In sociology, the systems theory that was developed in the 1960s by David Easton views society's different components as permeable, interdependent systems that are part of a dynamic feedback loop. It distinguishes between the social system, which includes all of society, and the political system, which includes all the members and institutions which make decisions and take actions that are then imposed on the entire society. There is a feedback loop between the two systems that is initiated by pressure from a social group that responds either positively or negatively to the political group (Easton referred to this pressure as “inputs”). The political group will then respond in order to neutralize this pressure (these reactions are called “outputs”).  

Other than its simplicity, this theory presents at least two advantages. Firstly, it allows us to understand how the political socialisation process works with young people. For Easton, the idea was to socialise young people to develop a positive attitude towards the political system, thus ensuring that the system would function without constant conflict. Secondly, its dynamic and interdependent nature reveals the permeability of the boundaries between the political and social systems.