Talcot Parsons’ Structural Functionalism Ritzer, G. (1988). Chapter seven: Structural functionalism, neofunctionalism, and the conflict theory alternative. In G. Ritzer, Sociological theory (2nd ed., pp ). New York: Knopf.

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson Terms  Definition of Function:  Complex activities.  Directed toward meeting a need or needs.  AGIL:  Four functional imperatives that are necessary or characteristic of all systems.  They are linked to action systems.

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson AGIL  A daptation:  A system must cope with external situations.  It must adapt to its environment and change the environment to meet its needs.  G oal attainment: a system must define and achieve its primary goals.  I ntegration:  A system must regulate the interrelationship of its component parts.  It must also manage the relationship between the three other functional imperatives (A, G, L).  L atency (pattern maintenance):  A system must create motivation for individuals to accept cultural patterns.  It must maintain and renew motivation of individuals.  It must maintain and renew cultural patterns.

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson The Action System  Assumptions  Systems are orderly and the parts are interdependent.  Systems tend to act toward equilibrium.  The nature of one part of a system influences the form of other parts of the system.  Systems maintain boundaries with their environments.  Systems tend toward self-maintenance of è boundaries, è relationship of the parts of the system to the whole system, è control of environmental variations, è control of tendencies to try to change the system from within.

Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson The Action System (cont.)  Four Action Systems:  Social system: è Interactions between individuals promote social norms. è Emphasizes a passive socialization process.  Cultural system: è Patterned, ordered system of symbols that are used to regulate personal behavior. è These symbols are both internalized and institutionalized. è Culture is the major force which binds the social world.  Personality system è The organized system of orientation and motivation for an individual. è Need dispositions: drives that are shaped by the social setting; the basic component of personality.  Behavioral organism: biological predispositions which provide influence the other situations.