Parson's Functional Prerequisites in a Social System

Parsons was concerned with social systems and how to keep them viable, orderly, and developing. In order for this to happen, Parsons discusses seven prerequisites that he felt must be met in order for social systems to function in a positive way. The term functional prerequisite of a social system is concerned with the basic requirements that society needs to ensure that society runs smoothly and has social order.

Parsons identified seven prerequisites that he felt were needed in any social system. Many of Parsons’ prerequisites build upon each other and relate to each other. Parsons starts his prerequisites with one that relates to compatibility. He states that a social system has to be structured in such a way that it is compatible with other systems it may come in contact with. For example, the system cannot conflict with the individual actors that are part of the system or with the different personalities that may come in contact with the system. Also, systems must be compatible with each other in order for each to survive. “A social system cannot be so structured as to be radically incompatible with the conditions of functioning of its component individual actors” (Kivisto 194).

To build upon the first prerequisite, Parsons asserts in his second prerequisite that each system must have the support of the other in order to be viable. In addition, a great majority of actors in the social system must be motivated to support the good of the system and also motivated in not allowing the demise of the social system. “It must, that is, have a sufficient proportion of its component actors adequately motivated to act in accordance with the requirements of its role system” (Kivisto 194). The actors are motivated as they are met with positivism for good behavior and negativity for “deviant” behavior.

As the needs of the actors are being met in terms of motivation based on good behavior, Parsons discusses in his third prerequisite how he feels in terms...