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Assignment 4

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37 views

Assignment 4

Uploaded by

Esha Kulsoom
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Social institutions: 

Social institutions are mechanisms or patterns of social order focused on meeting social needs,
such as government, economy, education, family, healthcare, and religion.

Elements of social institutions:


• A group of people
• United by common interest
• Having material resources
• Having norms
• Fulfill some social need

CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS:


• Social institutions are universal.
• They vary from time to time and across cultures, in terms of complexity, specialization,
scope, formality and organization. But their basic nature and purpose are similar everywhere.
• Social institutions are resistant to change; they tend to persist.
• Institutions like religion, morality, state, government, law, legislation etc. control the
behavior of men. These preserve the social order and give stability to it.
• Institutions, though diverse, are interrelated and interdependent. These are connected
through statuses and roles of the individuals.
• Institutions have cultural symbols. The symbols may be either material or non-material. A
country has a flag, an emblem, a national anthem as its symbol. A school may have its own
flag, uniform dress etc.
• The institutions being group of people have national resources and material objects. The
buildings, furniture, books, and other objects are part of social life are a part of institutions.
• Social institutions are patterns of behavior grouped about the central needs of human beings
in society.

Functions:
Each institution performs two types of social function.
(a) primary functions, which are also called manifest, explicit, or direct functions
(b) secondary functions, which are also called indirect, hidden, or latent functions. Through
these functions, social institutions fulfill important needs in the society.
THE FAMILY
The family is generally regarded as a primary social institution. The institution of family is a
basic unit in the society, and the multifaceted functions performed by it makes it a much-needed
institution in a society. It is one of the oldest social institution on the earth. Although families
differ widely around the world, they also share certain common concerns in their everyday lives.

EDUCATION
Educational institution is responsible for the systematic transmission of knowledge, skills, and
cultural values within a formally organized structure. It is one of the most influential institutions
in contemporary societies. Every nation in the world is equipped with some form of education
system, though those systems vary greatly.

POLITICAL INSTITUTION:
Political institution is the distribution system of power and authority which is used to maintain
social order. Politics is the social institution through which power is acquired and exercised by
some people and groups.

RELIGION:
Religion is a social institution composed of a unified system of beliefs, symbols, and rituals—
based on some sacred or supernatural realm that guides human behavior, gives meaning to life,
and unites believers into a community. For many people, religious beliefs provide the answers
for seemingly unanswerable questions about the meaning of life and death. Religion is a system
of faith and worship.

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