According to Talcott Parsons, what is the key system in society?

• A. Family
• B. Education
• C. Economy
• D. Religion

Answer: (A)

Parsons treats the family as the central unit that binds individuals to society by shaping who they become. It is the primary arena for socialization, where children internalize shared norms, values, and expected roles, which then guide behavior throughout life. This foundational process of transmitting culture and stabilizing personalities helps maintain social order and integration, linking the family to the functioning of other institutions like education, economy, and religion. While those other systems perform essential tasks, the family is the main source of the values and expectations that sustain the whole pattern of social life, making it the best answer in Parsons’ framework.