Definition of Verstehen in English:
Verstehen
noun fɛːˈʃteɪənfɛɐˈʃteːənfərˈSHtāən
mass nounSociology Empathic understanding of human behaviour.
a methodological framework founded upon the principles of Verstehen
Example sentencesExamples
- This position can itself be viewed as the product of the confluence of three related stances: Weber's notion of Verstehen; symbolic interactionism; and phenomenology.
- The social sciences are only based on a method called Verstehen (or what he calls conception).
- It would take a good deal of historical research and, more than that, a real effort of Verstehen to gain any insight into the motives of the young men.
- The effect that this shared commitment to Verstehen had on the sorts of social theory they applied is profound.
Origin
German, literally 'understanding'.