Parsons and Action Theory

Introduction

Parsons wanted to distinguish between behavior and action
 
He also believed that action theory cannot explain social structure or institutions, but that it can deal with most elementary forms of social life.
 
Only so much of human behavior is social action; but what motivates people to act?
 
He rejects the self interest approach of the 19th century - the Utilitarianism of Jeremy Bentham or the self interested, money minded human whose action leads to the common good - Adam Smith's 'Invisible Hand',  or the self interested aggressive creature Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan.

Parson's Voluntaristic Theory of Action

He developed a voluntaristic theory of action:

Unit Acts

Four basic components to unit acts:

        A    Existence of actor

        B    Action is headed towards end

        C    Takes place in situation comprised of:

                      i    Conditions, actor can't control

                      ii. Means, things the actor has control over

        D    Norms & values; shapes choices of means and ends

There are a series of these acts related together: