Q : 2010 ||| Paper 1 ||| Write a short note on Cybernetic Hierarchy of Control. 10
Cybernetic Hierarchy of Control is a concept within the framework of Talcott Parsons' social system theory, which seeks to explain how societies maintain stability and adapt to changes over time.
- Meaning of Cybernetics:
- Cybernetics refers to the science of communication and control in both living organisms and machines.
- In sociology, it focuses on how systems maintain stability, order, and equilibrium through feedback and regulation mechanisms.
- Cybernetic Hierarchy of Control:
- Parsons proposed that social systems operate through a hierarchy of control mechanisms where each subsystem performs a specific function to maintain equilibrium.
- These subsystems are interdependent and arranged in a hierarchical order based on their degree of control and information processing.
- The Hierarchy (AGIL Model):
- According to Parsons, the cybernetic hierarchy of control corresponds to his AGIL schema:
- The flow of control goes from top (culture) to bottom (organism) — more control, less energy.
- The flow of energy goes from bottom to top — more energy, less control.
Feedback Mechanism: Each level sends feedback to maintain balance; if disequilibrium occurs, corrective action is triggered. This ensures systemic self-regulation and adaptation to environmental changes.
The Cybernetic Hierarchy of Control highlights how different subsystems in society function together to maintain social order through feedback and regulation. It is a key concept linking systems theory, functionalism, and cybernetics in understanding the dynamic and self-regulating nature of social systems.
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