parsons

• parsons - organic analogy 


  identified three similarities between society and biological organisms

  1. system
  2. system needs
  3. functions
• system - societies are self regulating systems that fit together in fixed ways. just like the body that has different systems functioning
• system needs - organisms have needs such as nutrition if not met it dies. similar to society e.g members must be
• functions

  • the function of any part of a system is the contribution it makes to meeting the system’s needs and thus ensuring its survival.
  • For example, the circulatory system of the body carries nutrients and oxygen to the tissues.
  • Similarly, the economy helps maintain the social system by meeting the need for food and shelter.
• value consensus

  • Parsons argues that social order is achieved through the existence of a shared culture or a central value system. 
• integration of individuals

  • society integrates individuals into the social system to make social cohesion
  • parsons argues the system has 2 mechanisms

  1. socialisation - institutions enforce socialisation processes e.g media, religion, education, family
  2. social control - institutions control behaviour/ desired Norms and values. reward those socialised correctly, punish those who are not e.g police, criminal justice system
• systems needs - AGIL schema

  • parsons argues a society is a system with its own needs
  • the function of each part of society is to help meet the needs of the social system

  1. adaptation
  2. goal attainment
  3. integration
  4. latency
• adaptation


  • parsons saw this as the ability of the economy to provide for the material needs of the population e.g employment, controlling the prices of resources
  • society meets its members material needs through economic sub-systems
• goal attainment

  • in a complex modern society, resources need to be organised to reach those that need them the most
  • Society needs to set goals and allocate resources to achieve them.
  • This is the function of the political sub-system, through institutions such as parliament.
  • e.g parliament has different departments such as department of education, ministry of justice
• integration

  • The different parts of the system must be integrated together to pursue shared goals.
  • this is how the populations comes to understand the norms and values of society
  • This is the role of the sub-system of religion, education and the media.
• latency refers to processes that maintain society

  over time.

  2 sub processes

  1. pattern maintenance - prepares people for future roles in society e.g meritocracy
  2. tension management - the ability to relate tensions e.g warm bath theory, stabilising adult personalities
• parsons - traditional -> modern society

  • modern -structural differentiation, individual self interest, achieved status, universalistic standards
  • traditional - kinship system, collective interest, ascribed status, particularistic values
• parsons - structural differentiation 


  • a gradual process in which society gradually evolves, institutions develop each meeting a different need
  • as society develop, the kinship system loses these functions - to factories, schools, churches
  • e.g industrialisation led to changes in family (functional fit theory)
• the model of social system

  1. individual actions
  2. governed by norms or rules
  3. status-roles - clusters of norms
  4. institutions - clusters of status norms e.g family
  5. sub-systems - institutions grouped together e.g economic subsystem
  6. social system
• moving equilibrium

  • parson also sees gradual change through moving equilibrium
  • as a change occurs in one part of the system it changes in other parts
  • e.g rise of industry (economic sub-system) led to changes in family
• parsons theories

  • organic analogy
  • value consensus
  • integration of individuals
  • systems needs
  • model of the social system
  • social change - structural differentiation
• traditional society - kinship system

  • system that performs many functions
  • It organises production and consumption (adaptation), often provides political leadership (goal attainment), socialises its members (latency) and performs religious functions (integration)
• enlightenment period

  • Enlightenment (a period where scientific rationality and liberalism took hold within science and humanities across much of Europe),
  • 17th and 18th century
• 1. Parsons sees society as a system of interdependent parts (the organic analogy).
  2. The function of each part is to help meet the needs of the system. (AGIL schema)
  3. Individuals are integrated into the system through socialisation and social control. (integration of individuals)