Understanding Schutz: A Comprehensive Guide to the Theory of Social Action

Introduction

Schutz's theory of social action is a rich and complex body of work that has had a profound impact on the field of sociology. Schutz argued that social action is not simply a matter of individual behavior, but rather a complex process that involves both the actor's own subjective experience and the social context in which that action takes place.

Key Concepts in Schutz's Theory

Schutz's theory of social action is based on a number of key concepts, including:

• The actor's subjective experience: Schutz argued that the starting point for any understanding of social action is the actor's own subjective experience. This includes the actor's thoughts, feelings, and intentions.
• The social context: Schutz also emphasized the importance of the social context in which social action takes place. This includes the norms, values, and beliefs that shape the actor's behavior.
• The intersubjective relationship: Schutz argued that social action is always a relationship between two or more people. In this relationship, the actors must come to a shared understanding of the situation in order to act together.

Methods of Schutz's Inquiry

Schutz proposed three methods of inquiry to investigate the phenomenon of social action:

1. Understanding Interpretation: This method involves understanding the meaning of an action from the actor's own perspective.
2. In-Order-To Motive Understanding: This method seeks to understand why an actor performs an action by identifying the purpose or goal of the action.
3. Generative Description: This method aims to describe the general types of actions that make up our everyday lives.

The Importance of Schutz's Theory

Schutz's theory of social action has been influential in a wide range of disciplines, including sociology, anthropology, and psychology. His work has helped to shape our understanding of how people interact with each other and how society is created and maintained.

Applications of Schutz's Theory

Schutz's theory of social action has been used in a variety of applied settings, including:

• Social psychology: Schutz's theory has been used to study a wide range of social psychological phenomena, such as prejudice, conformity, and obedience.
• Organizational behavior: Schutz's theory has been used to study how people interact within organizations and how organizations can be made more effective.
• Public policy: Schutz's theory has been used to inform public policy decisions, such as those related to crime, education, and healthcare.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When using Schutz's theory of social action, it is important to avoid a number of common mistakes. These mistakes include:

• Reifying social action: Schutz argued that social action is not a thing, but rather a process. It is important to avoid reifying social action by treating it as a concrete entity.
• Ignoring the actor's subjective experience: Schutz emphasized the importance of the actor's subjective experience in understanding social action. It is important to avoid ignoring the actor's subjective experience by focusing solely on the objective aspects of the situation.
• Overgeneralizing Schutz's theory: Schutz's theory is a complex and nuanced body of work. It is important to avoid overgeneralizing Schutz's theory by applying it to situations that it is not intended to explain.

Conclusion

Schutz's theory of social action is a valuable tool for understanding the complex phenomenon of human behavior. By taking into account the actor's subjective experience, the social context, and the intersubjective relationship, Schutz's theory provides a rich and nuanced understanding of how people interact with each other and how society is created and maintained.

Additional Resources

• Schutz's Theory of Social Action
• The Collected Papers of Alfred Schutz
• Alfred Schutz: An Intellectual Biography

Stories and Lessons

Story 1: A student is struggling to understand a difficult concept in class. The student seeks help from the professor, who explains the concept in a way that the student can understand. The student is grateful for the professor's help and is able to move on to the next lesson with a better understanding of the material.

Lesson: Schutz's theory of social action teaches us that social action is a relationship between two or more people. In this case, the relationship between the student and the professor is a cooperative one, in which both parties are working together to achieve a common goal.

Story 2: A group of friends is planning a trip to the beach. They decide to go to a beach that is known for its beautiful scenery and clear water. However, when they arrive at the beach, they are disappointed to find that it is crowded and polluted.

Lesson: Schutz's theory of social action teaches us that the social context in which an action takes place can have a significant impact on the outcome of that action. In this case, the social context of the beach (i.e., the fact that it was crowded and polluted) had a negative impact on the friends' trip.

Story 3: A company is struggling to increase its sales. The company hires a consultant to help them develop a new marketing strategy. The consultant helps the company to identify its target market and to develop a marketing campaign that is tailored to that market. As a result of the new marketing campaign, the company's sales increase significantly.

Lesson: Schutz's theory of social action teaches us that social action can be used to achieve a variety of goals. In this case, the company used social action (i.e., the development and implementation of a new marketing strategy) to achieve its goal of increasing sales.

Effective Strategies

Schutz's theory of social action can be used to develop effective strategies for a variety of purposes. These strategies include:

• Communication: Schutz's theory can be used to develop effective communication strategies by helping us to understand how people interpret and respond to messages.
• Negotiation: Schutz's theory can be used to develop effective negotiation strategies by helping us to understand how to build rapport and create a cooperative atmosphere.
• Leadership: Schutz's theory can be used to develop effective leadership strategies by helping us to understand how to motivate and inspire others.

Tables

Table 1: Schutz's Key Concepts

Table 2: Methods of Schutz's Inquiry

Table 3: Applications of Schutz's Theory