1. Melanie Lord, Anthony Greiter, Zulfo Tursunovic
Functionalism
Talcott Parsons
Presentation by :
Melanie Lord, Anthony Greiter, Zulfo Tursunovic

2. Background Born in 1902 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Youngest of five children.
He came from religious family that valued education.
His father was a congregational minister and professor at Colorado College.
His mother was a progressivist and a suffragist.

3. Background
His father was dismissed from Colorado College, he moved family to New York City.
Parson spent his last two years of high school at the Horace Mann School for Boys.
Talcott was accepted into Amherst College.
Began his career as a biologist and later became interested in economics and sociology.
Talcott graduated from Amherst in 1924 and a year later entered the London School of Economic.

4. Background
He studied with Bronislaw Malinowski, L.T. Hobhouse, and Morris Ginsberg.
Received scholarship from the University of Heidelberg, Where he first learned of the works of Max Weber.
He was greatly influenced by Weber.
He was teaching at Amherst and later on appointed as a nonfaculty instructor of economics at Harvard University.
Also he worked in the department of sociology.

5. Background
After leaving the sociology department, he would work with Gordon Allport, Henry Murray, and Clyde Kluckhohn, would join Parsons in 1945 to establish the Department of Social Relations.
Department would become famous and Talcott worked as chair of the department for first ten years, remained active in the department until its dissolution in 1972.
A year later he retired as Emeritus Proffesor.

6. Background Parsons Work The Structure of Social Action (1937)
The Social System and Toward a General Theory of Action (1951)
Essay in Sociological Theory (1949, 1954)
Working Papers in the Theory of Acton (1953)
Structure and Process in Modern Society (1960)

7. Functionalism Background
In 1950s and 1960 Functionalism reigned as the dominant theoretical perspective in sociology.
Is often referred to as structural functionalism because of its dual focus on the structural forces that shape human behavior and the attention given to system needs.

8. Functionalism Background
Two leading structural functionalist were Talcott Parsons (grand theory) and Robert Merton (middle range theory.
The most significant intellectual forerunners of functionalism were Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, And Max Weber.

9. Intellectual Influences
American who studied in the United States and Europe
Americans concerned with specific/limited studies
Europeans focused on macroanalysis
Converted to social sciences at Amherst
Few references to American sociologists
Merton, Homans, Sorokin, Veblen
Mead and Cooley (American)
Insight about problems for intimate interaction
Criticizes their failed development of solid program of detailed research

10. Intellectual Influences
London School of Economics
Hobhouse
Evolution of Morality
Ginsberg
Economic institutions of preliterate societies
Malinowski
Structural-functional analysis in anthropology
Parsons’ integration of all social sciences into one of human action
Strong European influence
Two particular influences
Max Weber
Emile Durkheim

11. Intellectual Influences Max Weber
Greatest influence on Parsons
Dissertation, “Concept of Capitalism”, based primarily on Weber’s work
Marx’s Reductionist Approach
Tied strictly to economics
Overly simplistic and unrealistic
Favored Weber’s unwillingness to simplify complexity of the social system
First major link of value systems and social structures

12. Intellectual Influences
Ideas” behind interpretation of “representations”
Form ultimate realities that are not themselves such realities
Behavior influenced by social system
Parsons concluded that social system is made from the interaction of humans
Affected by social environment
Wanted to describe logical types of social relations applicable to all groups (small and large)
System created based on social action
The Structure of Social Action (1937)

13. Intellectual Influences Emile Durkheim
Parsons valued broad comparative studies
Study of suicide rates
Study of aboriginal Australian society
Suicide Rates Study
“intermediate between the broad comparative method and what might be called the ‘meticulous’ ideal of operational procedure”
Revealed suicide rates based on religions that held up cross-culturally
Parsons criticized the attempt at statistical method
Parsons appreciated variety of significant combinations of data

14. Intellectual Influences Emile Durkheim
Aboriginal Australian Study
The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life (1915)
Documented “pan-religionism” of primitive societies
“Primitive societies are permeated with religious sentiments and activities ruled by the prominence of religio-magical belief systems and the prevalence of ritual activities” (Delaney, 238)
Sociocultural system linked to kinship system
Parsons saw validity in a structural, functioning system linked through kinship and working toward the greater good for the whole of society
Functionalism

15. Intellectual Influences of Functionalism
Max Weber and Emile Durkheim
Auguste Comte
Social statics and social dynamics
Society is changing, but change is subject to social laws
Evolutionary process
Herbert Spencer
Requisite Functionalism
Organic (individual) and Superorganic (society) must fulfill universal requisites to adapt to their environment
Differentiation
Increase in both Organic and social aggregates directly related to increase in complexity of their structure

16. Philosophy- Talcott Parsons
Realism v. Idealism
Idealist - An act is always a process in time, and that the concept “end” always implies a future reference to a state or situation that does not exist yet
Realism v. Nominalism
Realism – The relations between actors are essentially the structure of the social system
Idealism v. Materialism
Materialist – Interrelated parts contribute to the functioning of the whole system

17. Concepts and Contributions
Attempted to generate a “grand theory” of society that explained all social behavior, everywhere, throughout history and the end result was Structure Functionalism

18. Functionalism
Views society as having interrelated parts that contribute to the functioning of the whole system
Macrosociological theory: focuses on large-scale social patterns and social systems

19. Functionalism Functionalism has two basic assumptions:
1- Interdependent parts: this is society’s institutions (religion, education, politics, etc.) that are all linked together. A change in one institution leads to a change in other parts. In order to function properly the system will seek equilibrium, or stability.

20. Functionalism
2- General Consensus on Values: members of society must have a general agreement on issues of right and wrong, basic values, and morality issues in order to function properly.

21. Functionalism
Functionalism explains social change as a result of such variables as population growth and increased technology.
Rapid change within the system is not something the functionalist approach is geared to handle.
Society’s institutions then try to restore themselves to a state of equilibrium.

22. Social Action Theory
Social Action Theory begins with a biological-sociological conceptualization of the basic unit of study as the “unit act”.
An “act” involves the following:
An agent or actor
Must have an end or goal
Must be in a situation which differs from state of affairs the action is oriented
There exists alternative meanings to the end

23. Social Action Theory An act is always a process in time.
“End” implies a future reference or state that does not exist yet.
Actions consist of structures and processes by which humans form meaningful intentions and implement them.
Social action is preformed by an actor either as an individual or a group

24. Social Action Theory Parsons theory had four steps:
Actors are motivated to action (education)
Actor must find the means to attain goal ($)
Actor must deal with hindering conditions (crisis)
Actor must work within the social system (rules)

25. Social System
Parson’s described a system as a “complex unit of some kind with boundaries, within which parts are connected, and within which something takes place.
The social system is an arrangement between parts and elements that exist over time, even while some elements change.

26. Social System Parson’s general assumptions:
Systems are made of order and the interdependence of parts
The system, and all the sub-systems, strive for equilibrium
Systems are generally static, or move in a deliberate manner
A disruption in the normal flow of one subsystem can cause a disturbance throughout the whole system.
Systems have boundaries, which may involve actual physical space, or time and distance.

27. Sociobiology
Differences between biological systems and social systems:
Growth: biologically an individual grows to a certain point and stops. A social system may be static for some time and then grow, or it may simply continue to grow
Spatial: Biological systems are bounded. Social systems boundaries are not as fixed or limited.

28. Sociobiology
Time: A biological unit has limits, mortality. Social units can survive for centuries.
Parts/subparts: Biological systems are often specialized and dependent on the whole for its survival. Within social systems parts are easily replaceable and the systems moves on.

29. Sociobiology
The roles of the actor allowed Parsons to create three distinct units within the social system
The act is a unit in the social system as it interacts with its author and other actors
Status roles are units of the social system.
The actor himself is a unit. It is the actor that holds a status and performs a role

30. Systems Levels
Social systems must be structured in a way as not to impede the action
Parsons organized four distinct system levels:
Social Systems: interaction between actors
Personality Systems: optimization of gratification
Cultural Systems: value and meaning to actor
Behavioral Systems: physical aspect

31. Pattern Variables
Categorize expectations and the structure of relationships
Allows for comparison between relationships
Three primary thoughts when developing these variables:
General enough to permit comparison
Should show relevance to action
Categorizations of decisions

32. Pattern Variables Affectivity-Affectivity Neutrality
Expectation of emotional component
Diffuseness- Specificity
Range of demands expected in a relationship
Universalism- Particularism
Fair Treatment or priority status?

33. Pattern Variables Achievement- Ascription
Interactions based in who they are or inborn quality
Collectivity- Self Orientation
Motivation: actions directed at a person or collectivity

34. AGIL
Parsons’ hypothesis that process in any social system is subject to four independent functional imperatives or problems which must be met adequately if equilibrium or existence of the system is to be maitained

35. AGIL Adaptation: Goal Attainment:
Secure & distribute sufficient resources or adapt to changes
Goal Attainment:
Must establish clear goals. This is primary to political system

36. AGIL Integration: Latency:
Regulation and coordination of actors and systems
Latency:
Tension maintenance and pattern maintenance
Sufficient motivation for actors
Social institutions are key (family, peers, education)

37. The Social Structure of Systems
The social system is a differentiated system in terms of roles and the distribution process.
Parsons classifications of internal differentiation of social systems:
Relational Institutions
Regulative Institutions
Cultural Institutions
Relational and Regulative Institutions

38. Structure of Systems Principle Types of Social Structure:
Universalistic- Achievement Patterns
Universalistic- Ascription Patterns
Participation- Achievement Patterns
Particularistic- Ascriptive Patterns

39. Social Structure of Systems
Structural Components
Kinship systems
Instrumental Achievement Structures and Stratifications
Territoriality, Force, and the Integration of the Power System
Religion and Value-integration

40. Organizations
Parsons defines the term as a broad type of collectivity which has assumed a particular important place in modern society
Goal attainment is the defining characteristic of and organization

41. Organizations Types of Organizations:
Oriented toward economic production
Business and production
Oriented toward political goals
Refers to government and banking
Integrative organizations
Legal system and courts, goal to ease conflicts
Pattern-maintenance organizations
Informing of basic moral beliefs

42. Evolutionary Theory Parsons model of evolutionary theory:
Differentiation
Many sub-systems
Change in one affects many others
New parts develop to take on those roles
Integration
Inclusion
Growing complexity demands larger supplies of people
Mobilization and coordination are critical
Value Generalization
Adaptation of value system

43. Race, Class and Gender Race: Class: Gender:
Parsons suggested that the survival of the system was dependent on a new level of institutionalization of values of equality.
Class:
Parsons saw class inequality as failure of a social system to properly integrate all members. Class struggle creates motivation
Gender:
Traced differences in gender roles to the family
Predicted that the greater number of women seeking careers outside the family would alter the structure of the family

44. Relevancy
Although Functionalism has come under attack it still remains in the “Big Three”
Society and social systems are comprised of interdependent parts, a major failure or breakdown in one part can cause harm to the entire system.
Ex: Enron caused major effects throughout the financial industry. Thus the social system had to react to Enron to find equilibrium.

45. Relevancy 9-11 is another example
An example of Parsons Evolution Theory is the technological advancement of the cell phone. They change the aspects of everyday life and society has to adapt

46. Additional Information
The most significant intellectual forerunners of functionalism were Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber.
Robert Merton also had a functionalistic approach.

47. Robert Merton Merton’s Theories were Functionalistic in perspective.
His best known theories were:
Theories of Middle Range
Roles sets, function, codification
Anomie Thoery
Condition of normalness
Manifest and Latent Functions
Too much attention to intended and not unintended consequences
Dysfunctions
System disrupting consequences

48. Additional Contributors to Functionalism
Niklas Luhmann
Systems Theory
Anthony Giddens
Theory on Structuration
Jeffery Alexander
Coined the term neofunctionalism
Neil Smelser
Top theorist in neofunctionalism