The purpose of this essay is; to analyze the five key social institutions and discuss their functions to the society, but first and foremost, it will define and explain the meaning of the term social institution.
In definition, Social institutions are a system of behavioral and relationship patterns that are densely interwoven and enduring, and function across an entire society. They order and structure the behavior of individuals by means of their normative character. Institutions regulate the behavior of individuals in core areas of society. (Ford. T, ed. 1969). the following are the five-social institution of the society;
The Family. it is the smallest social institution with the unique function or producing and rearing the young. Family is the basic unit of society and the educational system where the child begins to learn his primary language, and it is also basic agent of socialization because it is here where the individual develops values, behavior, and ways of life through interaction with members of the family. There are two types of families. A nuclear family comprises a mother, father, and their children living under one roof. An extended family includes several generations and branches living nearby. Marriage is a foundation of family life. It exists in every society, with some variations. And Alternative families such as single-parent households, unmarried couples, and gay and lesbian couples are on the rise in the United States. (Arnold, 1882)
However, the family is very important in the society, the following are the functions of it in the society;
the family is responsible of reproduction of the race and rearing of the young. For the society to be a society, it must contain people from all works of life, and this can only be done through human reproduction. For example, six families, each reproduces three children. These children will form a society. Therefore, for the society to be formed it need family reproduction. (Geertz, 1973)
The second function of family in the society is that; the family responsible for Cultural transmission or enculturation of individuals of the society. Cultural knowledge is every important in an individual, because it gives one the sense of origin, and besides that it teaches one how to associate and interact with people from the some or different cultures. For example; a child give respect to the elders depending on what he/she taught from is family, others lay down when greeting, while some culture prefer kneeing when greeting. (Kroeber, 1952).
The third function of family to in the society is that; family offers primary Socialization of the child. Character building of the child is built firstly by family, the way a family interacts with one another, the child automatically adopts their behavioral. For example; if in a family the members of the family are always fighting and insulting one another, the child will think it normal to behave in such a way, hence he/she will also adopt. (Kroeber, 1952).
Education. Education is a form of learning in which the knowledge, skills, and habits of a group of people are transferred from one generation to the next through teaching, training, or research. The school, first and foremost is a social institution, that is, an established organization having an identifiable structure and a set of functions meant to preserve and extend social order. School is the place for the contemplation of reality, and our task as a teacher, in simplest terms, is to show this reality to our students, who are naturally eager about them. (Ford. T, ed. 1969).
The purpose of Education according to; Intellectual Purposes, is to teach basic cognitive skills such as reading, writing, and mathematics; to transmit specific knowledge. Political Purposes of education is to inculcate allegiance to the existing political order(patriotism); to prepare citizens who will participate in the political order to assimilate diverse cultural groups into political order and to teach children the basic laws of the society. Social Purpose; to socialize children into the various roles, behavior, and values of society. And Economic Purpose; to prepare students for their later occupational roles, and to select, train, and allocate individuals into the division of labor. (Goodman. J. 2004).
Having defined and explain term education and it purpose, this essay will discuss its function in the society, the following are functions;
The first function of education in the society is that; education is an agent of change. This means that education develops individuals of the society to make an impact to the society. For example; when John is educated on the dangers of drugs, he will ensure that every individual he meets who does drugs, he will teach them about the dangers. By so doing John bring change to the society he is living in. (Walzer,M 2010).
The second function of education is that; education acts as an agent of socialization. In definition socialization is the process of acquiring knowledge, behavior through interaction. Education is responsible for the secondary socialization of every individual, in the sense that when members of the society meet in schooling. Depending on with or what kind of people the decide to interact with. Change in behavioral happens as one adopts some treat from another good or bad. For example; Mary became good in mathematics, ever since she started studying and interacting with Joseph. (Kroeber, 1952).
The third function of education in the society; is transmitting of culture. Since the society contains people from different works of life. People from different cultural groups tend to share ideas, and do a formal socialization. Through socialization one individual may copy or adopt some culture behavioral from another person’s culture. For example, Pearson visit china, upon arrival he meets a friend who educates him about the benefits of eating frogs. Pearson finds the explanation valid, he too begins to eat frog. (Wendy, 2004).
Religion is a system of beliefs and rituals that serves to bind people together through shared worship, thereby creating a social group. Also defined as a set of beliefs and practices that pertain to a sacred or supernatural realm that guides human behavior and gives meaning to life among a community of believers. The Characteristics of Religion Belief in a deity are; A doctrine of salvation, A code of conduct, and Religious rituals. (Kenneth D. 2003).
Having explained the definition and states the characteristics of Religion, the following are the function of Religion in the society;
The first function of Religion is that, it Serves as a means of social control. This means that Religion unities people from different cultures, or tribes. Giving them the opportunity to interact socially. This brings social order in the society. For example; people that are of the catholic church have the faith and belief, since they believe in the same things, they will be harmony with one another. (Kenneth D. 2003).
The second function of Religion in society is that; Religion Exerts a great influence upon personality development. In the sense that one's personality is urge influence by the belief and customs of the church. A person will react to a situation according to the way his/she Religion has taught. For example; the monks of Buddhism believe their live are scared, and the should inform met with a woman, this is a personality that was developed by the Religion belief. (Wendy. 2004).
The third function of Religion in the society is that, it gives man comfort, strength and hope in times of crisis and despair. People in the society face different challenges, it is religion that helps them to overcome. For example; an individual who loses a loved one, if he/she is a Christian he/she will feel comforted and strengthen after reading the Bible and praying to God. This is because he/she believes in the existence of a supreme deity. (Geertz, 1973).
Economic Institution. The economy is the social institution that organizes a society’s production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. the economy is the social institution responsible for the production and distribution of goods. The two dominant economic systems in the world are capitalism, under which resources and means of production are privately owned, and socialism, a system under which those resources are owned by the society. (Goodman. J. 2004). Welfare capitalism and state capitalism are hybrids of capitalism and socialism. Welfare capitalism features a market-based economy coupled with an extensive social welfare system. Under state capitalism, the government closely monitors and regulates the resources and means of production, which are privately owned. (Kenneth D. 2003).
Economic institution does the following functions for the betterment and welfare of individual of a society:
Formulation of Regulation of ‘Economic Exchanges: Business dealing is a touching matter therefore, there is a need of rules and regulation in this industrial and business era. Political institution has its supervision on these matters and rules and regulations are fixed after considering the needs of economic institution and timely changes are made in these to avoid any complication and irregularity to keep the activities continue effectively. These rules include property exchange, custom laws, expert important rules and registration of companies etc. for example, the laws and rules that are business men such licensing, tax payment. (Jonathan .T 1997).
Monitoring of Economic Activities: Economic institution supervises all economic activities. These activities are recording, and data is collected and in the light of this data, a future policy to make them more effective is prepared. The supervision problem has become important in the competition environment and to keep control on our demand and supply and to keep a balance is necessary because unbalance of this may upset the economic system. It ensures the division of wealth and precious sources to avoid accumulation of wealth and its negative effects on the society i.e. to keep the society free from class struggle and tension leading to conflict and dispersing the harmony of social system. (Walzer, M, 2010),
Maintaining Demand and Supply: This balance of demand and supply controls the economic activities. Rise and fall of prices, the situation of stock exchange, production of industrial articles, payment of services determination and chances of employment and inflation depend upon demand and supply. The ability to keep this balance determines the strength of economic institution. The development plans for progress depend upon this. Prices remain controlled and increase the stability of the society and the society is saved from some unpleasant situation. For example, the number of bags of maize produced must be more or equal to the population of the society. (Kroeber, 1952).
Government as a social institution. Government Is the institution which solves conflicts that are public in nature and involve more than a few people. Most of the world’s governments fall into one of four categories: monarchy, democracy, authoritarianism, or totalitarianism. There are basically three Branches of Government namely; Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. (Jonathan .T 1997),
The responsibilities of government are to ensure the safety and security of all its citizens and to promote their general welfare. for example, the government provides the national defense and law enforcement in society to protect the people. (Woodrow. W, 2002).
The second function is that; the government ensures that there is order in the society. These is done making sure everything and institutions of the society working well. Examples: Air traffic control, traffic lights, highway signs, radio station frequency assignments, time zones, standard money (currency), standard weights and measurements. (Walzer, m, 2010),
The thirdly the function of government in society is to provide services such as Roads, bridges, streetlamps, healthcare, food, clean water, clean air, sewage systems, public transportation, and libraries. For example, the reconstruction of bad roads, and providing of chlorinated water during disaster times. (Woodrow. W, 2002).
And lastly the government also Guide the community through providing Education, outreach programs, and opportunities for national service (Freedom Corps) and international service (Peace Corps). These are done for the improvement of the society. (Kenneth D. 2003). For example, the building of schools.
In conclusion, Social institutions are a system of behavioral and relationship patterns that are densely interwoven and enduring, and function across an entire society. The basically five key social institution of the society, these are; The Family, Education, Religion, Economic, and Government. These five are very important in any society has the all play part in the improvement and developing of the society at large.
References
Arnold (1882). Culture and Anarchy. New York: Macmillan and Co.
Ford. T, ed. (1969). Dictionary of Modern Sociology. Totowa, New Jersey, United States: Littlefield, Adams &Co.
Geertz, (1973). The Interpretation of Cultures: Selected Essays. New York.
Goodman. J. (2004). Modern Sociological Theory. sixth ed. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.
Kroeber, (1952). Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions. Peabody Museum, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.
Kenneth D. (2003). Religion and Politics in the United States. Fourth ed. New York:
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Jonathan .T (1997), The Institutional Order, New York: Longman.
Wendy. (2004). Cultures and Societies in a Changing World. Thousand Oaks, C
A: Pine Forge Press.
Walzer,m (2010), The Moral Foundations of Social Institutions: A Philosophical Study, New York: Cambridge University Press.
Woodrow. W(2002). The Functions Of Government: The State. New York. World History Center