Ideal type (vs. real type)

From Geography

Ideal type (vs. real type)

The ideal types is a concept devised by Max Weber in his approach to social society. Ideal types are simplified models of social activities which are used in interpreting human behavior. The word ideal has no moral or evaluative meaning. An ideal type is not bad or good type of action. Ideal refers to the concept we have in our mind. Ideal types are extrapolations of selected aspects of action which we then use to understand the actual behavior (the real type of action). This means that some aspects are exaggerated in order to create a meaningful stereotype which can be used to explain behavior.

The ideal types are not generalizations themselves, but van be used to classify social phenomena and formulate probable causal connections which can be tested empirically. Ideal types make it possible to see connections between certain beliefs and values and other sociological facts. The ideal type is not a full representation of the action, but an selective oversimplification that enables us to understand the nature of this action.

In this concept we can also find the split between the pursuit of understanding and the objectives of causal explanation. The distinction between Understanding (‘Verstehen’/‘Begrijpen’) and Explanation (vs. Understanding). The ideal types are not objectives of causal explanation themselves, but create an understanding.

References

• Campbel, T. (1981). Seven Theories of Human Society. Clarendon Press: Oxfort.

Contributors

• page created by --SusanVerbeij 09:20, 27 September 2011 (UTC)