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The Rationality of Everyday Behavior

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  • HARTMUT ESSER

    (University of Mannheim)

Abstract

This article argues that Alfred Schütz, one of the founders of the interpretative paradigm in sociology, developed a theory of action whose basic structure is compatible with subjective expected utility theory (i.e., a specific variant of rational choice theory. Alfred Schütz's view with respect to the characteristics of everyday action—the individual orientation toward routines and structures of relevance—is modeled in terms of subjective expected utility theory. In this perspective, these characteristics appear as the result of an action-preceding rational choice in the process of the cognition of situations, under the conditions of bounded rationality.

Suggested Citation

  • Hartmut Esser, 1993. "The Rationality of Everyday Behavior," Rationality and Society, , vol. 5(1), pages 7-31, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ratsoc:v:5:y:1993:i:1:p:7-31
    DOI: 10.1177/1043463193005001003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Norman K. Denzin, 1990. "Reading Rational Choice Theory," Rationality and Society, , vol. 2(2), pages 172-189, April.
    2. Siegwart Lindenberg, 1989. "Social Production Functions, Deficits, and Social Revolutions," Rationality and Society, , vol. 1(1), pages 51-77, July.
    3. Norman K. Denzin, 1990. "The Long Good-Bye: Farewell to Rational Choice Theory," Rationality and Society, , vol. 2(4), pages 504-507, October.
    4. Coleman, James S, 1986. "Psychological Structure and Social Structure in Economic Models," The Journal of Business, University of Chicago Press, vol. 59(4), pages 365-369, October.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Annette Schnabel, 2006. "What Makes Collective Goods a Shared Concern?," Rationality and Society, , vol. 18(1), pages 5-34, February.
    2. Lee, Yongsung & Guhathakurta, Subhrajit, 2018. "An analysis of the effects of suburban densification on vehicle use for shopping: Do existing residents respond to land-use changes in the same way as recent movers?," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 193-204.
    3. Christopher Prendergast, 1993. "Rationality, Optimality, and Choice," Rationality and Society, , vol. 5(1), pages 47-57, January.
    4. Gebhard Kirchgässner, 2015. "Wissenschaftlicher Fortschritt in den Wirtschaftswissenschaften: Einige Bemerkungen," Schmollers Jahrbuch : Journal of Applied Social Science Studies / Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, vol. 135(2), pages 209-248.
    5. Mie Augier, 1999. "Some Notes on Alfred Schütz and the Austrian School of Economics: Review of Alfred Schütz's Collected Papers, Vol. IV. Edited by H. Wagner, G. Psathas and F. Kersten (1996)," The Review of Austrian Economics, Springer;Society for the Development of Austrian Economics, vol. 11(1), pages 145-162, January.
    6. Kroneberg, Clemens, 2005. "Die Definition der Situation und die variable Rationalität der Akteure : ein allgemeines Modell des Handelns auf der Basis von Hartmut Essers Frame-Selektionstheorie," Papers 05-11, Sonderforschungsbreich 504.
    7. Joachim Scheiner & Christian Holz-Rau, 2013. "Changes in travel mode use after residential relocation: a contribution to mobility biographies," Transportation, Springer, vol. 40(2), pages 431-458, February.
    8. Sebastian Hoffmann & Fabian Adelt & Johannes Weyer, 2020. "Modelling End-User Behavior and Behavioral Change in Smart Grids. An Application of the Model of Frame Selection," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-26, December.
    9. Beckert, Jens, 1999. "Economic Action and Embeddedness: The Problem of the Structure of Action," Center for Culture, Organizations and Politics, Working Paper Series qt6jc6f1q6, Center for Culture, Organizations and Politics of theInstitute for Research on Labor and Employment, UC Berkeley.
    10. Koppl, Roger & Whitman, Douglas Glen, 2004. "Rational-choice hermeneutics," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 55(3), pages 295-317, November.
    11. Kroneberg, Clemens, 2005. "Die Definition der Situation und die variable Rationalität der Akteure. Ein allgemeines Modell des Handelns auf der Basis von Hartmut Essers Frame-Selektionstheorie," Sonderforschungsbereich 504 Publications 05-11, Sonderforschungsbereich 504, Universität Mannheim;Sonderforschungsbereich 504, University of Mannheim.
    12. Ilja Srubar, 1993. "On the Limits of Rational Choice," Rationality and Society, , vol. 5(1), pages 32-46, January.
    13. Koppl, Roger G., 1996. "It is high time we take our ignorance more seriously," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 5(3), pages 259-272.
    14. Daniel Weimar & Christoph Breuer, 2022. "Against the mainstream: Field evidence on a positive link between media consumption and the demand for sports among children," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 75(2), pages 317-336, May.
    15. Kroneberg, Clemens, 2006. "The definition of the situation and variable rationality : the model of frame selection as a general theory of action," Papers 06-05, Sonderforschungsbreich 504.

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