Modalities in sociology are a key concept within Anthony Giddens' theory of structuration. They refer to the means by which social structures are translated into human action, serving as the bridge between structure and agency.
Overview
In Giddens' structuration theory, modalities explain the properties of social structure. The structure is said to possess both structural and individual qualities. Giddens refers to these structural modalities as "rules" and "resources" respectively. This formulation separates Giddens from other structuralists by acknowledging the enabling functions that structure provides, rather than viewing structure solely as a constraint.
The Duality of Structure
Modalities are central to Giddens' concept of the "duality of structure" — the idea that structure is both the medium and the outcome of social practices. Structures exist both internally within agents (as memory traces) and externally (as the manifestation of social actions). Modalities are the mechanisms through which this recursive relationship operates.
The Three Modalities
When an agent draws upon structures for social interaction, these structures are called modalities and present themselves in three forms:
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Signification (meaning) — manifested as interpretive schemes / communication. Agents use existing experience and shared meaning to interpret social situations.
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Domination (power) — manifested as facility / resources. This includes both authoritative resources (allowing control over persons) and allocative resources (allowing control over material objects).
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Legitimation (norms) — manifested as norms / sanctions. These are the rules and moral frameworks that govern acceptable behavior.
Rules and Resources
Giddens characterizes structural modalities as "rules" and "resources":
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Rules are the normative constraints and conventions that structure imposes on agents. A case of a "rule" is the act of obeying a law — the structure places limits on agency, causing the agent to act in a certain way to accomplish societal norms.
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Resources are the material and authoritative means that agents can draw upon to effect change. For example, civil laws that have limited human liberties can be overturned because resources exist — such as lawyers who can present a case for social reform, or the process of judicial review itself.
Significance
Giddens suggests that modalities illustrate his reliance on the duality of structure because they present a case where knowledgeable individuals can use the resources available to them to change policies, standards, or norms that the structure imposes upon them. This positions structuration theory as a middle ground between objectivist theories (which emphasize structure over agency) and subjectivist theories (which emphasize agency over structure).
See Also
- Structuration theory
- Duality of structure
- Anthony Giddens
- Structure and agency
References
- Giddens, A. (1984). The Constitution of Society: Outline of the Theory of Structuration. Cambridge: Polity Press.
- Bryant, C. G. A., & Jary, D. (Eds.). (1991). Giddens' Theory of Structuration: A Critical Appreciation. Routledge.
