The Adaptability of Homans’s Social Exchange Theory with Iranian Society
Subject Areas : Iranian Sociological ReviewGarineh Keshishyan Siraki 1 * , Said Khosravi 2
1 - Assistant professor, Department of Political Sciences, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Ph.D. Student, Department of Political Sciences, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: Model of social facts, Model of social definition, Model of social behavior,
Abstract :
In this article, we dealt with wise and comprehensive criticizing the theory of social exchange that developed by Homans, while raising and extending the mentioned theory. In this respect, it could be noted to a significant theoretical evolution in 1950s of 20th century that is emerging of exchange theory, in which George Homans plays role as main character. Behavioral of Skinner accounts as main source of Homan’s exchange theory in sociology. In present article, at first after expression and describing exchange theory, we dealt with fundamental subject of Homans through descriptive method. Then, we pointed out to critiques raised by Parsons, Mulem, and Abrahamson and Ake suggesting presences of some defects in exchange theory in view of extreme reduction proposed by Homans, and established methodology of this paper on qualitative, analytical and expressive method. Foundations of critique rose against exchange theory of Homans established on triple criteria for criticizing (Ontology, Epistemology in addition, methodology). The exchange theory could be regarded as a behaviorism theory and models of behaviorism to analyze of behavior of actors is merely based on experiences, that is the point, in which scholars in transcendental traditions criticizing, therefore, relevant hypothesis in this paper is based on the question that: whether exchange theory suggests constant and persistent criteria for scientific recognition of behavior, its emersion and prediction? In addition, concluded by authors. Present article, considering the history of raised reasons through criticizing of Homan’s theory, make distinction between current paper and other criticizing studies.