social equilibrium

social equilibrium

a state of persistence or balance between parts within a social system and/or in relation to its external environment. According to PARETO (1935), a social system is in equilibrium if when it is subjected to some modification a reaction takes place tending to restore it to its previous ‘normal’ state. Pareto's definition and his general approach to the study of social systems modelled on change in mechanical systems and on approaches in economics influenced a number of theorists, notably Henderson, HOMANS, PARSONS, and Dickson and Roeslisberger (1939). In the work of Parsons in particular, the assumption was made that, even if never fully equilibrated, social systems tend towards a state of equilibrium and can be analysed as functioning systems with self-equilibrating properties. See also FUNCTIONALISM, HOMEOSTASIS, CYBERNETICS, SYSTEMS THEORY; compare CHAOTIC PHENOMENA.

Collins Dictionary of Sociology, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2000