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Social Institutions Social Institutions

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Page 1: Social Institutions

Social InstitutionsSocial Institutions

Page 2: Social Institutions

Understanding the TermUnderstanding the Term Social institutionSocial institution refers to a group of social refers to a group of social

positions, connected by social relations, positions, connected by social relations, performing a social roleperforming a social role

It can also be defined in a narrower sense as any It can also be defined in a narrower sense as any institution in a society that works to socialize the institution in a society that works to socialize the groups or people in itgroups or people in it

Common examples include education, Common examples include education, governments, families, economic systems, governments, families, economic systems, religions, and any people or groups that you have religions, and any people or groups that you have social interaction with social interaction with

Page 3: Social Institutions

Studying Social InstitutionsStudying Social Institutions Functionalist ViewFunctionalist View

One way to understand social institutions is to see how One way to understand social institutions is to see how they fulfill essential functionsthey fulfill essential functions

Five major tasks or functional prerequisites that a society Five major tasks or functional prerequisites that a society must accomplish if it is to survivemust accomplish if it is to survive

Replacing personal-immigrations, sexual reproduction, Replacing personal-immigrations, sexual reproduction, acquisition of slaves etcacquisition of slaves etc

Teaching new recruits-formally through schools or informally Teaching new recruits-formally through schools or informally interaction of family and peer groupsinteraction of family and peer groups

Production and distribution of goods and service- must follow Production and distribution of goods and service- must follow a set of rule for allocation and distribution of goods and a set of rule for allocation and distribution of goods and servicesservices

Preserving order- protect themselves from outside attacksPreserving order- protect themselves from outside attacks Providing and maintaining a sense of purpose – either Providing and maintaining a sense of purpose – either

religious or patriotism religious or patriotism

Page 4: Social Institutions

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

Replacing PersonalReplacing Personal FamilyFamilyGovernment (immigration)Government (immigration)

Teaching new recruitsTeaching new recruits Family (basic skills)Family (basic skills)Economy (occupational)Economy (occupational)Education (schools)Education (schools)Mass mediaMass mediaReligion (sacred teachings)Religion (sacred teachings)

Production and distribution of goods and Production and distribution of goods and serviceservice

Family (food preparation)Family (food preparation)Economy Economy Government (regulations)Government (regulations)

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

GovernmentGovernment

Religion (morals)Religion (morals)

Providing and maintaining a sense of Providing and maintaining a sense of purposepurpose

Government (patriotism)Government (patriotism)

ReligionReligion

Page 5: Social Institutions

Conflict ViewConflict View

The present organization of social order is not an The present organization of social order is not an accidentaccident

Most institutions help maintain the status quo of Most institutions help maintain the status quo of the powerful elites in the societythe powerful elites in the society

From a functionalist perspective social change From a functionalist perspective social change leads to instability leads to instability

But according to a conflict view, why should we But according to a conflict view, why should we preserve the existing structure if they are unfair preserve the existing structure if they are unfair and discriminatory? and discriminatory?

Page 6: Social Institutions

Interactionist ViewInteractionist View

Social institutions affect our everyday behaviorSocial institutions affect our everyday behavior Our social behavior is conditioned by the roles Our social behavior is conditioned by the roles

and statuses that we accept, the groups to which and statuses that we accept, the groups to which we belong and the institutions within that we we belong and the institutions within that we functionfunction

Page 7: Social Institutions

The Family- A Global ViewThe Family- A Global View

What is family?What is family? Nuclear FamilyNuclear Family Extended familyExtended family MonogamyMonogamy PolygamyPolygamy PolyandryPolyandry

Kinship patterns- to whom we are related?Kinship patterns- to whom we are related? Its culturally learnt Its culturally learnt Bilateral decentBilateral decent PatrilinealPatrilineal MatrilinealMatrilineal

Page 8: Social Institutions

Religion as a Social InstitutionReligion as a Social Institution

For close to 2000 years Christianity has provided a moral and For close to 2000 years Christianity has provided a moral and spiritual framework for western developmentspiritual framework for western development

The church usually surpassed monarchs and government in The church usually surpassed monarchs and government in the political power and the wealth they accumulatedthe political power and the wealth they accumulated

The priesthood maintained a monopoly over the skills of The priesthood maintained a monopoly over the skills of literacy , scholarship and learningliteracy , scholarship and learning

With the advent of industrialization the churches and With the advent of industrialization the churches and religious bodies lost much of its secular powerreligious bodies lost much of its secular power

Government took over many of the tasks previously Government took over many of the tasks previously managed by the churchmanaged by the church

Scientific thought and technology increasingly challenged Scientific thought and technology increasingly challenged religionreligion

Secularization describes the process whereby religion looses Secularization describes the process whereby religion looses its influence over various spears of social lifeits influence over various spears of social life

Page 9: Social Institutions

Marx, Weber and Durkheim on Marx, Weber and Durkheim on ReligionReligion

Marx, Weber and Durkheim together comprise Marx, Weber and Durkheim together comprise the historical core of the sociological traditionthe historical core of the sociological tradition

While they each come from very different While they each come from very different perspectives and offer profound contributions to perspectives and offer profound contributions to the field, they each have tried to address the field, they each have tried to address problems associated with the advent of problems associated with the advent of modernity modernity

Page 10: Social Institutions

Marx and ReligionMarx and Religion

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

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

Religion is like other social institutions in that it is Religion is like other social institutions in that it is dependent upon the material and economic realities in a dependent upon the material and economic realities in a given society. It has no independent history; instead it is given society. It has no independent history; instead it is the creature of productive forcesthe creature of productive forces

As Marx wrote, “The religious world is but the reflex of the As Marx wrote, “The religious world is but the reflex of the real world.” real world.”

Marx’s opinion is that religion is an illusion that provides Marx’s opinion is that religion is an illusion that provides reasons and excuses to keep society functioning just as it is reasons and excuses to keep society functioning just as it is

Page 11: Social Institutions

Marx Criticism of ReligionMarx Criticism of Religion

religion is a delusion and a worship of religion is a delusion and a worship of appearances that avoids recognizing underlying appearances that avoids recognizing underlying reality reality

religion negates all that is dignified in a human religion negates all that is dignified in a human being by rendering them servile and more being by rendering them servile and more amenable to accepting the status quo amenable to accepting the status quo

Religion is meant to create illusory fantasies for Religion is meant to create illusory fantasies for the poor. Economic realities prevent them from the poor. Economic realities prevent them from finding true happiness in this life, so religion tells finding true happiness in this life, so religion tells them this is OK because they will find true them this is OK because they will find true happiness in the next life. happiness in the next life.

Page 12: Social Institutions

Durkheim and ReligionDurkheim and Religion

Durkheim’s work , the elementary forms of religious life is one Durkheim’s work , the elementary forms of religious life is one of the most influential study in the sociology of religionof the most influential study in the sociology of religion

Also like Marx, Durkheim sees religion as a reflection of society Also like Marx, Durkheim sees religion as a reflection of society and not a depiction of an external supernatural reality and not a depiction of an external supernatural reality

Durkheim defines religion as “a unified system of beliefs and Durkheim defines religion as “a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden—beliefs and practices which unite into apart and forbidden—beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a Church, all those who one single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them” adhere to them”

Ceremony and rituals are essential for binding the members of Ceremony and rituals are essential for binding the members of group togethergroup together

Religion has both manifest functions (give meaning to divine) Religion has both manifest functions (give meaning to divine) and latent functionsand latent functions

Page 13: Social Institutions

Weber and ReligionWeber and Religion

Weber did a massive study of religions work-wideWeber did a massive study of religions work-wide In the In the Sociology of ReligionSociology of Religion, Weber lays out his , Weber lays out his

thesis that people pursue their interests, and that thesis that people pursue their interests, and that religious leaders and structures help people achieve religious leaders and structures help people achieve those goals those goals

Weber argued that religion was one of the non-Weber argued that religion was one of the non-exclusive reasons for the different ways the cultures exclusive reasons for the different ways the cultures of the Occident and the Orient have developed of the Occident 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 Protestant) religious ideas had had a major impact on the social innovation and development of the on the social innovation and development of the economic system of Europe and the United States economic system of Europe and the United States

Page 14: Social Institutions

Influence of religionInfluence of religion

Religion and social supportReligion and social support Religion encourages us to view our personal misfortunes Religion encourages us to view our personal misfortunes

as relatively unimportant in the broader perspective of as relatively unimportant in the broader perspective of human history. E.g. death of a loved onehuman history. E.g. death of a loved one

Religion and social changeReligion and social change Protestants favored rational pursuit of economic gain Protestants favored rational pursuit of economic gain

and worldly activities which had been given positive and worldly activities which had been given positive spiritual and moral meaning spiritual and moral meaning

Like Durkheim, Weber demonstrated that religion is not Like Durkheim, Weber demonstrated that religion is not solely a matter of personal belief but rather collective solely a matter of personal belief but rather collective nature of religion has social consequences for society as nature of religion has social consequences for society as a wholea whole

Page 15: Social Institutions

Religion and Social Control-Religion and Social Control-Conflict PerspectiveConflict Perspective

Karl Marx thought religion impeded social change by Karl Marx thought religion impeded social change by encouraging oppressed people to focus on other-worldly encouraging oppressed people to focus on other-worldly concerns rather than on their immediate poverty or concerns rather than on their immediate poverty or exploitationexploitation

religion plays an important role in propping up the existing religion plays an important role in propping up the existing social structuresocial structure

Religion’s promotion of social stability only helps to Religion’s promotion of social stability only helps to perpetuate patterns of social inequalityperpetuate patterns 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 By inducing “false consciousness” amongst the

disadvantages religion lessens the possibility of collective disadvantages religion lessens the possibility of collective political action which can end capitalist oppression and political action which can end capitalist oppression and transform societytransform society

Page 16: Social Institutions

Education: Schools as formal Education: Schools as formal organizationsorganizations

schools do not operate autonomously: they are influenced by schools do not operate autonomously: they are influenced by the market of potential studentsthe market of potential students

Max Weber noted five basic characteristics of bureaucracy, all Max Weber noted five basic characteristics of bureaucracy, all of which are evident in the vast majority of schoolsof which are evident in the vast majority of schools Division of labor-specialized experts teach particular level and Division of labor-specialized experts teach particular level and

specific subjectspecific subject Hierarchy of authority- each employee of the school system is Hierarchy of authority- each employee of the school system is

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

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

Impersonality- university has been portrayed as a giant faceless Impersonality- university has been portrayed as a giant faceless bureaucracy that cares little for the uniqueness of the individualbureaucracy that cares little for the uniqueness of the individual

Employment based on technical qualifications-the hiring of Employment based on technical qualifications-the hiring of teachers and college professors is based on professional teachers and college professors is based on professional competence and expertisecompetence and expertise

Page 17: Social Institutions

Different ViewsDifferent Views

Functionalist take a positive view of the Functionalist take a positive view of the bureaucratization of education in contrast conflict bureaucratization of education in contrast conflict view argues that the trend towards more view argues that the trend towards more centralized education has harmful consequences centralized education has harmful consequences for disadvantaged peoplefor disadvantaged people

In view of the conflict approach, low-income and In view of the conflict approach, low-income and minority parents will have even less influence minority parents will have even less influence over city-wide educational administrations than over city-wide educational administrations than they have over local school officialsthey have over local school officials

Page 18: Social Institutions

Student SubcultursStudent Subculturs

One of the latent function of education relates One of the latent function of education relates directly to student life: schools provide for directly to student life: schools provide for students social and recreational needsstudents social and recreational needs

Four types of sub-cultures that comes out of their Four types of sub-cultures that comes out of their analysis:analysis: The collegiate subculture –focuses on having fun and The collegiate subculture –focuses on having fun and

socializationsocialization Academic subculture- identifies with the intellectual Academic subculture- identifies with the intellectual

concerns of the facultyconcerns of the faculty Vocational subcultures- is primarily concerned with Vocational subcultures- is primarily concerned with

career prospectscareer prospects nonconformists subcultures- hostile to the college nonconformists subcultures- hostile to the college

environmentenvironment

Page 19: Social Institutions

Government: Power and Government: Power and AuthorityAuthority

Someone or some group makes important decision about Someone or some group makes important decision about how to allocate resourceshow to allocate resources

the struggle for power and authority inevitably involves the struggle for power and authority inevitably involves politics-who gets what, when and howpolitics-who gets what, when and how

Power is the heart of political systemPower is the heart of political system Max Weber-power is the ability to exercise one’s will over Max Weber-power is the ability to exercise one’s will over

othersothers Three basic sorces of powerThree basic sorces of power

ForceForce InfluenceInfluence AuthorityAuthority

Traditional authorityTraditional authority Legal-Rational authorityLegal-Rational authority Charismatic authorityCharismatic authority

Page 20: Social Institutions

Who rules USA?Who rules USA?

Do the people we elect rule the country or is it Do the people we elect rule the country or is it ruled by small eliteruled by small elite

Power elite modelPower elite model Mills ModelMills Model Domhoff ModelDomhoff Model Pluralist ModelPluralist Model

Page 21: Social Institutions

Economic SystemEconomic System

Both capitalism and socialist economic system conform to certain Both capitalism and socialist economic system conform to certain ideals such as private or collective onership, however hardly do ideals such as private or collective onership, however hardly do we find a more capitalist or a pure socialist economywe find a more capitalist 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 Laisser-faire economyLaisser-faire economy Today's capitalism features extensive government regulation of Today's capitalism features extensive government regulation of

economic relationseconomic relations 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 The means of production and distribution is done collectively and not

privately ownedprivately owned A central government representative of the people makes all the imp A central government representative of the people makes all the imp

decisions decisions

Page 22: Social Institutions

Economic ChangeEconomic Change

The face of the workforceThe face of the workforce Deindustrialization Deindustrialization E-commerceE-commerce Contingency workforceContingency workforce