Social Behavior George C. Homans

1 social behavior

1.1 success proposition
1.2 stimulus proposition
1.3 value proposition
1.4 deprivation-satiation proposition
1.5 aggression-approval propositions
1.6 rationality proposition

social behavior

homans s next major work social behavior: elementary forms. wrote book in 1961 , revised in 1974. based on principles of behavioral psychology, , helped explain sub-institutional, or elementary, forms of social behavior in small groups. explanation of social behavior first appeared in article homans published titled social behaviour exchange in 1958. believed exchange theory derived both behavioral psychology , elementary economics. homans had come view theory should expressed deductive system, in respect falling under influence of logical empiricist philosophers of period. substantively, argued satisfactory explanation in social sciences based upon propositions —principles—about individual behavior drawn behavioral psychology of time. homans didn t believe new propositions needed explain social behavior. laws of individual behavior developed skinner in study of pigeons explain social behavior long take account complications of mutual reinforcement.

social behavior exchange of goods, material goods, non-material ones, such symbols of approval or prestige. persons give others try them, , persons others under pressure give them. (homans 1958:606). social behavior exchange means plurality of individuals, each postulated behave according stated behavioral principles, form system of interaction. social approval basic reward people can give 1 another. in greater detail, developed approach in book social behavior: elementary forms (1961, revised 1974). homans gives example of type of social behavior below:

suppose 2 men doing paperwork jobs in office. according office rules, each should job himself, or, if needs help, should consult supervisor. 1 of men, whom shall call person, not skillful @ work , done better , faster if got time time. in spite of rules reluctant go supervisor, confess incompetence might hurt chances promotion. instead seeks out other man, whom shall call other short, , asks him help. other more experienced @ work person; can work , , left time spare, , has reason suppose supervisor not go out of way breach of rules. other gives person , in return person gives other , expressions of approval. 2 men have exchanged , approval. (homans, 1961:31-32)

focusing on situation, , basing ideas on skinner s findings, homans developed several propositions.

the success proposition

actions taken persons, more particular action of person rewarded, more person perform action. (homans, 1974:16)

in terms of person-other example, proposition means person more ask others advice if past advice has been useful. also, more person received useful advice in past, more request more advice , willing give advice. success proposition involves 3 stages: (1) person s action, (2) rewarded result, , (3) repetition of original action.

the stimulus proposition

if in past occurrence of particular stimulus, or set of stimuli, has been occasion on person s action has been rewarded, more similar present stimuli past ones, more person perform action, or similar action. (homans, 1974:23)

again, 1 may @ homans s example: if in past, person , other found giving , getting of advice rewarding, engage in similar actions , in similar situations in future. homans s example: fisherman has cast line dark pool , has caught fish becomes more apt fish in dark pools again (1974:23). homans interested in process of generalization, or tendency extend behavior similar circumstances; concerned process of discrimination. example, person , other may give useful advice in same room in past because think particular situation brought success.

the value proposition

more valuable person result of action, more perform action. (homans, 1974:25)

if rewards each offers other considered valuable, actors more perform desired behaviors if rewards not valuable. homans introduced concepts of rewards , punishments. rewards actions positive values , punishments actions negative values. rewards can either materialistic (money) or altruistic (helping others) found punishment inefficient means of getting people change behavior, because people may react in undesirable ways punishment.

the deprivation-satiation proposition

more in recent past person has received particular reward, less valuable further unit of reward becomes him. (homans, 1974:29)

in office, person , other may reward each other giving , getting advice rewards cease valuable them. time important—people less become satiated if particular rewards stretched on long period of time. homans defined cost , profit. cost of behavior defined rewards lost in forgoing alternative lines of action. profit in social exchange seen greater number of rewards gained on costs incurred.

the aggression-approval propositions

proposition a: when person s action not receive rewards expected, or receives punishment did not expect, angry. becomes more perform aggressive havior [sic], , results of such behavior become more valuable him. (homans, 1974:37)

if person not advice expected , other not receive praise anticipated, both angry.

proposition b: when person s action receives reward expected, greater reward expected, or not receive punishment expected, pleased. becomes more perform approving behavior, , results of such behavior become more valuable him. (homans, 1974:39)

when person gets advice expect, , other gets praise expect, both more or give advice. proposition on aggression-approval refers negative emotions, whereas proposition b deals more positive emotions.

the rationality proposition

in choosing between alternative actions, person choose 1 which, perceived him @ time, value, v, of result, multiplied probability, p, of getting result, greater. (homans, 1974:43)

when earlier propositions rely on behaviorism, rationality proposition demonstrates influence of rational choice theory on homans s approach. in economic terms, actors act in accord rationality proposition maximizing utilities. people examine , make calculations alternative actions open them. compare amount of rewards associated each course of action , calculate likelihood receive rewards. in other words, there relationship between value of reward , likelihood of attainment. rationality proposition tells people perform action depending of perception of probability of success. durkheim agreed homans s understanding of rationality. believed rationalism aspect of individualism. durkheim said development of individualism has effect of opening moral consciousness new ideas , rendering more demanding. homans worked off of durkheim s thoughts throughout development of propositions.