A Short Summary and Evaluation of Talcott Parsons Functionalist Contributions

First among his contribution to be considered is his patterned variable of action.Pattern variables according to Parsons & Shils (1951) are the principal tools of structural analysis outlining the derivation of these categories from the intrinsic logic of social action which is the inherent dilemmas of choice facing actors. There are five pattern variables of role-definition that Parsons discusses, although he says that there are many more possibilities.

According to Parsons, action is a process oriented to the realisation of an end. It occurs in conditional circumstances that must be calculated upon and utilised by actors in the pursuit of their ends. However, end sand conditions (including means) are analytically distinct categories. Action involves effort (or agency) to conform with norms (which govern ends and the selection of their means of realisation) since it must transform circumstances. Actors must accommodate and calculate upon conditions if their actions are to be successful.

Further, he held that social systems are characterized by needs of functional prerequisites. Functional prerequisites refer to the extent to which people’s relations to others are embedded in or constrained by social subsystems. Social systems can only exist, Persons contends, if four functional prerequisites are satisfied. These requisites he named as;

Adaptation (A): that is, to the external or natural environment;

Goal-attainment(G): or the mobilization of resources to meet relevant ends;

Integration (I): or the achievement of regulation and coordination for coherence and stability;

Latencyor ‘Pattern Maintenance’ (L): or the provision of means to sustain the motivational energy of actors.

He held that social systems that develop institutions capable of performing all four AGIL-scheme functions enjoy an evolutionary advantage over their rivals.

In response to his work and ideas, some scholars have criticized his work. Some say his quick rise was precedence to his fast fall. Some of the criticisms leveled against him are summarized as follows.

Parsons argued that modern society or ‘modernity’ has seen a general shift in favour of universalism, performance, specificity and affective neutrality. This idea if held would not be able to explain huge acts of charity works carried out by the affluent of today.

He did not cite a practical example of a society that has ever practiced the AGIL – scheme he postulated. The idea has remained more theoretical and has lacked evidence of full practice.

While it has often been said that individuals are sacrificed to systems in Parsons’ structural-functionalism, there has been an ideologically expedient tendency in today’s neo-liberal ‘individualistic’ world to neglect social structure and the systemic properties of society.

REFERENCES

Parsons, T., &Shils, E. A. (1951).Values, motives, and systems of action.Toward a general theory of action, 33, 247-275.

Parsons, T. (1937).The Structure of Social Action. New York: Free Press