Introduction of Structural Functionalism Approach.

Life of Talcott Parson

Theory of Structural Functionalism by Talcott Parson.

• Social Order
• Action System
• Social System

The AGIL Model by Talcott Parson

Pattern variables.

Criticism.
 Structural functionalism, or simply functionalism is a
framework for building theory that sees society as a complex
system and whose parts work together to promote solidarity
and stability in the society.
 This approach looks at both the concept which includes
social structures and social functions.
 Functionalism, grew out of the writing of biologist and
philosopher Herbert Spencer, who saw similarities between
society and the Human body.
 Emile Durkheim also used the theory of spencer to explain
The different changes which is taking place in the society.
The Robert Merton were major contribution to these
perspective.
Life of the Talcott Parson.

Talcott Parsons (1902-1979) , United States was the

most important figure in the structural functionalist
school of sociological thought.
In sociology today, his approach is generally treated as
outmoded, although some of his ideas are now being
viewed more favourably
Parson was born in Colorado, studied in the eastern
United States and then did graduate work at the London
school of economics and then in Heidelberg Germany.
Parson became a professor at Harvard in 1927 and
stayed there until his death in 1979 .In 1937 he
published his major work The structure of social action .
In 1949 he was president of the American sociological
association and in 1951 published The social system.
Introduction:-
a) social order: Much like Durkheim Parsons was
concerned with the problem of social order, “how if
individuals were really separate entities pursuing their
self interest there be any order at all how could there be
anything but disorder ?”
“People act on the basis of their values their actions are
oriented and constrained by the values and norms of
people around them and these norms and values are the
basis of social order.
 The importance of values can be seen by looking at
how social actors view ends and means within the
context of values.
1)Ends: Parson noted that while individuals pursue their self interest
and their own satisfaction, that is not the sole concern of individuals.
Rather there is a strong measure of agreement among people , people
do not get along with each other, they cooperate with and help each
other. The ends that people pursue are based on shared value and
norms.
2)Means: The manner in which particular ends are pursued is usually
not the technically most efficient manner. Rather, the means that people
use are socially and morally regulated with right and wrong. In the view
of structural functionalists, “without the normative regulation of means,
society would be afflicted by chaos, anomie and apathy social order”

b) Function: Perhaps the most controversial aspect of

Parsons and the structural functional model is attaching function
to the various social processes and social institution that are part
of society. Parsons took the idea of function from anthropology”
Action system : Parsons attempted to develop an analysis of
psychology, economics, politics sociology, and all social science, although
much of this was never completed. For Parsons , there are many systems or
action systems. A system is something that has boundary, so there is an inside
and outside to the environment comprising the system. Examples of systems
are the social, cultural, and personality systems . Systems have interdependent
parts, Order to equilibrium, and a tendency to maintain the boundaries and
relations of the parts to the whole.

Social system: The social system was Parsons main concern.

Parsons definition of the social system is,
“A social system consist in a plurality of Individuals actors interacting with each
other in a situation which has at least a physical or environment aspect, actors
who are motivated in terms of a tendency to the “optimisation of gratification”
and whose relation to their situations, including each other, is defined and
mediated in terms of a system of culturally structured and shared symbols”
Action theory: Parson developed his voluntaristic theory of action. He
considers that structure of a social action is a theoretical model that takes into
consideration that are Subjective orientations.
Normative constraints- (taught from beginning) constraints coming from actions
situation.

Actor

Voluntristic
Normative
Theory of Situational
Constrains Social Constrains
Action.

Good
The AGIL Model by Talcott
Parson.
THE AGIL MODEL: In a social system each of the individual has function to
perform in terms of the status he occupies in the system and thus according to
him every social system has four functional imperatives.

1)Adaptation: A system must cope with external situational exigencies. It must

adapt to its environment and adapt the environment to its needs.

2)Goal Attainment: A system must define and achieve its primary goals.

3)Integration: A system must regulate the interrelationship of its component parts. It

must also manage the relationship with others and hence functional imperative.

4) Latency (pattern maintenance): A system must furnish, maintain and assure

both the motivation of individuals and the cultural patterns that create and sustain the
motivation.
4)Pattern Variables:
Parsons constructed a set of variables that can be
use used to analyse the various systems. The five
pattern variables are as follows.

a) Ascription and achievement: Ascription refers to

qualities of individuals, and often inborn qualities
such as sex, ethnicity, race, age etc. and
achievement refers to performance, and emphasises
individual achievement.
b) Diffuseness and specificity: These refer to the
nature of social contacts and how extensive or how
narrow are the obligations in any interaction. For ex
visiting a physician friendships and parent child
relationships are examples of more diffuse form of
contacts.
C) Affectivity and affective Neutrality: Neutrality refers
to the amount of emotion or affect that is appropriate or
expected in a given form of interaction. Contact with other
individuals in a bureaucracy may be devoid of emotion and
characterised by affective neutrality. In contrast, affectivity
can mean the expressions of gratifications of emotions.
d) Particularism and universalism: These refer to the
range of people that are to be considered, whereas
diffuseness and specificity deal with the range of
obligations involved.
e) Collectively or self. These emphasise the extent of
self interest as opposed to collective or shared interest
associated with any action.
 Criticism:
Anthony Giddens, argues that
functionalist explanations may all be
rewritten as historical accounts of
individual human actions and
consequences.