Final answer:
Individuals' behavior is central to the exercise of power in politics, as described by Max Weber, and includes both strategic and emotive actions. Human behavior is influenced by social roles and norms. In social situations, people often act strategically, like actors, but can also display instinctive behaviors similar to animals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship of individuals' behavior to the exercise of power is grounded in social psychology, which examines how people affect one another's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Max Weber, a renowned sociologist, described power as the ability to exercise one's will over others, affecting dynamics in social groups, professional organizations, and governments. Behavior plays a critical role in power dynamics as individuals engage in political behavior, making strategic choices and taking action that can lead to collective outcomes. Notably, individuals tend to act instrumentally to pursue their goals and are often influenced by their environment, including social roles and norms.
When considering whether people behave more like animals or actors, it seems that in social situations, individuals often take on roles and conform to behaviors akin to actors. However, there can be an element of instinctive behavior that parallels the animal kingdom. This reflects the complexity of human behavior, which straddles both the strategic and emotive responses to various stimuli. Furthermore, human behavior in politics is reflective of broader social interactions, where emotive and strategic actions are taken to navigate power structures and achieve desired outcomes.