Talcott Parsons’ Grand Theory is based in the perspective which is commonly referred to as “structural functionalism.” Parsons himself, however, preferred the term “functional analysis” after it was suggested by his student, Robert Merton(Coser 1975). For the most part, “structuralfunctionalism” is the preferred label. Its focus is on the functional requirements, or needs, of asocial system that must be met for the system to survive and the corresponding structures thatmeet those needs. The social systems we are referring to tend to perform the tasks that arenecessary for their survival. Sociological analysis comes into play as a search for the socialstructures that perform those tasks or meet the needs of the social system(Wallace and Wolf1999). A basic definition of functionalism would be the study of the social and culturalphenomena in terms of the functions they perform. The society conceived in functionalism is asystem of interrelated parts that are interdependent of one another. If a change in one part takesplace, then their is a change in the system and reorganization occurs in an effort to once againachieve equilibrium(Wallace and Wolf 1999). It is this strive toward equilibrium that Parsons ismost concerned with in his Grand Theory. While Parsons’ contributions are great, there weremany who paved the way before him.Intellectuals such as Auguste Comte, Herber Spencer, Vilfredo Pareto, and EmileDurkheim laid much of the ground work. Comte, Spencer, and Pareto contributed the concept ofthe interdependence of parts of the social system, while Durkheim emphasized integration orsolidarity. Both ideas Parsons incorporated into his paradigm. It was Comte who introduced theconcept of equilibrium to functionalism, which he borrowed from biology’s treatment ofhomeostasis. Spencer’s differentiation, as in the mutual dependence of unlike parts of the systembrought a...
