The Action-Theoretical Perspective1

In: International review for the sociology of sport: irss ; a quarterly edited on behalf of the International Sociology of Sport Association (ISSA), Volume 20, Issue 4, p. 263-282

Abstract

In view of the increasing variety of action-theoretical concepts on the one hand and their growing importance in social and sport sciences on the other, it is the aim of this contribution to outline the action-theoretical perspective against its historical background and with its basic assumptions, and to indicate intentions and achievements as well as deficiencies. Four basic assumptions are considered to be characteristic of the action-theoretical perspective: the conception of action as a system process (system postulate), as being intentional, i.e., goal-, purpose- and value-oriented (intentionality postulate), as psychologically regulated (regulation postulate), and as a process that can only be fully understood in the context of biological, psychological and societal development (developmental postulate).