Etymology

pattern variable

Today it means: Any of a set of contrasting pairs of characteristics said to be associated with various kinds of social interaction: affectivity – affective neutrality; self-orientation – collectivity-orientation; universalism – particularism; ascription – achievement; and specificity – diffusity. Full definition →

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The story

Coined by Talcott Parsons (1902–1979), American sociologist.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.