Sociology Plus
Over-Socialised Conception of Man Definition
This phrase was introduced to critique functionalist sociology, particularly as developed by Talcott Parsons, arguing that it overstated the degree to which individuals are shaped by dominant value systems and assumed that individual actions simply resulted from these overarching values.
Origins and Context
The concept gained prominence in the 1960s within the United States, primarily associated with the work of sociologist Dennis Wrong. It emerged as a corrective critique aimed at the functionalist perspective within sociology.
Core Argument
The central contention is that functionalist theory tended to exaggerate the extent to which societal norms and dominant values fully determine individual behaviour, suggesting an overly simplistic causal relationship between socialisation and action.