THE DEFINITION OF THE SITUATION

One of the basics of the sociological theory of action is the assumpti on of a special ''definition'' of the situation, out of which the part icular ''logic'' of action arises. A model of the definition of the si tuation is developed which links the considerations of the Thomas-theo rem and the interpretative paradigm with recent conceptions of attitud e-theory. The ''objective'' background, which is orientated on the the ory of the household-production, is provided by the concept of the soc ial production functions. It is shown how the incentives and the stabi lity of this background as well as the selection of cultural preshaped ''models'' of the situation and of the ''modus'' of information proce ssing define how the actors look at the situation-In this way it is sh own that ''rationality'', indeed, is only a special and cultural defin ed model of the situation and/or a particular modus of information-pro cessing. But the variables and the rules of selection of this internal act of the ''definition'' of the situation again follow, at least for mally, the theory of rational choice.