Structure, Agency and the Internal Conversation by Margaret S Archer

Structure, Agency and the Internal Conversation by Margaret S Archer

The central problem of social theory is 'structure and agency'. How do the objective features of society influence human agents? Determinism is not the answer, nor is conditioning as currently conceptualised. It accentuates the way structure and culture shape the social context in which individuals operate, but it neglects our personal capacity to define what we care about most and to establish a modus vivendi expressive of our concerns. Through inner dialogue, 'the internal conversation', individuals reflect upon their social situation in the light of current concerns and projects. On the basis of a series of unique, in-depth interviews, Archer identifies three distinctive forms of internal conversation. These govern agents' responses to social conditioning, their individual patterns of social mobility and whether or not they contribute to social stability or change. Thus the internal conversation is seen as being the missing link between society and the individual, structure and agency.

'… a richly rewarding book … Archer has given us, again, a good number of ideas to think with and about' Journal of Critical Realism

Margaret S. Archer is Professor of Sociology at the University of Warwick. An internationally respected social theorist, she was the first woman to become President of the International Sociological Association and is a former editor of Current Sociology. Previous publications include Culture and Agency (1988), Realist Social Theory (1995), Being Human: The Problem of Agency (2000).

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780521535977
ISBN 10	0521535972
Title	Structure, Agency and the Internal Conversation
Author	Margaret S Archer
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Year published	2003-08-28
Number of pages	384
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.