Human agency

From Geography

Human agency refers to the possibility for individuals to act out of free will. The term human agency originates from the shift of behaviourism to behaviouralism. During that shift it became known or at least thought that people do not only respond on stimuli in a universalistic way, but can also act differently, based on specific characteristics. This also refers to the discussion between determinism and indeterminism.

Agency Conceptualization of human activity emphasizing the capacity of an individual actor to control its own actions instead of being subjected to external forces and conditions.

Although agency is often seen as the opposite of structure, Werlen managed to create a compromis between the two. Acknowledging the existence of both, Werlen stated that both can be influenced by each other. Through human agency structures can be influenced and structures on its own turn influence human agency. So, while speaking also of structures, Werlen cannot be seen as follower of the structuration theory, because "Werlen rejects determinist or essentialist thinking" (Lippuner, 2010, p.462).

Sources

Lippuner, R. (2010). Benno Werlen as Key Thinker on Space and Place. Jena University

Lorenzo Goudsmits (0827991)

Lisanne Dols (0822701)