SOCIAL ACTION & INTERACTION

PRESENTED BY :SABINA
ROLL NO: 18167026
SUBJECT: SOCIOLOGY
SUBMITTED TO: DR. SHAHAB UDDIN

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Contents:
 Social Action
• Definition
• Basic elements of Social action
• Types
• Examples of social action
 Social Interaction
• Definition
• Elements
• Types
• Examples
• Forms
• Measurement

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Social Action:
Introduction:
Max weber defined sociology as the science of social
action
Any action in relation to other social action.
• The social action is such an attempt in which one or
more persons participate belonging to some social
system.

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 Definition:
Action is social when the actor behaves in such a manner
that his action is intended to influence the action of one or
more other persons.
• Social action can be done by one or more persons
• Social action influences others
• Social action is performed in face of some social
situation
• Social action has its relationship with some social
system in the way that the actors are interdependent
upon one another.

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 Elements of Social Action:
1. The actor:
It is that individual who perform an act. The actor can be
one or more persons.
2. The goal:
It is the aim or objective for which the action was done.
Without goal , an action is futile and baseless.
3. Social situation:
The actor perform his role in presence of some social
situation. While a social situation is continuously occuring group
event spread in space and time. The social situation instigates
the actor to action. To control the situation he does an act.
Therefore, a social situation is an agent of social action. Social
situation has two types- controllable and uncontrollable.

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4. Normative orientation:
The social action is performed on some social
pattern, custom. All these forms are called norms of
society. The pattern on which the social action is done
is called norm.
5. Energy:
A social action request energy for its performance.
Physical energy and training are essential for an act.

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Types of Social Action:

1. Traditional Social Actions

2. Affective Social Action
3. Value Rational Social Actions
4. Instrumental Rational Actions

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1. Traditional Social Actions

• Actions controlled by the traditions

• Logical oriented is not counted
• It occurs when the ends and means of social action are
fixed by custom and tradition
• The established patterns of behavior in terms of customs,
rituals, conventions and beliefs are adopted
• In such actions, cultural values play important roles
because they are diverted towards such values.

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2. Affective social actions
• Action determined by one’s specific affections and
emotional state, you do not think about the
consequences
• Here the feelings of the people are considered
• Such actions are neither rational nor traditional
• Such actions are unplanned
• It is done according to the feelings of an effect upon the
actor.

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3. Value Rational Social Actions

• Action that is determined by a conscious belief in the

inherent value of a type of behavior
• It occurs when individuals use effective means to
achieve goals set by their values
• Such action is done for the pursuit of a value of highest
dignity
• Service of humanity is general value.

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4. Instrumental Social Action

• Action that is carried out to achieve a certain goal, you

do something because it leads to result
• It means that for the achievement of an individual
objective, the logic of cause and effect is applied
• Without cause an aim can not be attained
• The logic that every event has its cause is the main
idea
• Such actions have ends and objective for the individual

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Examples of Social Action:
• When the passengers collectively push the bus to get it
started it is called social action.
• A big long needs number of person for its removal from
one place to another. The persons applying force
collectively perform social action
• The people build a dam around a village to save it from
floods. This collective effort of the people is called social
action.
• A leader of a village gets the people motivated towards
building a mosque. The people collect contribution. This
is social action
• The farmer help on another in farming

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• You help a needy students in his studies, it is also an
social action.
• You help the patient
• A teacher teaching his students in class is doing social
action.
• Delivering speech, raising slogans, leading a
procession and holding out banners are all social
action.

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Social Interaction:

Introduction:
It is a social process between two or more than two
persons. It is always reciprocal in nature. It can be called a
stimulus-response conditioning among the individuals. It is
like a bandied ball against a wall.

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Definition:

Dawson & Gettyes

It is a process by which men inter-penetrate the minds of
each other
Merrill
Social interaction is the general process whereby two or
more persons are in a meaningful contact, as a result of which
their behavior is modified however slightly.
Corkiness
Social interaction is a social event which changes the
behavior and attitude of the interacting persons. It is a social
relationship among at least two persons. It changes the social
conditions of life of the people. Interaction is the soul of social
life. It produces group which is the foundation stone of society.

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 Elements of Social Interaction
• Two or more then two persons.
• Reciprocal relationship amongst them
• Influence on the event. Behavior, brain of the persons
These three conditions interrelate the people,
among themselves and convert them into social groups.

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Types of Social Interaction

1. Direct or physical interaction:

Beating , biting, pulling, pushing
2. Symbolic Interaction:
Telephone, Telegraph, SMS, whatsapp, video calling

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Forms of Social Interaction
1. Between individual and individual
2. Between individual and group
3. Between group and group
4. Between individual and culture

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Measurement of Social Interaction:

1. Frequency
2. Duration
3. Intensity
4. Focus

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References:
https://www.slideshare.net/LiaqatHussainSoomro/chapter-4-
lecture-5-6-social-action-interactiion

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