Talcott Parsons

The 'voluntaristic theory of action' emphasizes the role of choice and values in human behavior.

The 'unit act' is the smallest meaningful unit of social action.

The 'role' is the fundamental unit of social structure.

The 'institutional order' is the core of any social system.

The 'problem of legitimation' is central to the stability of any political system.

The 'generalized other' is the internalized expectations of the community.

The 'socialization process' is the means by which individuals acquire the values and norms of their society.

The 'functional prerequisites' are the conditions that must be met for a social system to survive.

The 'equilibrium' of a social system is a dynamic, not a static, state.

The 'theory of action' is a conceptual scheme for the analysis of social phenomena.

Social systems must be analyzed in terms of their functional prerequisites for stability and change.

The concept of the social system is the focal point of functionalist theory.

Action is oriented towards goals and shaped by norms and values.

Integration is the process by which diverse elements of society are bound together.

The pattern variables define the dilemmas of action in social systems.

Society is a system of interdependent parts working towards equilibrium.

Cultural patterns provide the normative framework for social action.

The AGIL paradigm outlines the functional imperatives of any social system.

Adaptation is the subsystem that copes with the environment.

Goal attainment directs the system towards its objectives.