TALCOTT PARSONS

ACTION SYSTEMS
Actions occur in constellations called as action
system.
4 types of action systems that comprise the reality: (CSPO)
Cultural system: (Contains Norms & Values) (basic guidelines)
Social system: (interaction between units of the system)
Personality system: (hidden or internal aspect) (emotions, tensions, stress,
aspirations etc)
Organismic system: (biological or physical aspect) (makes available energy)
Conditions for conception of Social system:
(When a social system forms)
Two or more individuals in social interaction
Some collective goals (including motivations of units & values of society)
Consensus on Role expectations
Interaction will develop an Abstract Boundary around the system.
Functional Analysis of Social system
Answering 2 questions:

Q. How the system survives?

Mechanism equilibrium phase
Book: The structure of Social Action, 1937
Tendency to a new equilibrium.
Eg. Normal internet -> Cyber crime -> Cyber Lanes – New equilibrium
Specific Mechanism

Fulfil certain needs

Maintenance of
Equilibrium
Q. What are the functions fulfilled by a particular system?
Requisite Functionalism Phase
(“The Social System, 1951”)
4 set of universal functional requisites (must for survival of system)
(AGIL Model)
Adaptation: Generation, acquisition & distribution of resources (Economic System)
Goal Attainment: Determination of goals, motivating, mobilizing, channelizing
(Political System)
Integration: convenes, solidarity, co – ordination b/w units (cultural system)
Latency: Hidden aspect for maintaining the motivation. Tension management.
Family
Pattern Maintenance (Maintaining conformity)
Tension Management (internal tensions)
AGIL: Inter – related & interdependent
Cybernetic Hierarchy of Control
Interaction of action systems
1) Energy flows up
2) Information flows down
A balance between Energy & Info Flow