Everyday theory
Everyday theories are the - often unrelated - (partial) theories that people form from their experiences and according to which they act , even if they are not even aware of it. They can be highly personal or shared by many. They are effective in all areas of life.
Theories of the individual actors
Practical experiences in the social and cultural area lead to personal conclusions that favor the development of personal everyday knowledge . The compatibility (consistency, coherence ) of the everyday theories of a social actor depends on the level of his reflection . It can be assumed that knowledge of psychology and sociology ensures greater coherence, for example in educational measures or in general when dealing with other people. Everyday theories express themselves not only in actions, but also in personal biases.
Common everyday theories
Everyday theories are often shared by many and lead to prejudice . They influence, for example, voting behavior, attitudes towards foreigners and minorities, how people spend their leisure time and the way in which values are represented in public, but also whether people generally consider it necessary to brush their teeth. The more comprehensive the frame of reference, the stronger the explanatory power of everyday theories; they can then contribute greatly to ideologies .
Making people aware of hidden everyday theories and teaching them to critically assess their quality is a task of education .
See also
literature
- Bielefeld Sociologists' Working Group (ed.): Everyday knowledge, interaction and social reality . Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag (1981)
- Heinz Abels, Horst Stenger: Learning society. Introduction to Sociology. Opladen: Leske and Budrich (1986)
- Kurt Lewin : Field theory in the social sciences. Bern, Stuttgart: Huber, 1963