55400420 social institutions

8/22/2019 55400420 Social Institutions

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Social InstitutionsSocial Institutions


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Understanding the TermUnderstanding the Term

Social institutionSocial institution refers to a group of social positions,refers to a group of social positions,connected by social relations, performing a social roleconnected by social relations, performing a social role

It can also be defined in a narrower sense as anyIt can also be defined in a narrower sense as any

institution in a society that works to socialize the groupsinstitution in a society that works to socialize the groupsor people in itor people in it

Common examples include education, governments,Common examples include education, governments,families, economic systems, religions, and any people orfamilies, economic systems, religions, and any people or

groups that you have social interaction withgroups that you have social interaction with


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Studying Social InstitutionsStudying Social Institutions

Functionalist ViewFunctionalist View

One way to understand social institutions is to see how theyOne way to understand social institutions is to see how theyfulfill essential functionsfulfill essential functions

Five major tasks or functional prerequisites that a society mustFive major tasks or functional prerequisites that a society mustaccomplish if it is to surviveaccomplish if it is to survive

Replacing personalReplacing personal--immigrations, sexual reproduction, acquisition ofimmigrations, sexual reproduction, acquisition ofslaves etcslaves etc

Teaching new recruitsTeaching new recruits--formally through schools or informallyformally through schools or informallyinteraction of family and peer groupsinteraction of family and peer groups

Production and distribution of goods and serviceProduction and distribution of goods and service-- must follow a setmust follow a setof rule for allocation and distribution of goods and servicesof rule for allocation and distribution of goods and services

Preserving orderPreserving order-- protect themselves from outside attacksprotect themselves from outside attacks

Providing and maintaining a sense of purposeProviding and maintaining a sense of purpose either religious oreither religious orpatriotismpatriotism


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Five Major FunctionsFive Major FunctionsFunctionalist PerspectiveFunctionalist Perspective Related Social InstitutionsRelated Social Institutions

Replacing PersonalReplacing Personal FamilyFamily

Government (immigration)Government (immigration)

Teaching new recruitsTeaching new recruits Family (basic skills)Family (basic skills)

Economy (occupational)Economy (occupational)

Education (schools)Education (schools)

Mass mediaMass media

Religion (sacred teachings)Religion (sacred teachings)

Production and distribution of goods andProduction and distribution of goods andserviceservice

Family (food preparation)Family (food preparation)

EconomyEconomy

Government (regulations)Government (regulations)

Preserving orderPreserving order Family (child birth)Family (child birth)

GovernmentGovernment

Religion (morals)Religion (morals)

Providing and maintaining a sense of purposeProviding and maintaining a sense of purpose Government (patriotism)Government (patriotism)

ReligionReligion


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Conflict ViewConflict View

The present organization of social order is not anThe present organization of social order is not anaccidentaccident

Most institutions help maintain the status quo of theMost institutions help maintain the status quo of thepowerful elites in the societypowerful elites in the society

From a functionalist perspective social change leads toFrom a functionalist perspective social change leads toinstabilityinstability

But according to a conflict view, why should we preserveBut according to a conflict view, why should we preservethe existing structure if they are unfair andthe existing structure if they are unfair anddiscriminatory?discriminatory?


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Interactionist ViewInteractionist View

Social institutions affect our everyday behaviorSocial institutions affect our everyday behavior

Our social behavior is conditioned by the roles andOur social behavior is conditioned by the roles and

statuses that we accept, the groups to which we belongstatuses that we accept, the groups to which we belongand the institutions within that we functionand the institutions within that we function


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The FamilyThe Family-- A Global ViewA Global View

What is family?What is family? Nuclear FamilyNuclear Family

Extended familyExtended family

MonogamyMonogamy

PolygamyPolygamy

PolyandryPolyandry

Kinship patternsKinship patterns-- to whom we are related?to whom we are related? Its culturally learntIts culturally learnt

Bilateral decentBilateral decent

PatrilinealPatrilineal

MatrilinealMatrilineal


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Religion as a Social InstitutionReligion as a Social Institution

For close to 2000 years Christianity has provided a moral andFor close to 2000 years Christianity has provided a moral andspiritual framework for western developmentspiritual framework for western development

The church usually surpassed monarchs and government in theThe church usually surpassed monarchs and government in the

political power and the wealth they accumulatedpolitical power and the wealth they accumulated The priesthood maintained a monopoly over the skills of literacy ,The priesthood maintained a monopoly over the skills of literacy ,

scholarship and learningscholarship and learning

With the advent of industrialization the churches and religiousWith the advent of industrialization the churches and religiousbodies lost much of its secular powerbodies lost much of its secular power

Government took over many of the tasks previously managed by theGovernment took over many of the tasks previously managed by thechurchchurch

Scientific thought and technology increasingly challenged religionScientific thought and technology increasingly challenged religion

Secularization describes the process whereby religion looses itsSecularization describes the process whereby religion looses itsinfluence over various spears of social lifeinfluence over various spears of social life


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Marx, Weber and Durkheim on ReligionMarx, Weber and Durkheim on Religion

Marx, Weber and Durkheim together comprise theMarx, Weber and Durkheim together comprise thehistorical core of the sociological traditionhistorical core of the sociological tradition

While they each come from very different perspectivesWhile they each come from very different perspectivesand offer profound contributions to the field, they eachand offer profound contributions to the field, they eachhave tried to address problems associated with thehave tried to address problems associated with theadvent of modernityadvent of modernity


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Marx and ReligionMarx and Religion

Karl Marx attempted to examine religion from an objective ,Karl Marx attempted to examine religion from an objective ,scientific perspectivescientific perspective

According to Marx, religion is an expression of material realities andAccording to Marx, religion is an expression of material realities and

economic injusticeeconomic injustice

Religion is like other social institutions in that it is dependent uponReligion is like other social institutions in that it is dependent uponthe material and economic realities in a given society. It has nothe material and economic realities in a given society. It has noindependent history; instead it is the creature of productive forcesindependent history; instead it is the creature of productive forces

As Marx wrote, The religious world is but the reflex of the realAs Marx wrote, The religious world is but the reflex of the real

world.world. Marxs opinion is that religion is an illusion that provides reasonsMarxs opinion is that religion is an illusion that provides reasons

and excuses to keep society functioning just as it isand excuses to keep society functioning just as it is


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Marx Criticism of ReligionMarx Criticism of Religion

religion is a delusion and a worship of appearances thatreligion is a delusion and a worship of appearances thatavoids recognizing underlying realityavoids recognizing underlying reality

religion negates all that is dignified in a human being byreligion negates all that is dignified in a human being byrendering them servile and more amenable to acceptingrendering them servile and more amenable to acceptingthe status quothe status quo

Religion is meant to create illusory fantasies for theReligion is meant to create illusory fantasies for thepoor. Economic realities prevent them from finding truepoor. Economic realities prevent them from finding truehappiness in this life, so religion tells them this is OKhappiness in this life, so religion tells them this is OKbecause they will find true happiness in the next life.because they will find true happiness in the next life.


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Durkheim and ReligionDurkheim and Religion

Durkheims work , the elementary forms of religious life is one ofDurkheims work , the elementary forms of religious life is one ofthe most influential study in the sociology of religionthe most influential study in the sociology of religion

Also like Marx, Durkheim sees religion as a reflection of society andAlso like Marx, Durkheim sees religion as a reflection of society and

not a depiction of an external supernatural realitynot a depiction of an external supernatural reality

Durkheim defines religion as a unified system of beliefs andDurkheim defines religion as a unified system of beliefs andpractices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apartpractices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apartand forbiddenand forbiddenbeliefs and practices which unite into one singlebeliefs and practices which unite into one singlemoral community called a Church, all those who adhere to themmoral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them

Ceremony and rituals are essential for binding the members ofCeremony and rituals are essential for binding the members ofgroup togethergroup together

Religion has both manifest functions (give meaning to divine) andReligion has both manifest functions (give meaning to divine) andlatent functionslatent functions


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Weber and ReligionWeber and Religion

Weber did a massive study of religions workWeber did a massive study of religions work--widewide

In theIn the Sociology of ReligionSociology of Religion, Weber lays out his thesis, Weber lays out his thesisthat people pursue their interests, and that religiousthat people pursue their interests, and that religiousleaders and structures help people achieve those goalsleaders and structures help people achieve those goals

Weber argued that religion was one of the nonWeber argued that religion was one of the non--exclusiveexclusivereasons for the different ways the cultures of thereasons for the different ways the cultures of theOccident and the Orient have developedOccident and the Orient have developed

Weber maintained that Calvinist (and more widely,Weber maintained that Calvinist (and more widely,Protestant) religious ideas had had a major impact onProtestant) religious ideas had had a major impact onthe social innovation and development of the economicthe social innovation and development of the economicsystem of Europe and the United Statessystem of Europe and the United States


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Influence of religionInfluence of religion

Religion and social supportReligion and social support

Religion encourages us to view our personal misfortunes asReligion encourages us to view our personal misfortunes asrelatively unimportant in the broader perspective of humanrelatively unimportant in the broader perspective of humanhistory. E.g. death of a loved onehistory. E.g. death of a loved one

Religion and social changeReligion and social change

Protestants favored rational pursuit of economic gain andProtestants favored rational pursuit of economic gain andworldly activities which had been given positive spiritual andworldly activities which had been given positive spiritual andmoral meaningmoral meaning

Like Durkheim, Weber demonstrated that religion is not solely aLike Durkheim, Weber demonstrated that religion is not solely amatter of personal belief but rather collective nature of religionmatter of personal belief but rather collective nature of religionhas social consequences for society as a wholehas social consequences for society as a whole


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Religion and Social ControlReligion and Social Control--ConflictConflict

PerspectivePerspective Karl Marx thought religion impeded social change by encouragingKarl Marx thought religion impeded social change by encouraging

oppressed people to focus on otheroppressed people to focus on other--worldly concerns rather than onworldly concerns rather than ontheir immediate poverty or exploitationtheir immediate poverty or exploitation

religion plays an important role in propping up the existing socialreligion plays an important role in propping up the existing socialstructurestructure

Religions promotion of social stability only helps to perpetuateReligions promotion of social stability only helps to perpetuatepatterns of social inequalitypatterns of social inequality

Dominant religion reinforces the interests of those in powerDominant religion reinforces the interests of those in power

By inducing false consciousness amongst the disadvantagesBy inducing false consciousness amongst the disadvantagesreligion lessens the possibility of collective political action which canreligion lessens the possibility of collective political action which canend capitalist oppression and transform societyend capitalist oppression and transform society


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Education: Schools as formalEducation: Schools as formal

organizationsorganizations schools do not operate autonomously: they are influenced by theschools do not operate autonomously: they are influenced by the

market of potential studentsmarket of potential students Max Weber noted five basic characteristics of bureaucracy, all ofMax Weber noted five basic characteristics of bureaucracy, all of

which are evident in the vast majority of schoolswhich are evident in the vast majority of schools Division of laborDivision of labor--specialized experts teach particular level and specificspecialized experts teach particular level and specific

subjectsubject Hierarchy of authorityHierarchy of authority-- each employee of the school system iseach employee of the school system is

responsible to a higher authorityresponsible to a higher authority Written rules and regulationsWritten rules and regulations--teachers and administration shouldteachers and administration should

conform to numerous rules and regulations in performance of their dutyconform to numerous rules and regulations in performance of their duty

ImpersonalityImpersonality-- university has been portrayed as a giant facelessuniversity has been portrayed as a giant facelessbureaucracy that cares little for the uniqueness of the individualbureaucracy that cares little for the uniqueness of the individual Employment based on technical qualificationsEmployment based on technical qualifications--the hiring of teachers andthe hiring of teachers and

college professors is based on professional competence and expertisecollege professors is based on professional competence and expertise


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Different ViewsDifferent Views

Functionalist take a positive view of theFunctionalist take a positive view of thebureaucratization of education in contrast conflict viewbureaucratization of education in contrast conflict view

argues that the trend towards more centralizedargues that the trend towards more centralizededucation has harmful consequences for disadvantagededucation has harmful consequences for disadvantagedpeoplepeople

In view of the conflict approach, lowIn view of the conflict approach, low--income andincome andminority parents will have even less influence over cityminority parents will have even less influence over city--

wide educational administrations than they have overwide educational administrations than they have overlocal school officialslocal school officials


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Student SubcultursStudent Subculturs

One of the latent function of education relates directly toOne of the latent function of education relates directly tostudent life: schools provide for students social andstudent life: schools provide for students social andrecreational needsrecreational needs

Four types of subFour types of sub--cultures that comes out of theircultures that comes out of theiranalysis:analysis: The collegiate subcultureThe collegiate subculture focuses on having fun andfocuses on having fun and

socializationsocialization

Academic subcultureAcademic subculture-- identifies with the intellectual concerns ofidentifies with the intellectual concerns of

the facultythe faculty Vocational subculturesVocational subcultures-- is primarily concerned with careeris primarily concerned with career

prospectsprospects

nonconformists subculturesnonconformists subcultures-- hostile to the college environmenthostile to the college environment


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Government: Power and AuthorityGovernment: Power and Authority

Someone or some group makes important decision about how toSomeone or some group makes important decision about how toallocate resourcesallocate resources

the struggle for power and authority inevitably involves politicsthe struggle for power and authority inevitably involves politics--whowho

gets what, when and howgets what, when and how Power is the heart of political systemPower is the heart of political system

Max WeberMax Weber--power is the ability to exercise ones will over otherspower is the ability to exercise ones will over others

Three basic sorces of powerThree basic sorces of power ForceForce

InfluenceInfluence

AuthorityAuthority Traditional authorityTraditional authority

LegalLegal--Rational authorityRational authority

Charismatic authorityCharismatic authority


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Who rules USA?Who rules USA?

Do the people we elect rule the country or is it ruled byDo the people we elect rule the country or is it ruled bysmall elitesmall elite

Power elite modelPower elite model Mills ModelMills Model

Domhoff ModelDomhoff Model

Pluralist ModelPluralist Model


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Economic SystemEconomic System

Both capitalism and socialist economic system conform to certain idealsBoth capitalism and socialist economic system conform to certain idealssuch as private or collective onership, however hardly do we find a moresuch as private or collective onership, however hardly do we find a morecapitalist or a pure socialist economycapitalist or a pure socialist economy

CapitalismCapitalism

Means of production is largely in the hands of private ownersMeans of production is largely in the hands of private owners Main incentive for growth is profitMain incentive for growth is profit LaisserLaisser--faire economyfaire economy Today's capitalism features extensive government regulation of economicToday's capitalism features extensive government regulation of economic

relationsrelations It tolerates monopolistic practicesIt tolerates monopolistic practices

SocialismSocialism

Reflected in the writings of Karl MarxReflected in the writings of Karl Marx Socialism aims to eliminate economic exploitationSocialism aims to eliminate economic exploitation The means of production and distribution is done collectively and not privatelyThe means of production and distribution is done collectively and not privately

ownedowned A central government representative of the people makes all the imp decisionsA central government representative of the people makes all the imp decisions


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Economic ChangeEconomic Change

The face of the workforceThe face of the workforce

DeindustrializationDeindustrialization

EE--commercecommerce Contingency workforceContingency workforce

55400420 social institutions

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