SOCIAL INSTITUTION
DEFINITION
Institutions are system of social relationship for meeting various felt human needs.
Social institution is the social structure and machinery through which the societies
organize direct and execute multifarious activities required to satisfy the human
needs.
Social institution is the group of people united by common interest endowed with
material equipment following rules of their traditions and contributing to the work of
culture as a whole.
The people interact with one another in their social living. This reciprocal
relationship is based on the status and role of people which they perform in various
social situations. This role performance when regularized into some permanent form
is called social institution.
ELEMENTSOF SOCIAL INSTITIONS
An institution to a society is like an organ to human body. Institution works as an entity. Its
parts cannot function alone. Taking the institution as a whole we can analyse it into the
following segments.
It is a group of people who are interrelated through social interaction.
This group of people is united under common interest.
This group has material equipment like building, furniture. Etc.
This group functions according to laid down customs and values of life.
This group fulfils some needs of social life.
Precisely
It is a group of people.
United by common interest.
Having material resources.
Having norms and fulfil some social needs.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIALINSTITUTIONS
1. Social institutions are a pattern of behaviour grouped about the basic needs of human
beings in society.
2. In all societies the institutions of family plays the central role.
3. The family normally places stronger emotional claims upon the individual than any
other institution.
4. The central aspects of social institutions are the functions they perform and the
patterns established to carry out the functions.
5. The institutions of the society are closely interdependent.
6. The institutions are connected through status and role of its members.
7. Institutions are the most important agencies for the formation of the personality.
8. The social institutions are the general conservers and transmitters of cultural
heritage.
9. The morality of a society is embodied in its institutions.
THE GENREAL FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
i. Reproduction
The institutions reproduce human race, goods, services, traditions, and all
other patters of social life. The human race is reproduced in family. Material
goods and services are produced and distributed by economic institutions.
Power, authority is produced and enforced by the political institution. Values,
beliefs, ritual and ceremonies are the responsibility of religious institution.
The educational institutions produce various techniques and ways to make
the life of the people successful.
ii. Socialization
The process of socialization starts from the birth and remain continuous upto
the end of life. The learning of the ways of life in different social institutions is
named as socialization.
iii. Sense And Purpose
Every social institution is established for the fulfilment of a specific purpose.
iv. Preservation of social order
The social institutions maintain control and order in society. This aim can b
achieved by creating an organization amongst the institution. An institution
cannot function alone without cooperation and association of other
institutions. This dependence amongst them is organization. This mutual
relationship and interdependence among the social institutions is named as
social structure.
v. Transmission of culture and values
Human beings learn the characteristics of the culture and values of their
society in the social institution.
PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
The social institutions shape the personality of the individuals of their society because the
personality formation is biological process. It is a social process and depends upon the
institutions which socialize the personalities of its society members.
Self or ego is not a biological trait. It is being transmitted through the social institutions to its
members.
INTERRELATIONSHIP OF SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
The society is the composition of institutions. And the institutions fulfil the felt need of the
people. All institutions prevailing in a society are having interrelationship and connected
with each other for the betterment of its people and for the fulfilment of the felt needs of its
members and these institutions are closely interrelated. The dependence of institutions upon
one another is called social organization. Interrelationship of the institutions is termed as
social structure. The sum of all institutions is named society.
FAMILY
DEFINITION
Kinship grouping which provides for the rearing of child and for certain other human
needs.
Family is a kin based cooperative unit.
It is a network of relatives who may live or do not live together. Kinship is a
relationship which gives a sense of common origin.
Family is group of persons united by ties of marriage, blood or adoption constituting
a simple household interacting and intercommunicating with each other for the
performance their respective roles like husband and wife, father and mother, son and
daughter, brother and sister creating a common culture.
FUNCTIONS OF FAMILY
a) Regulation of sex
b) Reproduction
c) Socialization
d) Affection
e) Safeguard of interest
f) Protection
g) Economic aspect
h) Education
i) Recreation
j) Religious and cultural values
