Toward Multilevel Sociological Theories: Simulations of Actor and Network Effects

Abstract

interesting and important social phenomena can be explained by the operation of supraindividual factors, i.e., at a level of analysis involving social structures and/or aggregations of some form. The study of population ecology manifests this approach most clearly and extremely (e.g., Hannan and Freeman, 1977; Hawley, 1950). A pure individualist, in contrast, asserts that all interesting and important social phenomena can be explained in terms of the operation of interor intra-individual factors. An extreme example is the application of biochemistry to the solution of social behavioral questions (e.g., Dawkins, 1976; Monod, 1971). Both approaches have their benefits and costs. The benefits include the ability to incorporate knowledge gained in other fields, e.g., bioecology, anthropology, neuro-endrocrinology, cognitive psychology, etc. Also, either approach provides a framework for observation and speculation that helps to reduce biases and pre-conceived notions about behavior.