Talcott Parsons Action Systems | Sociology Mains Optional for UPSC 2024 PDF Download

 Page 1


 
 
TALCOTT PARSONS ACTION SYSTEMS  
Actions occur in constellations called as action system. 
4 types of action systems that comprise the reality: (CSPO)  
Cultural system: (Contains Norms & Values) (basic guidelines)  
Social system: (interaction between units of the system)  
Personality system: (hidden or internal aspect) (emotions, tensions, stress, 
aspirations etc)  
Organismic system: (biological or physical aspect) (makes available energy) 
 
Conditions for conception of Social system:  
(When a social system forms) Two or more individuals in social interaction Some 
collective goals (including motivations of units & values of society) Consensus on 
Role expectations Interaction will develop an Abstract Boundary around the 
system. 
 
Functional Analysis of Social system Answering 2 questions: 
Q. How the system survives? Mechanism equilibrium phase  
Book: The structure of Social Action, 1937 Tendency to a new equilibrium. Eg. 
Normal internet -> Cyber crime -> Cyber Lanes – New equilibrium 
 
Page 2


 
 
TALCOTT PARSONS ACTION SYSTEMS  
Actions occur in constellations called as action system. 
4 types of action systems that comprise the reality: (CSPO)  
Cultural system: (Contains Norms & Values) (basic guidelines)  
Social system: (interaction between units of the system)  
Personality system: (hidden or internal aspect) (emotions, tensions, stress, 
aspirations etc)  
Organismic system: (biological or physical aspect) (makes available energy) 
 
Conditions for conception of Social system:  
(When a social system forms) Two or more individuals in social interaction Some 
collective goals (including motivations of units & values of society) Consensus on 
Role expectations Interaction will develop an Abstract Boundary around the 
system. 
 
Functional Analysis of Social system Answering 2 questions: 
Q. How the system survives? Mechanism equilibrium phase  
Book: The structure of Social Action, 1937 Tendency to a new equilibrium. Eg. 
Normal internet -> Cyber crime -> Cyber Lanes – New equilibrium 
 
 
 
 
Q. What are the functions fulfilled by a particular system? Requisite Functionalism 
Phase (“The Social System, 1951”) 4 set of universal functional requisites (must 
for survival of system) 
 
(AGIL Model)  
Adaptation: Generation, acquisition & distribution of resources (Economic 
System)  
Goal Attainment: Determination of goals, motivating, mobilizing, channelizing 
(Political System)  
Integration: convenes, solidarity, co – ordination b/w units (cultural system) 
Latency: Hidden aspect for maintaining the motivation. Tension management. 
Family  
Pattern Maintenance (Maintaining conformity)  
Tension Management (internal tensions) 
AGIL: Inter – related & interdependent 
Cybernetic Hierarchy of Control  
Interaction of action systems 1) Energy flows up 2) Information flows down A 
balance between Energy & Info Flow