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W16: The Rise of Rational Choice

This week's presentation explores Rational Choice Theory (RCT) and Exchange Theory, examining how individuals navigate social life by optimising utility and weighing personal interests against costs. Rooted in classical economics and the sociological insights of Max Weber, the text positions these theories as a pragmatic alternative to functionalism by focusing on methodological individualism to bridge the gap between specific personal actions and broad societal trends. Key scholars like Gary Becker apply this logic to intimate areas such as family and marriage, while theorists like James Coleman and Peter Blau illustrate how social order, norms, and institutions emerge from the strategic reciprocity and exchange between rational actors. Ultimately, the source provides a balanced overview by contrasting the analytical elegance of these models with criticisms regarding their lack of realism, their Western bias, and their failure to account for the origins of human desires.