The document discusses the basic concepts and principles of rational choice theory, which believes that human behavior and social life can be explained by individuals making rational choices that maximize their self-interest. It explains how rational choice theory views decision making as involving weighing costs and benefits to determine the best alternative. The document also outlines some criticisms of rational choice theory, such as that it does not adequately account for social and moral factors that influence human behavior.
The document discusses the basic concepts and principles of rational choice theory, which believes that human behavior and social life can be explained by individuals making rational choices that maximize their self-interest. It explains how rational choice theory views decision making as involving weighing costs and benefits to determine the best alternative. The document also outlines some criticisms of rational choice theory, such as that it does not adequately account for social and moral factors that influence human behavior.
The document discusses the basic concepts and principles of rational choice theory, which believes that human behavior and social life can be explained by individuals making rational choices that maximize their self-interest. It explains how rational choice theory views decision making as involving weighing costs and benefits to determine the best alternative. The document also outlines some criticisms of rational choice theory, such as that it does not adequately account for social and moral factors that influence human behavior.
The document discusses the basic concepts and principles of rational choice theory, which believes that human behavior and social life can be explained by individuals making rational choices that maximize their self-interest. It explains how rational choice theory views decision making as involving weighing costs and benefits to determine the best alternative. The document also outlines some criticisms of rational choice theory, such as that it does not adequately account for social and moral factors that influence human behavior.
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The Basic Concepts and
Principles of Rational Choice You will analyze the basic concepts and principles of Rational Choice. Rational Choice. Specifically, this module will help you to • Understand the concepts and principles of Rational Choice; • Predict the social consequences of making decision and action;; and • Interpret personal and social experiences relating to rational choice Have you ever thought of how a person makes important decisions in life? What are the things that a person considers before making any decision in his/her person life? Rational choice theory will help you understand why a person takes certain life? Rational choice theory will help you understand why a person takes certain actions that way. The actions that way. The rational choice theory believes that the behavior and social of life of a person as a person as a whole can be formulated through the person’s rational choices. As you go on with the lesson, you will understand the basic concepts and As you go on with the lesson, you will understand the basic concepts and principles of rational choice theory. This will also guide you to predict social consequences of decision, and to help you interpret personal and help social experiences using rational choice. RATIONAL CHOICE The Rational Choice Theory or RCT emerged during behavioral revolution in American Political Science between 1950s and 1960s (Ward 2002). Positivists greatly influenced this theory greatly influenced this theory specifically August Comte (1798-1857) on his works (in the 19th century and the Vienna Circle of logical positivism in 1920s. Behaviorists follow the perspectives of positivism close to the natural explanation of empirical theory in which behaviorists consider the following: (1) observable behavior should be the concentration of analysis; and (2) any explanation of that behavior should be the concentration of analysis; and (3) any explanation of that behavior should be susceptible to empirical testing (Sanders empirical testing (Sanders, 2002). Rational Choice affirmed that the behavior and social life of a person as a whole can be explained through a person’s rational choices. This approach can be used to know why a person behaves or acts the way s/he does.The rational choice fundamental assumption is that an individual action is based on their conduct on logical process. They take action with reason when making choices. Their choices are intended for their pleasure or gain. In Rational Choice, social norms and moral considerations are not part of the human actions.. The human person nature is egocentric and primarily concerns to self-interest. Consciences or moral views are not part of conceptual attention. Anyhow, such thoughts would simply be understood as integrated into person’s inclinations, and not part of a multi-value communally shared complex. As a whole, matter of morality and ethical conduct have to be elevated and examined outside rational choice. However, human are moral beings; elevated and examined outside rational choice. Moral thoughts come into a person’s decision and courses of action. A person’s relations stimulate concepts of objectivity, righteousness and the human purpose relations stimulate concepts of objectivity, righteousness and the human purpose as foundations of moral obligation. An example of this is the adherence of a church group to other’s expectation of helping the poor and the homeless. MAKING DECISION AND ACTION Rational choice theory is the perspective that people act as they do, since they think that acting on their chosen human activity has much profit than costs. That is, a person does rational choices founded on their goals,, and those decisions determine their conduct. Several sociologists use rational choice theory to justify social change.. For them, social change happen because man have made rational choices. In Economics, opportunity cost corresponds the profits of an individual when choosing one’s best alternative over another.. Same thing can be applied when making “decisions based on scarcity” of resources.. The fact that many people wanted those things, made those things insufficient and they settled on the alternatives with the same or more value. In this situation, rational choice applied after an individual weighs the cost and benefits of those choices. On the other hand, Rational Choice Theory has been criticized for its On the other hand, Rational Choice Theory has been criticized for its enormously impractical conventions about human action.. The following are some of the critiques of RCT: (1) The element that social norms, linkages, institutions, and the processes of socialization influence how an individual makes choices and acts; (2) A person’s behavior is influenced in many aspects, situations or problems surrounding him/her. Also, the moral significances and discourses related with their characters and relations; (3) People follow norms of reciprocity, righteousness, and selflessness which explicitly developed their behavior; and (4) People are controlled by their culture, institutions, and roles so as to behave, think, and act the way he/she does. Activity 1.1. Symbolism ‘Objective: Understanding of the concepts and principles of rational choice.
Directions:
1. Think of something thing that may symbolize or show rational
choice.
2. Draw the symbol on a short bond paper and use available
coloring materials.
3.Write a short explanation about the symbol that you draw.
Activity 1.2. Think and Decide Activity : Objective: Predict the social consequences of making decision. Directions: 1.Put yourself in the given situations and think of your decisions based on the given options and its consequences. 2. Use a separate sheet of paper for your answer. Situations and Options Decision Consequences 1. You recently graduated in the Senior High school. Now, you are thinking High school. what course you are going to take in college. college. You have the following choices. What will you choose? Why? A. Take Education because you like children and your mother is also a teacher. B. Take Medicine because you dream of becoming a doctor but your parents cannot afford the finances. Situations and options Decision Consequences 2. You already graduated in BS Nursing and got your licensed. You are now ready to work. You have these options. What will you choose why? A. Work at a public hospital in the country to serve my fellowmen B. Work abroad for better salary Situation and Options Decision Consequences
3. You earned an exact
amount of money to buy your sister a cellphone for her birthday. You have the two options below. What will you choose? Why? A. Buy a brand-new Android phone. B. Buy second-hand iPhone. Activity 1.3 Just Essay Objective: Interpret personal and social experiences relating to rational choice. Directions: 1. Recall one important decision you have made in your life. 2.Write a short essay about it. 3.Use a separate sheet of paper for this activity.
