Social Institutions

Social Institutions
• Social institutions are standardized patterns of
rule-governed behavior.

• They include the family, education, religion,

economic and political institutions.
3 Basic Aspects of Social Institutions
• Social institutions are usually conceived as the
basic focuses of social organization, dealing with
some of the basic universal problems of social
life.
• Three basic aspects of social institutions are:
▫ First, the patterns of behavior which are
regulated by institutions deal with some basic
problems of any society.
3 Basic Aspects of Social Institutions
▫ Second, institutions involve the regulation of
behavior of individuals in society according to
some definite, continuous, and organized
patterns.
▫ Finally, these patterns involve a definite
normative ordering and regulation; that is,
regulation is upheld by norms and by
sanctions which are legitimized by these
norms.
 Major Perspectives
Functionalist theory
The functionalist perspective is based largely
on the works of (Herbert Spencer, etal)
According to functionalism, society is a system
of interconnected parts that work together in
harmony to maintain a state of balance and
social equilibrium for the whole.
• The social institutions fulfill functional
prerequisites and are essential.
 Conflict theory

 This perspective is derived from the works of 

Karl Marx, who saw society as fragmented into
groups that compete for social and economic
resources.
• Social institutions tend to reinforce inequalities
and uphold the power of dominant groups.
• Emphasizes divisions and conflicts within social
institutions.
Social Institutions
1. The Family:
• A socially defined set of relationships between at
least two people related by birth, marriage,
adoption, or, in some definitions, long-standing
ties of intimacy.
• Functionalist theory: Functions of the family
include socializing children, providing basic
necessities and reproduction, distributing
resources, providing social support.
2. Education
• A formal process in which knowledge, skills, and
values are systematically transmitted from one
individual or group to another.
• Functionalist theory: Functions of education
include transmitting shared values and beliefs,
transmitting specific knowledge and skills,
sorting individuals based on skill, and
establishing social control over youths.
• Conflict theory: Educational tracking systems
and other differential treatment of students
reinforce social inequalities.
3. Religion:
• A unified system of beliefs the right way to live that is
shared by a group of believers. Sociologists treat religion
as a social rather than supernatural phenomenon.
• Functionalist theory: Functions of religion include
providing meaning for life, reinforcing social norms,
strengthening social bonds, and marking status changes
(e.g., marriage).
4. Economic Institutions:
• Sociologists understand the economy as the set of
arrangements by which a society produces,
distributes, and consumes goods, services, and
other resources.
• Economic organization (the means and relations of
production) determines the major features of any
society.
• Functionalist theory: Functions of economic
institutions include: production and distribution of
goods, assignment of individuals to different social
roles such as occupations.
 
5. Political Institutions:
• Institutions that pertain to the governance of a
society, its formal distribution of authority, its use
of force, and its relationships to other societies and
political units.
• an important political institution in modern
societies, is the apparatus of governance over a
particular territory.
• Functionalist theory: Functions of political
institutions include protection from external
enemies, resolving group conflicts, defining societal
goals, and strengthening group identity and norms.
 Karl Marx
• The philosopher, social scientist, historian and
revolutionary, Karl Marx, is without a doubt the most
influential socialist thinker to emerge in the
Nineteenth Century.
• Although he was largely ignored by scholars in his
own lifetime, his social, economic and political ideas
gained rapid acceptance in the socialist movement
after his death in 1883.
 Social Stratification
• Stratification describes the way in which different groups
of people are placed within society.
• The status of people is often determined by how society is
stratified - the basis of which can include;
▫ Wealth and income
▫ Social class
▫ Ethnicity
▫ Gender
▫ Political status
▫ Religion (e.g. the caste system in India)
 Four Basic Principles
• Social stratification is based on four basic
principles:
1. Social stratification is a trait of society, not
simply a reflection of individual differences
2. Social stratification carries over from
generation to generation
3. Social stratification is universal but variable
4. Social stratification involves not just inequality
but beliefs as well.
Organization of Modern Western Societies

• In Modern Western Societies, stratification is

broadly organized into three main layers: upper
class, Middle class & Lower class
• Each of these classes can be further subdivided
into smaller classes e.g occupational
1. Property
• The basis of social stratification is property.
• Karl Marx assigned industrial society two major and one
minor classifications:
1. The bourgeoisie (capitalist class), 
2. Petite bourgeoisie (small capitalist class),
3. Proletariat (worker class)
• Capitalists are those who own the methods of
production and employ others to work for them. 
• Workers are those who do not own the means of
production, do not hire others, and thus are forced to
work for the capitalists. 
• Small capitalists are those who own the means of
production but do not employ others. 
2. Power
• The second basis of social stratification is power.
• That is, having power is positively correlated with
being rich, as evidenced by the domination of wealthy
person in high‐ranking governmental positions.
• Wealthier people are more likely to be politically
active. In contrast, poorer people are less likely to be
politically active.
3. Prestige
• A final basis of social stratification is the unequal
distribution of prestige, or an individual's
status among his or her peers and in society.
• Although property and power are objective,
prestige is subjective, for it depends on other
people's perceptions and attitudes.
• And while prestige is not as tangible as money
and influence, most people want to increase
their status and honor as seen by others.
 Class and Caste Difference
• A principle difference between class and caste is that
class is open for all and social mobility is possible.
• In the caste system the vertical mobility is not
possible.
• Caste has religious background and everybody tries
to fulfill the caste duties, but in class system of social
stratification religion has no place.
• Caste and Class jointly determine the position of
an individual in social strain.
• Particularly in rural communities caste system
has maintained its rigidity.
• Even in the urban society a constant tendency to
make caste distinction is observed in the upper
and middle classes.
• Thus the castes have maintained their
importance in class system of social
stratification.
 Difference between Caste and Class:
S. No Caste Class
Membership of a cast is A person is placed class by virtue of
1 hereditary and no amount his acquisition of education, wealth
or struggle and change it. or other achievement.
There is no social mobility. Social mobility is possible, i.e. it is
2
possible to improve social status
Members are normally not Members are generally conscious of
3 conscious of their social their social status.
status.
Caste system expects Social class has no prescribed
members of follow certain customs rituals and folkways
4
customs, folkways, rituals
etc.
Inter-caste marriage is not Marriage between two individuals
possible, because it will belonging to different classes is
5
earn wrath of society possible without earning displeasure
of the society
S. No Caste Class
Caste system is based on Social classes are based on
inferiority or superiority of superiority or inferiority of social
6 human beings. Therefore, status of an individual. Social
does not promote classes help in working of
democracy. democracy.
In caste system the Members of social classes may
7 members must follow a follow any religion
particular religion.
Caste system is a closed Social classes are open class system
class system in which in which movement from one class
8
hereditary status is the life to another is completely
time status. unrestricted.
In caste system, there is no As a member of social class one can
occupational mobility, i.e. adopt any occupation and change it
9 one has to follow at will.
occupation of ancestors
and it cannot be changed
S. No Caste Class
Social gap between Social gap is not so wide as in class
10 members of different castes system.
is too wide.
Caste system is supported Social classes have no such religious
11 on religious grounds as a a support.
manifestation of God’s will.
Thank You