SOCI 1001 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2.3: Talcott Parsons, Conflict Theories, Natural Selection

• School: UConn
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOCI 1001
• Professor: Ruth Braunstein

Document Summary

2. 3 innovations in social theory in the mid-twentieth century. Every society requires certain functions to be fulfilled. Religion is one aspect of social life that is believed to contribute most to social cohesion. Social interactions, for example, are organized situations in which the setting determines the social role that is expected from each participant. Conflicts are minimized by the social system as individuals learn their place In many modern societies, instead of taking up arms to settle conflicts, potential or actual conflicts are typically discussed and debated in a structured setting: agreed with the theory of evolution. Natural selection: the features of any society that are dysfunctional are slowly weeded out in favor of those features that are helpful. In our everyday interactions we interpret and give meaning to objects, activities, and people in ways that other species do not.