Showing papers on "Social system published in 1971"

Counterintuitive Behavior of Social Systems

Abstract: This paper addresses several social concerns: population trends; quality of urban life; policies for urban growth; and the unexpected, ineffective, or detrimental results often generated by government programs. Society becomes frustrated as repeated attacks on deficiencies in social systems lead only to worse symptoms. Legislation is debated and passed with great hope, but many programs prove to be ineffective. Results are often far short of expectations. Because dynamic behavior of social systems is not understood, government programs often cause exactly the reverse of desired results. The field of system dynamics now can explain how such contrary results happen. Fundamental reasons cause people to misjudge behavior of social systems. Orderly processes in creating human judgment and intuition lead people to wrong decisions when faced with complex and highly interacting systems. Until we reach a much better public understanding of social systems, attempts to develop corrective programs for social troubles will continue to be disappointing. This paper cautions against continuing to depend on the same past approaches that have led to present feelings of frustration. New methods developed over the last 30 years will lead to a better understanding of social systems and thereby to more effective policies for guiding the future.

An Exploratory Model of Play

Abstract: Play is defined as a state of experience in which the actor's ability to act matches the requirements for action in his environment. It differs from anxiety, in which the requirements outnumber the ability, and from boredom, in which the requirements are too few for the ability level of the actor. Games are reviewed with illustrations from a cross-cultural context of traditional and modern societies. It is suggested that games of skill, strategy, and chance all share structural characteristics that allow the player to limit his experiences so as to maximize the play experience as defined. Further theoretical implications are drawn from the model in terms of the relationship of individuals and the social system.

Class structure and economic growth;: India and Pakistan since the Moghuls

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to analyse the relationship between social structure and economic performance in India and Pakistan. It seeks to establish whether the social system had a significant dysfunctional role in hindering growth in the past, and whether the situation has changed since independence. It analyses the extent to which governments in office really tried to change the social structure and the degree to which their rhetorical commitments were constrained by the inertia of tradition and by the vested interests which inherited economic and social power.

The sociological study of religion

Abstract: and then considers carefully the sociological and methodological problems raised by these phenomena. This could be seen as an extension and application of his classic paper with Lazarsfeld on qualitative research; and the whole book leads on from Barton's work on property space and organizational measurement. Barton considers some of these sociological problems in detail-for instance, individual behaviour in the emergency social system. As he puts it, 'any large unfavorable change in the inputs of a social system disrupts its normal flow of activities and threatens the satisfactions and values of its members' (p. 65). Fire chiefs sometimes look after their families first. The most original and sociologically fascinating chapter is the fifth, on 'The Altruistic Community'. It considers the problem of motivation to help reduce suffering among community members in modern society. As he writes, 'arousing active altruistic behavior in a large part of the population is a most unusual event' (p. 206). He produces a model of the therapeutic community response, summarized as a series of 71 inter-related propositions which give a very complex picture. He does however compactly summarize them as a series of quasi-mathematical functions-not to provide quantitative statements of them, but only to indicate whether the relationship is positive, negative, or, in a few cases, curvilinear. He has in fact produced a model of informal mass activities in disasters. Naturally therefore he concludes with a consideration of the

Social Systems Intervention

Abstract: I have outlined the techniques of social systems assessment and intervention developed as a result of intervening directly in the problems of the immediate social environment of over 1,600 routine psychiatric patients. The techniques are based on an application of therapeutic community principles to real life settings outside the hospital. Concepts of leadership, role structure, and patterns of communication and reinforcement apply equally well to the social system of a childless married couple and to the neighborhood in which they live. The assessment of a social system should lead to an understanding of its structure and functioning, the external precipitants of its disturbance and the conflicts internal to the system.

The Social Uses of Alcoholic Beverages in a Peruvian Community

Abstract: The research for this paper was conducted over several years, beginning with intensive investigation in 1960-61 in Huaylas, Ancash, Peru, a bilingual Andean district in the north central highlands. The study focuses upon the traditional social context in which alcoholic beverages are consumed, examines the extent of alcohol consumption and the ritual functions of drinking in certain situations.It is shown that the use of alcoholic drinks is highly patterned and integral to normal social interaction. The drinking ritual itself provides a mechanism which can facilitate social solidarity in a moderately stratified social system by legitimizing social relations between peers and individuals of different social sectors. As such, the drinking behavior served to promote certain community activities, such as public work projects. The dysfunctional aspects of drinking were found to be minimal in this context. With increased involvement of these people in urban-industrial life, however, these traditions assume othe...

Equality of Educational Opportunity in an Expanding Educational System

Abstract: In this paper educational careers are conceptualized as a function of the educational structure and a set of individual characteristics that comprise an individual's educational potential. Social inequality of education is defined in terms of the relationship between social origin and educational potential. Using this definition, it is shown that despite a marked increase in the number of students attaining higher education in Denmark, no change occurred in the social inequality of education. The relationship between social origin and educational potential is inferred by applying a stochastic process model in which the educational potential is assumed to govern the outcome.

Process-Orientation in Sociological Theory and Research: Untasted Old Wine in Slightly Used Bottles

Abstract: Following a brief analysis of theory and of sociology as the explanation of patterns of social impact, the major forms of sociological theorizing are critically reviewed. These are identified as correlational theory, sequence theory, and grand theory or verbal model-building. The basic features of process theorywhich is taken to be most faithful to the objectives of theorizing and to the fundamental problems of sociology-are sketched in terms of opportunity variables, motivation and social perception variables, and social reinforcement variables. Applications of process theory are suggested in the areas of internal migration, suburban ecology, and deviance in complex social systems. Finally, sociologists are urged to focus on key theoretical problems, rather than empiricism or blatant ideologies. Almost any judicious review of sociology during the past sixty or seventy years would probably conclude that we have developed a highly sophisticated set of methods and techniques and a tremendous storehouse of empirical investigations in a great variety of settings. But in the realm of theory-that third and most significant aspect of any mature field-sociology has been inconsistent and often disappointing. Certainly, theorizing has received more attention in the past twenty years, but much of this has been prescription, exhortation, and preparation, rather than dedicated execution and serious revision or refinement (Faris, 1964; Gross, 1967; McKinney and Tiryakian, 1970). As one more or less identified with theorizing as a crucial segment of the sociological enterprise, I perhaps run the danger of being called a traitor to theory or even a perennial malcontent. But I hope to make clear that my criticisms are prompted by the gap between the immense potentialities of sociological theory and the implicit limitations we have generally imposed on our performance in the service of theory. Obviously, such criticisms also rest on notions of adequate theorizing and, even more3fundamentally, on a conception of sociology itself. Since both of these tasks are major enterprises in themselves, I shall have to resist temptation-and an epidemic of righteous indignation among the audience-by presenting only very brief and unavoidably arbitrary remarks on each in turn. First, let us assume that the primary task of sociological theory is to provide a testable (demonstrable) explanation of the development, persistence, or change of some category of social phenomena. Certainly, prediction is also important, but prediction normally involves greater concern for probability of outcomes than for an understanding of the ways in which these phenomena are produced. "Explanation" is a continually elusive and difficult objective-one that entails elegant logical and imperfect practical achievements. For present purposes, however, explanation consists of the operations by which interactions between variables are specifiednormally by attending to the effects of intermediary, intervening, and control variables (Doby, 1969; P. Park, 1969; Popper, 1963; Stinchcombe, 1968). With this in mind, the criteria of a fruitful sociological theory are fairly evident and longaccepted, though I would include some partially

Welfare Programs and the Social System: A Conceptual Examination of "Social Services" and "Income Maintenance Services"

Abstract: The principles of "minimum provision" and "optimum provision" derived from two broad conceptions of social welfare are presented. A discussion of income maintenance programs and social service programs in terms of the principles of minimum and optimum suggests that the criterion for allocation, rather than the kind of benefits and methods of provision, furnishes a fruitful basis for differentiation and classification of welfare programs.

Uses of Information: When Social Information Becomes Desired

Abstract: Most post-Weberian concepts of social system (of organization, bureaucracy, and the like), having been inspired by organic analogy, choose "survival of the system as such" as the analytical frame of reference and conclude that any system "is interested" in absorbing all information available. Systems, however, are dynamic configurations of competing forces and their need for information should not be taken for granted, for it is always selective and submitted to power considerations. One of the tasks of social information is to study and to obtain conditions which make the system open to the kind of information necessary to promote socio-economic growth.

Educating Engineers for Social Problem Solving

Abstract: There are many signs that engineers can and will make contributions to the understanding of social systems and to social problem solving. The peculiarities associated with social systems research, especially as it takes place in an educational setting, are examined in detail. There has been a traditional strong bond between engineering education and research, and it is essential to examine this new area to determine those factors which will affect the evolution of meaningful projects and curricula. Social systems research has many characteristics which differentiate it from other well known engineering research areas. The role of the academic participants in this research will be different from the past. The employment opportunities for engineers educated to do social problem solving will open new avenues of professional activity. A variety of observations and proposals are made to help the evolution of this new engineering direction proceed quickly and smoothly.

A system simulation study of dynamic social change

Abstract: This paper will apply the concepts of general systems theory and systems modeling simulation to an initial study of social group interaction. The social groups or organizations to be considered are those relating to the “civil rights movement” within American society. It is necessary, at an initial stage, to deal with higher level, macro structure, relations and interactions. This paper will show that it is possible, at a macro level, to examine the dynamic nature of the interactions between social groups and categories such as the civil rights movement, legislative bodies, and the general non-civil rights society. The method that is used to accomplish this examination of “key” social system parameters and interactions is that of systems modeling and simulation.

Expectations for the Role of Teacher: A Comparison of Future Teachers and Experienced Teachers.

Abstract: A role definition instrument was administered to experienced and future teachers at the Universities of Wisconsin (Madison) and Houston in an attempt to identify areas of ccaflict between the expectations of these groups for the.role of teacher. Unlike previous studies, this one focuses on-the expectations of-the future teacher. The factors of conformity, autonomy, discipline and communication comprised 30.4 percent of the instrument variance. Subject to the restricted sampling, results suggest that a recrniteets adjustment to the pressures to conform within the social system of the school, the.maintenance.of his professional autonon, coping with classrcom management; and communicating with those ijl complementary roles may be thelour most important precccupations ol the new teacher and as such.deserve special attention in teacher training. The Madison groups differed significantly only on discipline, while the Houstongroups differed significantly on conformity, autonomy,-and discipline» The.one significant regional difference for teachers les conformity; significant regional differences for future teachers were on conformity and autonomy.. (J1IF) EXPECTATIONS FOR THE ROLE OF TEACHER: A COMPARISON OF FUTURE TEACHERS AND EXPERIENCED TEACHERS