Structure in decision making

As human beings, our nature is often determined by how we act and how these actions affect not only us but the people around us. People’s definition of us is determined by how they view us, their opinions and their attitude towards our actions. Because of this, people often have to control their actions so as to ensure that they behave in a manner that is acceptable. However, pleasing society does not mean losing our personal identity as each individual has the freedom to engage in any actions they please. The freedom of choice and the influence that society has on an individual’s decisions has sparked a controversial debate that has lasted for a long period of time. While some people argue that agency is the determining factor when it comes to making decisions, others argue that all decisions are influenced by structure and that agency only contributes to how these decisions are made. This paper will therefore demonstrate how, most, if not all, of the choices an individual makes are determined by structure and not agency as some people would assume.

            Structure is used to refer to the social systems that influence an individual’s actions or decisions and determine the choices the individual will make. Agency on the other hand refers to an individual’s ability to make choices independently without being influenced by any outside factors (Powell, 2014). Although people have some level of control in the choices they make, their decisions are influenced, either directly or indirectly, by structure. This became clear when my friends and I were deciding whether to form a discussion group so that we could help each other perform better for the coming exams. Before forming the group, each member was asked about their willingness to join the group so that we could help each other study. Realizing the importance of groups in helping students improve their grades, we decided to form the group and help each other to better understand the school curriculum before the exam.

Although the decision to form the group was based on the choice that each member to join, it became clear that these decisions, though personal, were not made independently. Structure played a major role in leading us to form the discussion group. In this scenario, the school and society in general played the role of the social system that led to the choice each group member made. In today’s society, people greatly value education and have placed a lot of faith in school’s ability to educate. Society also believes that a student’s success or failure is determined by the decisions they make both in school and at home (Germov & Poole, 2015). Being a student, I was aware that society expected me to perform and get good grades. For this to happen, I had to go an extra mile to ensure that I was well prepared for the coming exam. Although the decision to form the discussion group may have been a personal one, society played a major role in influencing the choice I made. Structure played a major role in our decision to form the discussion group because we had to live up to what society expected of us. For us to live up to society’s expectations, we had to get good grades, and this meant passing the exams. Therefore, the rational thing to do was to find a way to ensure that we did well and this was achieved through the discussion group.

            The choices people make are greatly influenced by structure through societal systems either related to the past, the present or the future. Even though people are responsible for the decisions they make, these decisions are greatly influenced by events that have occurred or could occur (Elder-Vass, 2010). My decision to join the discussion group was influenced by the results I had achieved from the previous exam as well as fear of the results that I would achieve in the exam that was to come. Although the present decision may have seemed that I was acting based on agency, the agency was greatly influenced by the structure that is my past experience and my anticipated future. Although the desire to perform well was personal and the choice I made to join the group was my own, society left me no choice as this is what was expected of me. I had to find a solution that would allow me to excel in the exam and the best option was the group discussion.

            However, there are people who may argue that all choices and decisions made are solely determined by agency and not structure (Powell, 2014). In the case of joining the discussion group, some may argue that I independently made the decision to join without being influenced by any other factor. They further argue that even though society may influence a person’s decisions and actions, it is the person who makes the choice to get involved or not. Such an argument is inconclusive in that it fails to take into account the consequences that follow a choice. It is this consequence that determines the choice made. People just assume that a decision is independent because only the individual can make it. This however is not the case because all choices are determined by the end result that a person intends to achieve. Although agency gives the illusion that people are independently making choices out of their free will, this is not often the case.

            Take for example the school system. Often times, the only way to be successful is by going to school, performing well in class and getting employed in a good institution. As agency would have it, people independently have the freedom of choosing whether to go to school, perform well and get employed. However, this is not the case as society has put in place a system where a comfortable life is often connected with education. If one does not go to school, they will not get employed. Without education and employment, people will be forced to live in poverty and lead a miserable life. As a result, the structure that is the school system greatly influences the decision people make regarding going to school, getting employed and living a productive life.

Society often dictates the choices that people make and the type of actions they engage in. although making a choice is voluntary, the choices are rarely independent and as such, they cannot be said to be based on agency. Every decision a person makes is influenced by either the past or a desired future result. People study because it is the only way to study exams; others go to work because it is the only way to earn a living. Although we make these choices, they are influenced by society and as such, most, if not all choices are based on structure. Although agency can be used to explain why different people can make different choices on the same scenario, agency itself is not enough to explain why people make certain choices and this is why it is often associated with structure. It is therefore correct to assume that Structure is the determining factor behind all decisions that a person makes.

 

 

 

References

Elder-Vass D, (2010) “The casual power of social structures: Emergence, structure and agency” Cambridge University Press

Germov J and Poole M, (2015) “Public sociology: An introduction to Australian society” Allen    and Unwin Press

Powell C, (2014) “Structure and agency” Wordpress