Behavior vs. action

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"''Behavior is the range of actions and mannerisms made by organisms, systems, or artificial entities in conjunction with their environment, which includes the other systems or organisms around as well as the physical environment. It is the response of the system or organism to various stimuli or inputs, whether internal or external, conscious or subconscious, overt or covert, and voluntary or involuntary.''" (''see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavior '')
"''Behavior is the range of actions and mannerisms made by organisms, systems, or artificial entities in conjunction with their environment, which includes the other systems or organisms around as well as the physical environment. It is the response of the system or organism to various stimuli or inputs, whether internal or external, conscious or subconscious, overt or covert, and voluntary or involuntary.''" (''see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavior '')
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According to Campbells literature, behavior is a kind of 'reflex', a response to what happens. So behavior requires a stimulus(p. 173).
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Also [[Max Weber]] sees 'behavior' as a purely mechanical bodily movement: it is without intentions and has no special meaning to the individual. It is an automatic reaction to a specific impuls.
'''Action'''
'''Action'''
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"''In sociology, social action refers to an act which takes into account the actions and reactions of individuals (or 'agents').''" (''see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_actions '') But Max Weber explains immediately the difference between 'action' and 'social action': ''an Action is 'social' if the acting individual takes account of the behavior of others and is thereby oriented in its course''.(Secher 1962)
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"''In sociology, social action refers to an act which takes into account the actions and reactions of individuals (or 'agents').''" (''see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_actions '')
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Campbell writes in his book 'Seven Theories of Human Society': action is an activity with intentions, which requires awareness (consciousness) of the actor. (p. 178)
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'''Difference between behavior and action'''
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But [[Alfred Schütz]] explains 'action' al little different: action is a constant stream or flow of movements. It's not a brief thing, it's a process.
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Behaviour is a purely mechanical bodily movement, it is without intentions and has no special meaning to the individual. For instance it is an automatic reaction to a specific impuls. Action on the other hand involves awareness of the individual, who purposefully acts in a certain way because of the motives and feelings he or she experiences
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Max Weber describes 'action' slightly different from Schütz. He immediately explains the difference between 'action' and 'social action': ''an action is 'social' when the acting individual takes the behavior of others into account and is thereby oriented in its course''.(Secher 1962)
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Weber finds 'action' an interesting and important concept within Sociology. He was a one of the main thinkers of [[action theory]] and explains the word 'action' as such: [[Action]] is an activity which involves awareness of the individual, who purposefully acts in a certain way because of the motives and feelings he or she experiences.
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Also [[Benno Werlen]] pays much attention to the word 'action'. He explains that an act is a completed goal-oriented activity. Werlen also says that especially Behavioral Geography should have this fundamental concept 'action' as starting point instead of the word 'space'.
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'''Links'''
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'''Difference between behavior and action'''
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* [[Max Weber]]
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Finally, the difference between action and behavior is as following: 'action' is a conscious activity (or series of activities) which has (or have) a subjective meaning or goal for the environment (and person(s)) involved.
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* [[Alfred Schütz]]
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When actions are the result of an unintentionally reaction, and when these actions have no meaning, goals or needs at all, these are described as 'behavior'.
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* [[Social action]]
 
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* [[Action]]
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'''Links'''
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* [[Social action]]
* [[Action theory]]
* [[Action theory]]
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* Campbell, T. (1981) ''Seven Theories of Human Society.'' Clarendon Press, Oxford. Chapter 8: Max Weber: An Action Theory. Chapter 9: Alfred Schütz: A phenomenological Approach.
* Campbell, T. (1981) ''Seven Theories of Human Society.'' Clarendon Press, Oxford. Chapter 8: Max Weber: An Action Theory. Chapter 9: Alfred Schütz: A phenomenological Approach.
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* Unknow author (2012). ''Behavior''. Consulted at 24th of October 2012 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavior
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* Unknown author (2012). ''Social Actions''. Consulted at 24th of October 2012 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_actions

Latest revision as of 14:16, 24 October 2012

Behavior

"Behavior is the range of actions and mannerisms made by organisms, systems, or artificial entities in conjunction with their environment, which includes the other systems or organisms around as well as the physical environment. It is the response of the system or organism to various stimuli or inputs, whether internal or external, conscious or subconscious, overt or covert, and voluntary or involuntary." (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavior )

According to Campbells literature, behavior is a kind of 'reflex', a response to what happens. So behavior requires a stimulus(p. 173).

Also Max Weber sees 'behavior' as a purely mechanical bodily movement: it is without intentions and has no special meaning to the individual. It is an automatic reaction to a specific impuls.


Action

"In sociology, social action refers to an act which takes into account the actions and reactions of individuals (or 'agents')." (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_actions )

Campbell writes in his book 'Seven Theories of Human Society': action is an activity with intentions, which requires awareness (consciousness) of the actor. (p. 178)

But Alfred Schütz explains 'action' al little different: action is a constant stream or flow of movements. It's not a brief thing, it's a process.

Max Weber describes 'action' slightly different from Schütz. He immediately explains the difference between 'action' and 'social action': an action is 'social' when the acting individual takes the behavior of others into account and is thereby oriented in its course.(Secher 1962) Weber finds 'action' an interesting and important concept within Sociology. He was a one of the main thinkers of action theory and explains the word 'action' as such: Action is an activity which involves awareness of the individual, who purposefully acts in a certain way because of the motives and feelings he or she experiences.

Also Benno Werlen pays much attention to the word 'action'. He explains that an act is a completed goal-oriented activity. Werlen also says that especially Behavioral Geography should have this fundamental concept 'action' as starting point instead of the word 'space'.


Difference between behavior and action

Finally, the difference between action and behavior is as following: 'action' is a conscious activity (or series of activities) which has (or have) a subjective meaning or goal for the environment (and person(s)) involved.

When actions are the result of an unintentionally reaction, and when these actions have no meaning, goals or needs at all, these are described as 'behavior'.


Links


References

  • Campbell, T. (1981) Seven Theories of Human Society. Clarendon Press, Oxford. Chapter 8: Max Weber: An Action Theory. Chapter 9: Alfred Schütz: A phenomenological Approach.


Contributors

  • Page created by Iris van der Wal - 14:40, October 24th 2012
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