Talcott Parsons

Theoretical perspective

functionalism

Biography

-Bio major
-Metatheorists
-conservative
-From the US

Famous works

-The structure of social actions
-the social sytem

The system levels

-cultural system (norms, values, and beliefs
-social system (interactions)
-personality system (personal preferences)
-behaviory system (physical, genetics)

The theory of action

The idea that that there is a motivated actor that pursuits a goal

through:
-the means and conditions (the situation)

The means

the materials (food, motivation, money, etc) to achieve that goal

The conditions

circumstances in order to achieve the goal

The normative standard

rules you need to follow in order to achieve goal

Parson's pattern variables

help predict what someone in a specific society will do

Expressive vs instrumental societies

AGIL

Adaptation: economic system (recources)

Goal attainment: politics (in charge of deciding where things will go)

Integration: criminals justice system (keeps people integrated)
-religion

Latent pattern maintance: socialization through education, family, religion, etc