{"title":"SOCIOLOGICAL RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY","authors":"Michael Hechter, S. Kanazawa","doi":"10.1146/ANNUREV.SOC.23.1.191","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/ANNUREV.SOC.23.1.191","url":null,"abstract":"Although rational choice theory has made considerable advances in other social sciences, its progress in sociology has been limited. Some sociologists' reservations about rational choice arise from a misunderstanding of the theory. The first part of this essay therefore introduces rational choice as a general theoretical perspective, or family of theories, which explains social outcomes by constructing models of individual action and social context. “Thin” models of individual action are mute about actors' motivations, while “thick” models specify them ex ante. Other sociologists' reservations, however, stem from doubts about the empirical adequacy of rational choice explanations. To this end, the bulk of the essay reviews a sample of recent studies that provide empirical support for particular rational choice explanations in a broad spectrum of substantive areas in sociology. Particular attention is paid to studies on the family, gender, and religion, for these subareas often are considered least amenabl...","PeriodicalId":305407,"journal":{"name":"Rational Choice Sociology","volume":"16 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1997-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126847926","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Group Formation and the Cultural Division of Labour","authors":"Michael Hechter","doi":"10.4337/9781789903256.00011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4337/9781789903256.00011","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":305407,"journal":{"name":"Rational Choice Sociology","volume":"61 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115896556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Grievances and the Genesis of Rebellion: Mutiny in the Royal Navy, 1740 to 1820","authors":"Michael Hechter, Steven Pfaff, P. Underwood","doi":"10.4337/9781789903256.00014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4337/9781789903256.00014","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":305407,"journal":{"name":"Rational Choice Sociology","volume":"104 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124745000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Theory of the State and of Social Order","authors":"Sun-Ki Chai, Michael Hechter","doi":"10.4337/9781789903256.00019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4337/9781789903256.00019","url":null,"abstract":"The problem of order is addressed by considering the crucial role that social groups play in mediating between individuals and the state. We argue that existing individualistic models of anarchic order cannot account for order in large societies, while state-centered models cannot explain the state's origins. The origin of the state can best be explained as the result of interactions within and between highly solidary social groups. Accordingly, we discuss the bases of group solidarity, focusing on the costs of maintaining compliance via monitoring and sanctioning. We examine the relationship between member dependence and solidarity, as well as the conditions for coercive solidarity. Then we explore the implications of group solidarity for the attainment of social order. Highly solidary groups permit the creation and maintenance of social order by using their control institututions to enforce member compliance at a lower cost than the state can. These groups can be considered to be unitary actors at the societal level of analysis. The attainment of group solidarity and social order are viewed as isomorphic processes. Social order is shown to be an outcome of multiple nested layers of group solidarity, with the optimal size and span of nested groups varying from society to society.","PeriodicalId":305407,"journal":{"name":"Rational Choice Sociology","volume":"28 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124854087","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"SOCIAL ORDER","authors":"Sunday Mboho","doi":"10.4337/9781789903256.00016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4337/9781789903256.00016","url":null,"abstract":"Social order must be a matter for empirical investigation. It is obvious that each of the above stated old philosophical views has its own grain of truth inherent in it, for each comes near to describing what is observed in some societies, or part of societies, of different styles, at different periods of history, in particular situations or circumstances. But to consider each as a “theory” of social order of universal validity, is to put it mildly unrealistic or absurd. To escape from this unrealistic approach which pervades some sociological discussion of social order it is pertinent to remember that social harmony is very often not achieved, and that social order and disorder are very much relative term, it observe that the actual state of relative order to disorder in a particular society or part of society is the outcome of complex forces of dependence and interdependence, of cooperation and conflict, of strength and weakness, of alliance and cleavage between people and groups. This paper therefore, examines the emergence of social order within the context of challenges and prospects in Nigeria in general and North West Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State in particular. The study adopted qualitative research and documentary method of data collection. It revealed that, social challenges that plague the state and mitigate development, here are top lists as poverty, corruption, inequality, high child mortality rate, poor standard of education, cultism, theft, and arm robbery attacks. It recommended among others, that the government and individuals should be preoccupied with creating jobs for the teeming population of jobs seekers; the legal system should be made to punish corruption and domestic violence accordingly to serve as a deterrent to others.","PeriodicalId":305407,"journal":{"name":"Rational Choice Sociology","volume":"63 12 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116445670","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"From Class to Culture","authors":"Michael Hechter","doi":"10.4337/9781789903256.00013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4337/9781789903256.00013","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":305407,"journal":{"name":"Rational Choice Sociology","volume":"135 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125810920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}