ctor has no control and the means being the elements in which the actor has control over. Finally there is the 'normative standard' or 'normativ!
             e orientation.' These standards must be fulfilled in order to achieve the goal. In Parsons' words,
             ...within the area of control of the actor, the means employed cannot in general, be conceived either as chosen at random or as dependent exclusively on the conditions of action, but must in some sense be subject to the influence of an independent, determinate selective factor, a knowledge of which is necessary to the understanding of the concrete course of action.
             To summarize the act briefly, the actor is motivated to reach a goal, which is self-gratifying. The action takes place in a situation which include elements in which the actor can and cannot control. The former being the means and the latter being the conditions. All of these elements are regulated by the normative standard that defines whether or not the goal has been achieved.
             In order to understand Parsons' theory of action better we must take in to consideration Parsons' system levels. According to Parsons' there are four system levels; cultural system, social system, personality system and the behavioral organism system. In his theory of action it is the cultural system that determines what the actor is going to set as it's goal. The basic unit central to the cultural system is the 'meaning' or 'symbolic systems.' Religious beliefs, languages and national values may all be units in the cultural system. The cultural system is focused on shared values. These shared values make actors in Parsons' theory of action decide upon a goal. The goal decided upon isn't a conscious realization of the cultural systems norms weighted on the actor. The actor acts of his/her own free will as a result of the internalized values and norms of the cul...