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How did Talcott Parsons reveal the secrets of social systems? His methods changed the world of sociology!
Social system is a core concept in sociology, referring to the patterned interaction network between individuals, groups and institutions. This network forms an organic whole and has universal application in different social structures, whether it is family units, communities, cities, or even countries and large enterprises.
Social systems are formed based on shared attributes, such as geographic location, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and religious beliefs.
It was in the theories of Talcott Parsons, however, that new heights of understanding of social systems were reached. Parsons is not only the founder of social systems theory, his AGIL paradigm enables us to understand the structure and function of social action in a more systematic way.
Parsons' AGIL paradigm
In Parsons' theory, a social system is defined as a network of interactions between individuals. His AGIL paradigm consists of four functional units: Adaptation, Goal attainment, Integration, and Latency. Every social system must operate these functions effectively in order to continue to exist and develop.
He believed that culture and language are crucial in forming social systems, elements that enable them to be defined and function properly.
Parsons' work not only laid the foundation for future social systems theory, but also triggered a lively discussion on how to frame social systems, including orientations to action, communication, or other relationships.
Other important theorists
As time went by, social systems theory was expanded and deepened by other scholars. Niklas Luhmann was an important sociologist who viewed social systems as networks based on interpersonal communication. His view that society is a self-referential, self-sustaining "self-generating" system triggered new thinking about the boundaries of social systems.
Luhmann believes that social systems include three categories: social systems, organizations, and interaction systems.
In addition, Jay Jutt Forrest founded system dynamics, which emphasizes the use of computers to simulate the interactions of social systems and explore the effects of public policies. He noted that many failed public policies fail to target the root causes of social problems and instead try to address surface issues.
Exploration of Racialized Social Systems
In the study of social systems, Watsa Bonilla-Silva proposed the concept of racialized social systems, emphasizing the social relations between different racial groups and their impact. This view has sparked widespread discussion in academia and reflection among some scholars, especially in the discussion of how to define the "white" group, revealing the complexity and diversity of the social system.
Modeling social systems in the digital age
With the advent of the digital age, researchers studying social systems have discovered that they can draw on vast amounts of data to gain more comprehensive insights. The rise of digital social platforms such as Facebook and Twitter has enabled people’s social interactions to be further captured and analyzed.
Past models, such as WORLD2 and WORLD3, aimed to describe global resource distribution, providing a way to reflect the dynamics of social systems.
Although the behavior of these systems may be unexpected and not yet fully understood, the digital age has opened up a new field for the study of social systems, allowing scholars to better explore how social systems change and the dynamics behind them.
Talcott Parsons' contribution lies not only in the creation of the theory, but also in his in-depth understanding of the social system, which has guided countless scholars to embark on the road of research. As theory develops and data grow, how will the exploration of social systems affect our understanding of the world we live in?
