Parsons Flashcards
Action theory(aka,book)
Voluntaristic theory of action
‘The structure of social action’(1937)
Parson is bridge b/w
- Positivists & Interpretivists
- To integrate Weber’s individlm & Durkh’s holism
Action types
- Instrumental(efficiency)
- Expressive(emotional)
- Moral(right thing)
Conditions for an action to be social(4)
- Occur in social situation
- Towards achievement of goal
- Regulated by norms & values
- Investment of energy/effort
Social system
Social sys (sequence)
actors engage in goal oriented action->interactions bw actors->Institutionalisation of social interaction->statuses,roles & norms emerge-> status-role complex called ss
Social system
Role
Status
(meaning, determined by?)
Role=part played by indivl in context of norms
Status=position of roles
Both determined by norms
Social system
Defn
Interaction bw various roles governed by norms
Social system
Systems approach(components)
Input
Output
Sub-systems
Boundaries
Environment
Social system
State of equilibrium
Values->adequately institutionalised
Roles->Indivls adeqly motivated to play them
Interaction->role interaction has a consistency
Social system
Equilibrium achieved by(2)
- Socialisation(learning rules of society;values internalised)
- Social control(-ve sanctions to discourage deviance;compelling force to play roles)
Social system
Moving/dynamic equlibrium
Sys in eq(E1)->strain->adjustment->new normal->new eq(E2)
Social system
2 other systems besides social sys
Cultural sys(Envt;values/norms)
Personality sys(needs,motives)
Pattern variables
What
Dilemmas/choices
5 dichotomous pairs
Pattern variables
Classifies social sys into
2(Expressive, Instrumental)
Pattern variables
mnemonic
Instrumental(AUS SA)
* Affective neutral
* Universalism
* Specificity
* Self
* Achievement
Functional pre-requisites(purpose,what)
Develop ,survive & maintain order
* Adaptation(Eco)
* Goal attainment(Pol inst)
* Integration(Legal sys)
* Latent pattern maintenance(Family,relig,edu)
