User:PCChickTsa/AGIL

The AGIL paradigm is a structural functionalism, Sociological theory created by Talcott Parsons to analyze social systems and the processes of social exchange. AGIL is an acronym for adaptation, goal attainment, integration, and latency or pattern maintenance. These are called a system’s functional imperatives; actions a system must employ in order to survive.

A is for Adaptation
The first part of Parsons’s theory suggests that in order for a society to survive into its future state, it needed to adapt to its environment or adapt the environment to its needs. It is also stated that a society must “cope with external situational dangers and contingencies.” It must be able to respond to the changing external conditions brought about by a shifting environment.

G is for Goal Attainment
The second part of Parsons’s Structural functionalism theory suggests that there is the need for a Society to outline and accomplish its most important goals. Above all else, every society’s main goal is to evolve into greater things; expanding and growing wherever it see fits. A society may have smaller, more individualized goals but the overall one remains to grow as a whole.

I is for Integration
The third part of Parsons’s theory suggests that a society must learn to integrate different parts of itself. It must maintain a level of harmony amongst its parts because conflicting elements of itself means it is not utilizing enough time, power, and other vital resources to its maximum potential. Integration also maintains the relationship amongst the other three concepts in this theory.

L is for Latency or Pattern Maintenance
Although the L stands for latency, the last imperative of Parsons’s structural functionalism theory has two parts. The latency part describes a society’s need to motivate its individuals; to continuously maintain and revitalize this motivation. The pattern maintenance part describes the society’s need to maintain and revitalize the cultural patterns that establishes and supports this individual motivation.

Talcott Parsons—A Short Biography
Talcott Parsons (1902—1979) has been referred to as the most influential American sociologist out of all the others. He has been recognized as the theorist who brought to the United States and reapplied the social theories of European thinkers Max Weber and Emile Durkheim. His most popular books include The Structure of Social Action (1937) and The Social System (1951).

Parsons is credited with “establishing the base line vocabulary for modern sociology.” His book, The Structure of Social Action, set the framework for other theoretical and empirical Sociology to build from. He also interpreted earlier works by Weber and Durkheim into a more conceivable vocabulary, one which is still in use today. He went on to connect earlier works from Weber, Durkheim, Vilfredo Pareto and Marshall to each other, stating each made three concise points:

1)	Sociology is brought about by the problem with order.

2)	Solutions to this problem with order is must include a plan of action.

3)	If individuals strive for meaning, they must satisfy norms laid out by society based on standards of evaluations, called values.

Applications to Society
Parsons included in his theory four structures in society that correspond with each imperative in his AGIL paradigm.

The Economy is responsible for handling the adaptation part of Parsons’s paradigm. It serves to adjust society into its environment or other external conditions, while also adjusting the environment to society’s needs.

The Political system is responsible for the goal attainment portion of Parsons’s paradigm. A society’s political system achieves societal goals by utilizing people and resources to obtain these goals.

The societal community, such as the laws that govern a society, is responsible for the integration portion of Parsons’s paradigm. Societal community sees to it that all components of society are working together as well as integrate all the other imperatives to each other.

The fiduciary system includes Social structure such as schools and families, and these structures are responsible for the latency and pattern maintenance of Parsons’s paradigm. Through such social structures as the school system or family, a society’s Culture is taught to the upcoming generations and, therefore, internalized, thus maintaining the culture that sustains their motivation.

Critiques
Parsons’s AGIL paradigm is often criticized as being too abstract for actual application and there seems to be a need for more clarity with his terms. It is said that his own students barely use his theory for their own empirical work because it would prove unproductive. It is also said his theory requires one to make generalized assumptions about the realities of the social world. His theory also neglects to credit the degree to which our social lives are influenced by the meanings we attribute to ourselves, to others, situations, etc.