Pattern Variables

From Geography

A set of ideas developed by Talcott Parsons to characterize various kind of society and to analyse social evolution (Campbell, 1981). These variables are presented as satisfaction pairs of attitudes which are contrasting ones. They are embodied in various sets of role-statuses and their underlying values. In this way it is possible to determine which type of social relationship dominates in a certain society. The sets of variables are (Campbell, 1981):

* Affectivity vs Affective neutrality. This the contrast between seeking immediate satisfaction and postphoned satisfaction

* Self-orientation vs Collectivity-orientation. The central aspect for this pattern variable is the problem of whether a person's private interest can be pleased, or a specific "collective duty "must be satisfied. (Parsons, 1977)

* Universalism vs Particularism. The principle that everybody should be threated in the same way versus the principle that special relationship affects all relationships.

* Achievment vs Ascription. The performance of a role-incumbent versus his attributes independently of his achievements

* Specifity vs Diffuseness. The attitude of judiging a social situation purely in closely defined and limited terms. For example seeing a sitation purely from a economical point of view. While the opposed attitude is to see and to judge a social situation from a wide range of social and moral point of view.

References

• Campbell, T. (1981). Seven theories of human society. Oxford. United Kingdom: Claredon Press.
• Parsons, T. (1977). Social Systems and the Evolution of Action Theory. New York. United States: The Free Press.

Contributors

• Page created by Henny Li --HennyLi 19:38, 7 October 2012 (CEST)