LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Rational Choice Theory: Sociology
built 605 days ago
Rational choice theory emphasizes the role of enlightened self-interest in individual decision-making. In many ways, this is a pre-sociological theory, deriving from behaviorism in psychology and the homo economicus model in economics. People are viewed as adding up the benefits and costs of various courses of action. Early academic sociologists, like Durkheim in France, were concerned to show the ways in which important areas of human behavior depart from these rational assumptions. Rational choice theory had a revival in sociology in the early 1960s, under the heading of exchange theory, and by the end of the decade was having a renewed influence in criminology, first as control theory and later as routine activities theory.
Source:
"Rational choice theory" actually consists of a set of theories, usually but not always mathematical, that investigate the ways that actions taken by rational individual decision-makers can interact in often surprising ways to generate stable aggregate outcomes. The aims of the workshop are to impart the basic techniques of rational choice modeling and to explore the intuitive and theoretical issues that motivate and limit any use of those techniques. The workshop especially is concerned with matters of interpretation and empirical testing, and with the problem of determining just what any particular class of rational choice theory tells us about the social and political world and how it purports to do so. Topics include models of voting, bargaining, collective action, social norms, institutions, and even culture. Readings are drawn from economics, political science, sociology, and anthropology. Class format throughout combines lecture and discussion, but the balance shifts from the former to the latter as the session progresses. Although the workshop does not presuppose familiarity with either game theory or the mathematics needed to solve game-theoretic problems, some prior knowledge of those topics will be an advantage.
Source:
Rational choice theory... known as [R]ational action theory, is a framework for understanding and often formally modeling social and economic behavior. It is the dominant theoretical paradigm in microeconomics. It is also central to modern political science and is used by scholars in other disciplines such as sociology. The 'rationality' described by rational choice theory is different from the colloquial and most philosophical uses of rationality. Although models of rational choice are diverse, all assume individuals choose the best action according to stable preference functions and constraints facing them. Most models have additional assumptions.
Source:
Rational choice theory has gained considerable influence in politics and sociology over the past thirty years. The use of rational choice methods has proliferated in all areas of social inquiry. From the early days as formal proofs and unrealistic assumptions, rational choice is increasingly being used to model authentic situations and institutions.
Source:
The purpose of the Section on Rational Choice is to encourage and enhance research and teaching about the uses and limits of rational choice theory in sociology. The Section seeks to promote communication, collaboration and consultation among scholars in sociology and in allied social science disciplines.
Source:
In combination, these essays may signal a shift in the relati onship between traditional and rational-choice theory in sociology. Even those who are most critical of rational-choice avoid the hysterical attacks that have all too often marred debates on this issue. To their credit, all of the essays focus on the central issues of explanatory power and scope. What are now needed are further discussions that frankly acknowledge both the equivalences and the disparities between traditional and rational-choice sociology.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Sociology