29 Questions
What is the primary focus of Parsons' work?
The social system and social interaction
What is the relationship between biological drives and the social system, according to Parsons?
Biological drives are socially developed and influenced by the social system
What is the cultural system, according to Parsons?
The social stock of knowledge, symbols, and ideas
What is the role of individuals in Parsons' social system?
Individuals are passive recipients of social and cultural influences
What is the relationship between the social system and the personality system, according to Parsons?
The personality system is a product of the social system
What is the basis of social order according to Knapp?
Norms and values of people around them
What do the pattern variables describe, according to Parsons' scheme?
Societal norms and values
What is the role of conditioning and learning in Parsons' theory?
Conditioning and learning influence the development of individual personalities
What was Talcott Parsons' area of specialty in sociology?
Structural functionalism
What is a characteristic of affective neutrality in social interactions?
Deferred gratification
Where did Talcott Parsons do his graduate work?
London School of Economics and Heidelberg, Germany
What is the focus of collectivity-oriented actions?
Collective or shared interests
How do particularism and diffuseness relate to affectivity?
They are associated with affectivity
What was the title of Talcott Parsons' major work published in 1937?
The Structure of Social Action
What position did Talcott Parsons hold in 1949?
President of the American Sociological Association
What is a key aspect of Weber's sociological perspective?
Motivation and meaning
What is the context for our social actions, according to the text?
Social context with others
Who influenced Talcott Parsons' theory?
Emile Durkheim
According to Parsons, what is the importance of the latent function?
It is on the same level as the other three functions in a system.
How did Marx view social reproduction?
He took it for granted and spent little time analyzing it.
What happens to the AGIL functions as societies develop?
They evolve and institutions develop different functions.
Where were the AGIL functions typically centered in traditional societies?
In family and kinship structures, and in local communities.
How did Durkheim approach the latent function?
He recognized the problem, but did not develop it further.
What happens to roles and functions in complex societies?
They become more differentiated.
What is a characteristic of a modern, complex society?
Specialized functions and roles develop, and specialized institutions evolve
What is a possible way that specialized functions and roles can develop?
Through a natural, evolutionary process
What is a key aspect of bureaucracies?
They have consciously worked out organizational structures
What is a relevant perspective on social change?
That of Talcott Parsons
Who compared society to the human body?
Herbert Spencer
This quiz covers the life and influences of Talcott Parsons, a prominent figure in structural functionalist sociology, and his contributions to understanding social order. Test your knowledge of Parsons' theories and their impact on sociology. Explore how values and norms shape social behavior and social order.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
