Реферат: Parsons Grand Theory Essay Research Paper Talcott

characterized by close personal bonds or kinship relations, with modern industrial societies, which

are characterized by more impersonal or business-type relationships. As mentioned earlier,

Durkheim analyzed the types of solidarity in primitive and modern societies. Like both before

him, Parsons considers the difference between primitive and modern societies to be fundamental.

He labels relationships in traditional societies expressive, and relationships in modern society

instrumental. Each pattern variable, to Parsons, represents a problem or delimma that must be

solved by the actor before the action can take place(Wallace and Wolf 1999).

The first choice an actor must make is between ascription(expressive) and

achievement(instrumental). The problem is whether the actor chooses to orient themselves

toward others on the basis of ascribed qualities, like sex, age, race, or ethnicity, or on the basis of

what they can do or have done, as in performance. To Parsons, the choice is not an arbitrary one

because at the core of this decision are normative expectations.

The second pattern variable is diffuseness(expressive) or specificity(instrumental). The

issue at hand here is the range of demands in the relationship. If the number and types of demands

or responsibilities are wide-ranging then it is a diffuse relationship, much like a close friendship. If

the scope of the relationship is narrow or very limited then it is specific, much like the relationship

between a patient and a doctor. Parson argues that in modern societies with a high division of

labor, the choice generally involves specifically defined behavior. In traditional societies, more of

the relationships are diffuse.

The third pattern variable is affectivity(expressive) or affective neutrality(instrumental).

The issue here is simply whether the actor can expect emotional gratification in the relationship.

Parson used the school system as an example of this choice. When a child first enters school they

have already become accustomed to their affective relationship with their parents. The child soon

realizes, through socialization, that the relationship with the teacher is affectively neutral. In this

way the school institution teaches the child to tread a predominantly instrument path which is the

type of worker needed in a modern society.

The fourth pattern variable is particularism(expressive) or universalism(instrumental).

The choice here is between reacting on the basis of some generality or reacting on the basis of

some particular relationship to a person or one’s membership in a group. Discrimination is a good