The Structure and Agency Debate - 987 Words

Introduction The structure and agency debate is a common one in the field of sociology and different theorists come up with different ways of accounting for the actions of social actors. This essay takes the position that structuration solves the problem of this much contested debate. Initially key concepts and elements of structuration will be pointed out .These elements include structure, agency, social systems and power amongst many others. Subsequently, there will be engagement of a discussion of different schools of thought and finally it will be demonstrated how structuration prevails over the structure-agency debate. Socialization Socialization is an ongoing process in which individuals obtains a personal identity, learns norms, values and behaviour appropriate to his/her position. People constantly require approval of the things they do, they continually seek to be socially competent and to be accepted by those around them. It is human nature to want to be similar from others in order to be accepted in a certain social spheres but at the same time wanting to be different and unique. There are primary and secondary agents of socialization. The primary agents are those that are basic and fundamental to social beings, these include family and friends from which we learn behaviour at young age; they transmit norms and values to us. The secondary agents are those that are more external to us than family such as social institutions/organisations, these include schools,Show MoreRelatedStructure-Agency Debate: The Dirty Work of Democracy by by Antony Atlebeker900 Words   |  4 PagesThis essay will be focusing on the structure-agency debate and the application of this debate to the sociological reading The Dirty Work of Democracy: a year on the streets with the SAPS (2005) by Antony Atlebeker. This easy will demonstrate how the structure-agency debate can help explain Captain Louis De Kosters attitudes towards police work and his actions. The argument I will be putting forward is in support of Anthony Giddens’ Structuration Theory (1984). I will prove this argument by referringRead MoreAgency And Structure And The Formation Of Human Behavior1142 Words   |  5 PagesAgency and structure are central problems in Social Theory; as individuals seek to comprehend the nature of social life and organization. Within the social sciences exists the debate over the primacy of structure or agency in the formation of human behaviour. Are individuals within a society in control of their behaviour or is their behaviour being unconsciously influenced by social circumstances. The distinction betw een both is inherent in the development of sociology. Agency is the ability individualsRead MoreThe Hierarchy Of Structure And Agency888 Words   |  4 PagesThere is a constant debate about the primacy of structure or agency in forming human behavior in the social science. Carlsnaes (as cited in Hay, 1995) claimed that â€Å"the problem of structure and agency is †¦ the central problem of social and political theory†. Radically, the agency-structure problem is an ontological problem which is related to the nature of structures, agents and their correlations (Wight, 2003). There are four influential positions in the structure-agency debate: structuralism, intentionalismRead MoreThe Undeserving and Deserving Poor Structure1065 Words   |  5 PagesHaving only recently permeated the public and political lexicon, there are few debates that evoke such passion as that of the underclass. Karl Marx tabled the idea of the lumpen proletariat, yet in the modern era, the concept did not take hold in Britain until 1989. Today, the debate focuses on whether frictional forces create a continuum of inequality, or whether a defined underclass does exist. The question asks if poor people belong in a separate underclass, which is a vague definition. ThereRead More Structure and Agency Essay1537 Words   |  7 PagesStructure and agency are two theoretical terms used to explain the capacity at which we as people are able to be individuals, and to what extent those influences limit our individuality. Structure refers to the ways in which a society is organized. Agency refers to the behaviors and actions of the individuals within the social structure. Agency is limited by the structure due to cultural barriers and inequalities within the structure. In this essay, I will present an overview of why critical theoristsRead MoreThe Theory Of Social Space1352 Words   |  6 Pageshabitus, exists outside the minds of actors. The field is formally defined as a network of relations among the objective positions within it. The occupants of these positions may be either agents or institutions and they are both constrained by the structure of the field (Ritzer, 2004). Economic capital, which relates the economy of the state, and cultural capital, which involves various kinds of acceptable knowledge are two principles of differentiation which determine social space classificationsRead MoreThe Role Of Media And Its Effects On Society778 Words   |  4 PagesStructural constraint is regulation that limits agency (Intentional undetermined human action, what you might or might not do). For example heterosexual couples and their children is periodic pattern in social world. Human agency yields human structure because it is reliant on society satisfying their roles in order to continue their old-style family structure/ education system. Associations between institutions on how non-media social structures (government/economy) affect media industry and viceR ead MoreStructural Constraint Is Regulation That Limits Agency ( Intentional Undetermined Human Action, What You Might Or Might773 Words   |  4 PagesStructural constraint is regulation that limits agency (Intentional undetermined human action, what you might or might not do). For example heterosexual couples and their children is recurring pattern in social world. Human agency produces human structure because it is dependent on society fulfilling their roles in order to continue their traditional family structure/ education system. Relationships between institutions on how non-media social structures (government/economy) affect media industry andRead MoreThe Issue Of Providing Mental Health Services For Veterans Essay1252 Words   |  6 Pages As witnessed in multiple studies, there are debates to which therapies are best for the veteran suffering from a co-occurring disorder. But after researching integrated treatment and understanding that the client and his/her overall health and or wellness is the overall focus those debates become irrelevant since you have to meet each individual where they are at on a case by case basis. While combing through multiple studies I noticed the debate of CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy) versus CBTRead MoreCreating A New Cyber Force1182 Words   |  5 Pagesconflict. With land, sea, air and space in the background, warfare has entered a fifth domain: cyber. In this position paper, using a pro and con format, the debate on whether or not the Department of Defense (DoD) should create a new, independent branch for cyber will be discussed. To do this, the following will examine both sides of debate by highlighting two main points: the elimination of duplication of effort and the intens ive resources required to make the transition. Finally, a look into