The theory of the social system is considered to be one of the important works of parsons. Talcott Parsons Social System
- The social system is well-defined as ‘Comprising of the variety of individuals actors interacting with each other, in a condition which has surroundings with the actors who are motivated in terms of the tendency to the optimization of gratification’.
- The definition of a social system puts forwards two main parts i.e, Functions and structure.
- The structure is comprised of different parts like institutions or organizations, stratification, power relationships, religion, and ethical values.
- The functional prerequisites of social system states mention that social systems must be organized and must fulfill an important portion of the needs of their actors.
Talcott Parsons Social System – Parson’s ideology.
- Parsons took an artificial approach.
- Parson looked over both structural and functional aspects of society.
- He realized the existence of society in terms of a social system.
- Social system is further classified into various subsystems and so on and each performs a unique criterion. Talcott Parsons Social System
Parson’s idea of an action system.
To understand the social system in detail, parson put forward the action system as a precursor to the thought of the social system. He studied several types of action systems explained as follows: Talcott Parsons Social System
- Personality System – The personality system characterizes the internal, hidden phases of society resulting from causes only.
- Social System – Social system denotes an arrangement of actual interaction between components in the society.
- Organismic System – This system shows the physical or biological features of social reality.
- Cultural System – This form of action system consists of norms and values.
What does Parson’s AGIL framework mean?
Parsons provided an AGIL Framework to envision the system and its functional requirements. The AGIL is explained under the following terms: Talcott Parsons Social System
- Adaptation – To survive, the social system must have some control over the surroundings for needs like food and security. Adaptation talk about the relationship with the environment.
- Goal Attainment – The organization performs the function of goal attainment by following societal aims and mobilizing actors and assets to that end.
- Integration – The integration function is achieved by the societal community or institutions of social control. For example, the law.
- Fiduciary System – The fiduciary system or institutions of socialization (the schools, the family, and religion) handle the potential or pattern maintenance function by transferring culture to actors and allowing it to be adopted by them. Talcott Parsons Social System
Criticism of parson’s theory of social system.
- Many sociologists stated the theory of the social system as a grand functional theory but with very little practical utility.
- Parson’s ideology regarding this theory is too abstract and utopian.
- An over-socialized view of the individual is mentioned.
- The dysfunctions and conflicts were ignored.
- Once the empirical investigation was performed, the empirical testability of this theory was found to be very low.
- According to Turner, Parson has become obsessed with integration.
