Module 6: Human Behaviour and Social Sciences

Unit 1: The Place of Society in the Social Sciences

1. Social Institutions

2. Social Structures

1. Social Institutions: Social institutions are the backbone of any society. They are
composed of norms, values, roles, and routines that guide how people live and behave. Their
primary purpose is to meet society's basic needs. keep order, and help people understand their
place in the world. These systems help society stay stable and grow.

Key Features of Social Institutions:

1. Structured and Organized: Institutions have clear roles and rules. For example, in
schools, teachers teach, students learn, and principals manage.
2. Stable Over Time: Institutions last for many years. They may change a little—like new
teaching methods in schools—their main purpose stays the same.
3. Set Norms and Rules: Institutions guide how people should behave. They teach rules,
values, and what is right or wrong. For example, religion teaches moral behaviour, and
schools set rules for learning and respect.
4. Universality/Exist Everywhere: All societies have institutions no matter the culture or
history like family, education, religion, and government to keep life organized and
support people’s needs.

Major Social Institutions and Their Functions:

1. Family: The first place where people learn values, culture, and how to behave.
o Function: Teaches values, love, and care; raises children.
o Example: Parents teaching kids how to speak and behave.
2. Education: Schools and colleges teach knowledge, skills, and good behaviour.
o Function: Gives knowledge, skills, and prepares for jobs.
o Example: Schools, colleges, and universities.
3. Religion: It gives people a sense of belonging and guides them in making right choices.
o Function: Guides morals, values, and brings people together.
o Example: Churches, mosques, temples, prayer meetings.
4. Economy: It helps people earn a living and meet their needs.
o Function: Manages jobs, money, goods, and services.
o Example: Banks, markets, factories, and shops.
5. Government: It helps run the country smoothly.
o Function: Makes laws, keeps order, and provides services.
o Example: Police, courts, local councils, parliament.
6. Healthcare: Takes care of people's health through hospitals, clinics, and doctors.
o Function: Keeps people healthy and treats sickness.
o Example: Hospitals, clinics, doctors, nurses.
 7. Media: It helps people stay informed and shapes opinions.
o Function: Shares news, ideas, and entertainment.
o Example: TV, newspapers, radio, social media.

Functions of Social Institutions:

1. Socialization: Institutions teach people how to live in society by passing on values,

culture, and behaviour.
o Example: Families teach children how to speak, behave, and respect others.
Schools teach discipline and teamwork.
2. Regulation of Behaviour: They create rules and norms that guide how people act,
helping to prevent conflict and confusion.
o Example: Governments make laws, and schools set rules like wearing uniforms
or coming on time.
3. Social Integration: Institutions help bring people together by creating shared experiences
and goals.
o Example: Religious events, national festivals, and school assemblies bring people
from different backgrounds together.
4. Goal Attainment: They help society reach big goals by organizing and guiding group
efforts.
o Example: The education system prepares students for jobs. The government
builds roads, hospitals, and runs programs to improve living standards.
5. Adaptation to Change: Institutions stay stable but also change when needed to fit new
situations in society.
o Example: Schools added online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Families now adjust to modern roles like working parents.

Theoretical Perspectives on Social Institutions:

1. Functionalist Perspective: Every institution has a role that helps society works
smoothly.
o Example: Talcott Parsons argued that institutions like Family, school, and
government all work together to support people and keep society stable.
2. Conflict Perspective: Institutions often help powerful groups stay in control and create
inequality.
o Example: Karl Marx pointed out that the rich may use schools or the economy
to stay in power, while the poor get fewer chances.
3. Symbolic Interactionist Perspective: Focuses on small, everyday interactions within
institutions. Roles and meanings are shaped by people’s experiences. It focuses on
Personal meanings, roles, and communication.
o Example: What it means to be a teacher, or parent can be different based on
culture and personal views.

2. Social Structures: Social structure means the organized way people live and interact in
a society. It includes roles, rules, and relationships that shape our daily life.
Key Features of Social structures:

1. Statuses and Roles: Everyone has a status (like student, teacher, parent) with certain
roles (expected behaviours). These statuses can be determined by factors (like age, race
or gender), or achieved (resulting from personal efforts, like career success).
2. Social Groups: People belong to groups like families, friends, or work teams. These
groups give a sense of identity, belonging and teach us values.
3. Stability and Endurance: Social structures are dynamic (change over time), but many
parts stay the same, giving society stability and order.
4. Multiple Levels: They work at macro levels (like government or economy) and micro
levels (like family or friends).
5. Guides Behaviour: Social structures help people know what behaviour is right or
wrong in different situation (like we should respect elders, follow school rules).

Components of Social Structure:

1. Status: Position or rank a person holds in society. It comes with various

responsibilities.
Example: Student, teacher, doctor
2. Role: Expected behaviour based on status.
Example: A student studies, a teacher teaches
3. Groups: People with shared goals or interests. Groups can be formal (like a company
or political party) or informal (such as a circle of friends).
Example: Friends, family, school clubs
4. Norms: Unwritten rules about how to behave within the society,
Example: Saying “thank you,” waiting in line
5. Values: Shared beliefs about right and wrong.
Example: Honesty, respect, hard work.
6. Institutions: Big systems that meet society’s needs.
Example: Family, education, religion, government.

Types of Social Structure:

1. Horizontal Structure: People are equal in status, means power and resources are equally
distributed.
Example: Classmates, team members
2. Vertical Structure: There is a hierarchy or ranking, where power and resources are
unevenly distributed.
Example: Boss and workers, rich and poor.

Functions of Social Structure:

1. Maintains Order: Helps people behave properly and live together peacefully.
2. Controls Resources: Decides who gets what (money, power, jobs).
3. Shapes Identity & Behaviour: Tells people how to act based on their roles and status.
4. Affects Social Mobility: Decides how easily someone can move up or down in society.
Theoretical Perspectives on Social structure:

1. Functionalist Perspective: This view says that every part of society (like roles, rules,
and institutions) works together to keep things running smoothly. It helps keep order and
stability.
o Example:
Schools educate children, hospitals care for the sick, and families raise kids—
all parts have a job to keep society strong.
2. Conflict Perspective: This view says social structures are not fair. They are made to help
powerful people and hurt the weaker ones. It focuses on problems like inequality, unfair
treatment, and lack of opportunity.
o Example:
Rich people may have better schools and jobs, while poor people struggle. The
system Favors the rich.
3. Symbolic Interactionist Perspective: This view says social structure is created through
daily interactions between people. People give meaning to roles and rules through
communication and behaviour.
o Example:
A teacher is seen as a leader in class because students treat them that way. The
role exists because of shared understanding.