Human Agency in Sociology

• These notes cover human agency, the sociological imagination, frame alignment, and the Filipino concept of Kapwa, along with altruism

Definition of Human Agency

• The ability to intentionally influence one's life and surroundings

Types of Human Agency

• Individual (Personal) Agency: Acting independently to achieve goals, like studying hard for an exam
• Proxy Agency: Relying on others to act on one's behalf, like a student seeking help from a tutor
• Collective Agency: A group working together for a common goal, such as a community clean-up

Growing Importance of Collective Agency

• Teamwork and collaboration are crucial in today's interconnected world
• Addressing climate change requires global cooperation

Features of Human Agency

• Intentionality: Setting goals and taking action
• Forethought: Anticipating consequences and planning
• Self-Regulation: Controlling actions and emotions
• Self-Reflectiveness: Evaluating abilities and making improvements

Modes of Human Agency

• Personal agency refers to individual actions to achieve goals, using skills and knowledge
• Proxy agency involves relying on others, especially when lacking direct control
• Collective agency requires a group working together toward a shared goal, dependent on the members' confidence

Social Cognitive Theory and Fortuitous Events

• Fortuitous events and chance encounters can significantly influence life
• How a person responds to random events depends on their characteristics, behavior, and environment (Reciprocal Determinism)
• Self-efficacy, or the belief in one's ability to adapt, affects long-term outcomes
• Human agency has potential to capitalize on events through actions and decisions

Summary of Human Agency

• It allows individuals to influence their lives through individual, proxy, or collective efforts

Features of Agency

• They include intentionality, forethought, self-regulation, and self-reflectiveness

Sociological Imagination

• It can help individuals understand personal experiences within the context of history and society
• People often feel trapped due to a lack of connection between private struggles and broader social forces

Focus of the Sociological Imagination

• Recognizing links between personal troubles and public issues
• Analyzing society as a whole, considering its structure and historical development
• Understanding how different groups are shaped by their time and society

Modern Life

• Characterized by rapid change and uncertainty which may make if difficult for people to find meaning

Role of the Social Analyst

• To examine links between personal experiences and historical/societal forces
• Requires questioning societal structures and how they shape individuals

Critical Analysis of Sociological Imagination

• Encourages looking at systemic causes rather than blaming individuals
• Highly relevant in modern society where economic crises and inequalities persist, but lacks clear solutions

Sociological Imagination summary

• Helps people understand their lives in relation to society and history
• Personal troubles are often connected to larger public issues
• People feel trapped if they don't recognize connections

Frame Alignment

• Involves individuals aligning beliefs with a social movement's goals, achieved through mobilization
• Participation is activity-based rather than based on organizational commitment
• Social movements evolve as people reassess their involvement

Collective Rationalization

• Participants actively discuss and justify their involvement

Critique of Rational Calculus Model

• Participation is a collective, ongoing process, not purely individual, and is shaped by social interactions
• Research must avoid isolating participants from their social networks

Participation Processes

• Can include bloc recruitment, network recruitment, mobilization of sentiment pools, and conversion

Variability of Participation

• Participation varies across different movements depending on movement objectives, organizational structure, and levels of risk

Frame Alignment as a Solution

• It explains participation differences across movements by examining how worldviews shift to align with movement goals

Frame Bridging

• Links ideologically similar but unconnected frames

Frame Amplification

• Strengthens or clarifies an existing frame, either through values or beliefs

Frame Extension

• Expands a movement's frame to include additional concerns

Frame Transformation

• Involves a complete change in how people perceive an issue

Kapwa in Filipino Social Psychology

• Kapwa emphasizes shared identity and interconnectedness and does not separate self from others
• Pakikipagkapwa is a fundamental value with emphasis on humanness in social interactions

Levels of Social Interaction

• Filipino language has 8 levels ranging from superficial civility to deep involvement
• Levels 1-5 are transactional
• Levels 6-8 demonstrate deeper connections

Ibang-Tao

• More formal and distant social interactions

Hindi Ibang-Tao

• Includes deeper more meaningful relationships

Filipino Social Dynamics

• Filipino psychology emphasizes shared identity over self-other distinctions

Kapwa Significance

• Helps in understanding Filipino values, worldviews, and relationships

Filipino concept of Language

• Filipino Pronouns such as "tayo" and "kami" reflect identity

Kapwa Summary

• A unifying principle in Filipino interaction, defining relationships based on shared identity

Altruism Findings

• Altruism is driven by moral identity, not rationality
• Rescuers saw victims as fellow human beings
• Actions were driven by empathy and moral duty

Challenges for rescuers

• They faced extreme risks, but moral conviction overcame fear

Rational Choice Theory

• Challenged by the findings
• Suggests moral values and identity play a significant role in ethical decision-making