Individual Social Action and Macro Level Dynamics: A Formal Theoretical Model Export

@article{Aberg:2000, abstract = {When large numbers of individuals interact and influence each other's choices of action, the relationship between a single individual's action and the aggregate outcome on the macro-level is far from straightforward and is therefore difficult to predict. In this paper, a theoretical model is developed that can be used to analyze how the evolution of different macro-phenomena depends upon social actions at the micro level. The model, which takes as its point of departure a set of analytical diagrams developed by T.C. Schelling (1978), is precise yet applicable to the analysis of a range of different social situations. The wide applicability of the model is demonstrated by examining two seemingly disparate social processes. One concerns the growth of a social movement and the other the prevalence of condom use in the population. Underlying both these processes is a system of interaction in which purposeful actors react to an environment that consists largely of other actors reacting in a like manner. The focus of the analysis is on the complex aggregate outcomes that these systems of interaction generate. 10.1177/000169930004300301}, author = {Aberg, Yvonne}, citeulike-article-id = {5943934}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/000169930004300301}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://asj.sagepub.com/content/43/3/193.abstract}, citeulike-linkout-2 = {http://asj.sagepub.com/content/43/3/193.full.pdf}, day = {1}, doi = {10.1177/000169930004300301}, journal = {Acta Sociologica}, keywords = {diffusion, model, tipping\_models}, month = {January}, number = {3}, pages = {193--205}, posted-at = {2009-10-15 14:18:55}, priority = {2}, title = {Individual Social Action and Macro Level Dynamics: A Formal Theoretical Model}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/000169930004300301}, volume = {43}, year = {2000} }

TY - JOUR ID - Aberg:2000 L3 - citeulike-article-id:5943934 N2 - When large numbers of individuals interact and influence each other's choices of action, the relationship between a single individual's action and the aggregate outcome on the macro-level is far from straightforward and is therefore difficult to predict. In this paper, a theoretical model is developed that can be used to analyze how the evolution of different macro-phenomena depends upon social actions at the micro level. The model, which takes as its point of departure a set of analytical diagrams developed by T.C. Schelling (1978), is precise yet applicable to the analysis of a range of different social situations. The wide applicability of the model is demonstrated by examining two seemingly disparate social processes. One concerns the growth of a social movement and the other the prevalence of condom use in the population. Underlying both these processes is a system of interaction in which purposeful actors react to an environment that consists largely of other actors reacting in a like manner. The focus of the analysis is on the complex aggregate outcomes that these systems of interaction generate. 10.1177/000169930004300301 IS - 3 JF - Acta Sociologica EP - 205 TI - Individual Social Action and Macro Level Dynamics: A Formal Theoretical Model VL - 43 SP - 193 KW - diffusion KW - model KW - tipping_models AU - Aberg, Yvonne PY - 2000/01/01/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/000169930004300301 ER -