Experience And Rethinking About Rational Choice Theory

With the failure of the prophecy "Religion will decline accompanied by the process of modernization" claimed by classic secularization, rational choice theory (RCT, also known as the religious market theory, religion, economics) becomes one of the most popular theories in contemporary sociology.Outside the confined of economics and closely related disciplines, rational choice has not gained wide acceptance. As George C. Homans bring the rational choice theory into a sociological study. Rational choice theory has made great progress in the field of sociology. Rodney Stark goes along the path, succeeds to use the rational choice to explain the phenomenon of religion and gradually establishes "economic models" of religious phenomena. Rodney Stark and Roger Fink build a systematic discussion of the theory and research methods, is called the "new paradigm" instead of "old paradigm" of secularization.This article is based on the papers and books of rational choice theory (e.g. Rodney Stark, Laurence R. Iannaccone, Roger Fink). Firstly I try to state the intrinsic relationship among rational choice theory, classical socialization perspective and the sociology rational choice theory, and to sort out the development of RCT (Rational Choice Theory). On this basis, the micro, meso and macro theories are discussed and analyzed separately. Especially, It highlight the economics research path and the path of sociological research in RCT, and make a detailed comprehension of the whole system of rational choice theoryIn the end, it presents the main points and development of rational choice theory. In the analysis of key points of RCT, I try to clarify the key points of RCT. Moreover, I try to bring thinking and inspiration of rational choice theory.