends that is through expectations as to the behavior of objects in the external situation and of other human individuals making use of these expectations as conditions or means for the successful attainment of the actor’s own rationally chosen ends.
- Evaluative Actions: In terms of rational orientation to an absolute value; involving a conscious belief in the absolute value of some ethical, aesthetic, religious or other form of behavior entirely for its own sake and independently of any prospects of external success.
- Emotional Actions: In terms of effectual orientation especially emotional determined by the specific affects and state of feeling of the actors.
- Traditional Actions: Traditionally oriented through the habituation of long practice.