Affective action
From Geography
Affective or emotional action one of the four ideal types of human action which Max Weber distinguishes in his theory of man. The other three types he distinguishes, are: goal rational action (goal rationality), value rational action and traditional action. Campbell (1981) describes affective action as follows: "(...) behaviour which is under the direct domination of feelings. Here there is no conscious formulation of values or rational calculation of appropriate means. It is purely emotional conduct and hence non-rational"(p.177).
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Geographical example
A geographical example of affective action is a man who likes to live at a certain place because it feels good to stay there, although in another place the opportunities (e.g. for earning money, job opportunities) are much better. In this case, he makes the unrational and emotional desicion to live at a certain place, although there is another 'rationally better' place.
Overlapping types of action
It is important to note that the different forms of action distinguished by Weber never demonstrate themselves in their pure form. This is why they are called ideal types of action. The overlap between different kinds of action, in this case affective and traditional action, manifests in the geographical example which is outlined above. See the traditional action page for a further explanation.
References
Campbell, T. (1981. Seven Theories of Human Society. Clarendon Press, Oxford. Chapter 8: Max Weber: An Action Theory. pp.169-189
Contributors
Page created by --JikkeVanTHof 12:46, 29 September 2011 (UTC)
