a.  system - interactive social structures where social action occurs

     b.  theory of action - 4 systems, interdependent,

           cultural system (symbolic systems)= unit of analysis - meaning or symbols

          social system = unit of analysis - collectives (dyad)

          personality system = unit of analysis - human person

          behavioral organism as system = unit of analysis - biological human being

     c. socialization - societal values are internalized by society’s members (shared values), a biological being at birth the process of learning to be a member of society comes from the other systems.

     d. patterned variables - social expectations and the structure of relationships.

     e. Society consists of purposive, goal-oriented actors who must fulfill certain conditions to attain gratification (pursuit of happiness).  Relationships in traditional societies are predominantly personal (expressive) and in modern societies are predominantly impersonal (instrumental).

     f. gender view defines gender roles as complimentary but male dominated, (status quo).

     g. AGIL - four function paradigm of a social system: Adaption, goal attainment, latent pattern maintenance (educational, religious, family) and legal.

     h.  social equilibrium = AGIL is a prerequisite for social equilibrium, it is the result of successful socialization, social control corrects for faulty socialization, disequilibrium can arise because of changes or strains in  a system. Society responds to restore equilibrum (The system works!) therefore, equilibrium is desirable.