Max Weber: Social Action Theory

Who was Weber?

One of the ‘founding fathers‘ of sociology. He saw both structural and action approaches as necessary for a full understanding of human behaviour.

What did Weber argue?

That an adequate sociological explanation involves two levels:

• The level of cause - explaining the objective structural factors that shape people’s behaviour.

• The level of meaning - understand the subjective meanings that individuals attach to their actions.

Unless we account for both of these levels, our explanation will be incomplete or false.

As there are an infinite number of subjective meanings that actors may give to their actions, what does Weber attempt to do?

Classify actions into four types, based on their meaning for the actor.

What are the four actions as identified by Weber?

• Instrumentally rational action.

• Value-rational action.

• Traditional action.

• Affectual action.

What is instrumentally rational action?

Instrumentally rational action is where the actor calculates the most efficient means of achieving a given goal. For example, a capitalist may calculate that the most efficient way of maximising profit is to pay low wages. This action is not about whether the goal itself is desirable - for example, the goal could be distributing charity or committing genocide. Rational action is simply about the most efficient way of reaching that goal, whatever it may be.

What is value-rational action?

Value-rational action involves action towards a goal that the actor regards as desirable for its own sake - for example, a believer worshipping their god in order to get to heaven.

Unlike instrumental rationality, there is no way of calculating whether the means of achieving the goal are effective.

What is traditional action?

Traditional action involves customary, routine or habitual actions. Weber does not see this type of action as rational, because no conscious thought or choice has gone into it.

Rather, the actor does it because 'we have always done it'.

What is affectual action?

Affectual action is action that expresses emotion - for example, weeping out of grief, or violence sparked by anger. Weber sees affectual action as important in religious and political movements with charismatic leaders who attract a following based on their emotional appeal.

What are Weber’s ideas a valuable corrective to?

The over-emphasis on structural factors that we see in functionalism and many forms of Marxism, and an affirmation that we must also understand actors’ subjective meanings if we want to explain their actions adequately.

What does Schutz argue against Weber?

That Weber’s views view of action is too individualistic and cannot explain the shared nature of meanings.For example, when a person at an auction raises their arm, they mean that they are making a bid but Weber doesn't explain how everyone else present also comes to give this gesture the same meaning.

What are some other criticisms against Weber?

• Weber's typology of action is difficult to apply. For example, among the Trobriand Islanders, individuals exchange ritual gifts called 'kula' with others on neighbouring islands. This could either be seen as traditional action (it has been practised in the same way for generations) - or it could be seen as instrumentally rational action (because it is a good way of cementing trading links between kula partners).

• Weber advocated the use of verstehen or empathetic understanding of the actor's subjective meaning - where we put ourselves in the actor's place to understand their motives and meanings. However, as we cannot actually be that other person, we can never be sure we have truly understood their motives.