Structuration theory
From Geography
The structuration theory is a theory by Antony Giddins. It expresses the idea that social reality is being continually (re)produced and structured in space and time by competent actors in their everyday praxis (Lippuner & Werlen, 2009). So society is made by human agency, and society create human agency. The basic assumption of structuration theory is that social sciences must not explore societes or social life in structural categories, but rather in concepts of action and institutionalized practices (Lippuner & Werlen, 2009).
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Creating structures
The theory could be seen as a reaction to the classic dualism between action and structure. It's a logical conceptual model of human action. When people act, the intention of the action is not important, people can only give direction to their actions as a reflexion to their actions. Individuals are aware of their actions, they know they change the world by their actions. They are also knowledgeable, people have the knowledge to know what to do, and how to do it(Jacobs, 1993).
An actor creates social life by his actions, but he has not totally control of it.When an individual wants to act, he has to be aware that he is in some way determined. An actor has to deal with a lot of factors, like space and time. They are seen as shaping factors of our acting. Social life is a creation by an actor, but not always the meant creation (Jacobs, 1993).
Dualism
When people´s actions become institionalised, social systems start to form. These structures are restricting actions. on the other hand, these structures are also make actions possible. For example: When there is a speedlimit for cars driving on the streets, it restrics drivers to drive fast. It also creates a way to drive safe.
References
- Lipuner, R. & Werlen, B. 2009. Structuration Theory, Elsevier Ltd
- Jacobs, D. 1993. Het structurisme als synthese van handelings- en systeemtheorie, Tijdschrift voor Sociologie, 14, 1993, pp. 335-360
Contributors
- Page created by Pieter van Luijk --PietervanLuijk - 18:38, 21 October 2012 (UTC)
- Page enhanced by Stef Tomesen --StefTomesen - 16:03, 24 October 2012 (UTC)
- Page added to Category 'Anthony Giddens' by Iris van der Wal - 16:39, October 25th 2012
