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Unit-3: Theories of Social Stratification-I

He also rightly pointed out that in maintaining social control institutions play a very big and Notes
important role. He has also very rightly stated that priorities should also be institutionalised
or otherwise the individuals would get involved in many conflicting demands. Without
social control, no individual will remain under checks is yet his another realistic approach to
the problem of social control.
• Parsons has also developed his theory about social systems. His ideas in this regard are
available to us in his volume entitled ‘Social System’. According to him there are five elements
of social systems ; namely individual actors, interaction of actors, motivation of the inter-
actions ; situations and environments connected with inter-actions and cultural relations. All
these elements are closely connected and inter-linked with each other and in fact social
system is net work of interpretative relationship.
• Social controls can best be observed when such measures which are against these systems
are fully well checked. This will help in maintaining equilibrium for this it is essential that
certain institutional priorities should be fixed—an institution being, understood as a well
established norm of behaviour. The institutions can be Rational, Regulative, Cultural and
Rational Regulative. Rational institutions come to stay when because of certain situations
and inter-actions certain relations emerge, which give birth to certain institutions. In such
institutions there are certain offices and situations which also divide the actors.
• There are certain institutions which are responsible for our cultural pattern and help promoting
as well as accelerating our cultural behaviour. These help in maintaining our values and
behaviour and are called cultural institutions. Relational-Regulative institutions are those
which perform the functions of establishing relationship and regulating behaviours.
• In the social system role of kinship assumes significance because it makes the task of
socialisation easy, keeps sex relationship under control and introduces many taboos. It also
regulates some of our social behaviours and puts certain institutions like marriage, family
system etc. on sound footing. In addition it helps us in knowing the relationship of one
individual with the other and also the status which every one occupies in the family and
society.
• In the study of social system then comes the role of power system. Such a system becomes
essential for checking and controlling the behaviour of both the individuals as well as groups.
This system also helps checking social disorganisation, which otherwise would create many
social problems. This however dose not include physical power. In social system, religion
plays a big role. It is religion which helps preserving social values and norms and upholds
such moral values which keep the people closer and together. Religion and social values also
bring the people closer and nearer to each-other. Religion and values even govern internal
attitudes and make the whole system dynamic. It also helps in ensuring that norms and
values do not get disintegrated.
• From the ideas of Parsons, it appears that he was an original thinker. His ideas about social
system and social control were quite unique and new. These provided a sort of mechanism
by which society could remain organised and disorganisation which otherwise would have
come in it would have, been checked. He drew the attention of the sociologists that each
society was always under heavy strains and if it was desired that there should be smooth
working, these strains should be checked.

3.4 Key–Words

1. Social Mobility : It is the movement of individuals or groups in serial position overtime
2. Isolation : It is the state of feeling alone and without friends or help

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