Rational Choice Theory: Resisting Colonization

Margaret Scotford Archer, Jonathan Q. Tritter

Psychology Press, 2000 - Social Science - 257 pages

Rational Choice Theory is flourishing in sociology and is increasingly influential in other disciplines. Contributors to this volume are convinced that it provides an inadequate conceptualization of all aspects of decision making: of the individuals who make the decisions, of the process by which decisions get made and of the context within which decisions get made.
The ciritique focuses on the four assumptions which are the bedrock of rational choice:
rationality: the theory's definition of rationality is incomplete, and cannot satisfactorily incorporate norms and emotions
individualism: rational choice is based upon atomistic, individual decision makers and cannot account for decisions made by;couples', 'groups' or other forms of collective action
process: the assumption of fixed, well-ordered preferences and 'perfect information' makes the theory inadequate for situations of change and uncertainty
aggregation: as methodological individualists, rational choice theorists can only view structure and culture as aggregates and cannot incorporate structural or cultural influences as emergent properties which have an effect upon decision making.
The critique is grounded in discussion of a wide range of social issues, including race, marriage, health and education.

Contents

• PART I: 5
• Rationality: 15
• Homo economicus Homo sociologicus and Homo sentiens: 36
• Is rational choice theory unreasonable? The neglected: 57
• social realism or rational: 75
• and constraint in decisions about marriage divorce: 93
• decisions by schools to opt out: 111
• Rational choice or Hobsons choice? Intention: 126
• approach to marriage decisions: 147
• the careers: 167
• The decision to commit a crime against humanity: 183
• rational choice: 200
• When the battles lost and won: 219

Bibliographic information

• Title: Rational Choice Theory: Resisting Colonization; Critical realism; Critical realism--interventions; Ontological Explorations
• Editors: Margaret Scotford Archer, Jonathan Q. Tritter
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Psychology Press, 2000
• ISBN: 041524272X, 9780415242721
• Length: 257 pages
• Subjects: Social Science / Methodology; Social Science / Sociology / General