Event-Structure Theory (Allport)

Allport disagreed with Parson's functionalist approach and contented that you cannot use biological analogies to explain the function of organizations in society. Social groups don't have observable, objective functional elements like human bodies do. What is important is the shape if patterned behavior.

"Allport conceptualizes social structure as a cycle of events which return in circular fashion to reinstate the cycle" (Katz and Kahn, p. 6). The completion of cycles is what forms social structures. Events are at the nodes of these cycles. The patterns of repeating interactions are what constitutes social structure.

Allport also adds that participants are only partially involved in organizations with varying degrees of loyalty and their individual behaviors only partially affect the social structure.