Social InstitutionsSocial Institutions

Social InstitutionsSocial Institutions

A A social institutionsocial institution is an important human is an important human organization in a culture group that helps a organization in a culture group that helps a society to survive.society to survive.

Anthropologists have identified Anthropologists have identified government, government, religion, education , economy and familyreligion, education , economy and family as the five basic social institutions that are as the five basic social institutions that are necessary for a society to survivenecessary for a society to survive

An easy way to remember the social An easy way to remember the social institutions is by using the initials institutions is by using the initials GREEFGREEF

G is for GovernmentG is for Government

GovernmentGovernment is the is the political political organization of a societyorganization of a society

TheThe purpose purpose of government is to of government is to keep keep order and make group decisionsorder and make group decisions

In the In the U.S.,U.S., the government keeps order the government keeps order by by providing law enforcement at various providing law enforcement at various levels; it defends us from enemies through levels; it defends us from enemies through the armed services; it provides social the armed services; it provides social services like Social Security and Medicare; services like Social Security and Medicare; it protects the rights of the population.it protects the rights of the population.

R is for ReligionR is for Religion Religion Religion represents the represents the moral belief system moral belief system

of a societyof a society; it can include ideas about magic, ; it can include ideas about magic, superstition and an explanation about how the superstition and an explanation about how the universe came aboutuniverse came about

Religion is necessary to Religion is necessary to determine group determine group values; to have a common belief systemvalues; to have a common belief system

Although American society has many religions Although American society has many religions sects, they serve similar functions. sects, they serve similar functions. Religion Religion teaches a moral code that is generally teaches a moral code that is generally reflective of the societyreflective of the society; ;

1. Meet Basic needs not met by

Other Social Institutions.

Meet ultimate concerns with lifeand death.

Explain the meaningof existence

Provide social stability…provideindividuals with

A moral & ethical code of behavior.

Religion is a very early social institution.

Neathanderthal man (Homo Neanderthalensis) seemed to have some religious faith…Burials

In their attempt to account for awe-inspiring phenomena.

Such as storms, mencame to the

conclusionsupernaturalpowers existed

Another idea that took place was the growth of ideas of right & wrong.

Good behavior must be rewarded by the gods; bad behavior would be punished. A code of ethics.

1. Emile Durkheim

2. Karl Marx

Durkheim

Marx

Viewed religious functionsand ceremonies as a way tobring a community together

Believed that religion divided the classes…strong vs. weak.

Religion in America is much different than in other parts of the world

In the United Statesthere is no establishedChurch due to separationof Church& State.

There is ahigh degreeof religious

toleration and freedom

in the U.S.thanks tothe 1st

Amendment

As a result the United States has manydifferent religious groups living togetherin harmony.

Some people believe religion in America is on the decline. Why?

1. General decadence.

2. Expansion of science.

3. Other social institutions provide value instruction.

While others believe Religion in America is still important. Why?

1. Science and secular world have failed to provide answers that people want.

* 80% state that religion is important* 15% state religion is not important

E is for EconomyE is for Economy

TheThe economy economy of a culture represents of a culture represents the way that the way that resources are used to meet human needs and resources are used to meet human needs and wantswants

An economy is necessary because An economy is necessary because it allows people to it allows people to make a living and determines how to acquire and make a living and determines how to acquire and distribute goods and servicesdistribute goods and services

The American economy provides a great number of The American economy provides a great number of goods and services demanded by society. It goods and services demanded by society. It produces produces and distributes food suppliesand distributes food supplies; it ; it manufactures manufactures and sellsand sells industrial and consumer industrial and consumer goods;goods; it conducts it conducts tradetrade with industries around the globe. with industries around the globe.

E is for EducationE is for Education

EducationEducation is the institution that passes on essential is the institution that passes on essential cultural knowledge to members of a societycultural knowledge to members of a society

EducationEducation is necessary is necessary to pass information and to pass information and knowledge of the culture from one generation knowledge of the culture from one generation to the nextto the next

American education American education instills knowledge about the instills knowledge about the world;world; it provides it provides skills to become competent skills to become competent in the adult world of work;in the adult world of work; it teaches the it teaches the values of the American way of life;values of the American way of life; it offers it offers opportunities for intellectual, social and opportunities for intellectual, social and emotional growth.emotional growth.

All societies make some arrangements for the education of the young.

Think back to Cultural Anthropology and how the various societies educated their young...

Importance of Educational Institutions

Schools are necessarybecause of 2 facts…

1. Human culture isnot biologically inherited, but learned.

2. Young people developsocial personalities through adult care &teaching.

One of the major problems to faceAmerican Education is educating the culturally diverse and deprived.

A major problem to face Americaneducation is balancing the needs ofthe individual students costwise...

with community demands for economy in education.

The goal of Education today

1. Continue the existing culture2. Add to the existing cultureAdd to the existing culture

3. Advance the existing culture

F is for FamilyF is for Family

Family is the first and most basic social unit of societyFamily is the first and most basic social unit of society FamilyFamily is necessary is necessary to care for the young, to to care for the young, to

provide a kinship system for social organizationprovide a kinship system for social organization The American family is the basic unit of society. As The American family is the basic unit of society. As

such, it cares for the young physically, emotionally, such, it cares for the young physically, emotionally, socially and intellectually. It provides the basic living socially and intellectually. It provides the basic living arrangements; it structures the kinship system; it arrangements; it structures the kinship system; it furnishes companionship and emotional and social furnishes companionship and emotional and social support for its members.support for its members.

Family StructuresFamily Structures

Nuclear familyNuclear family--- just the parents --- just the parents and the childrenand the children

Extended familyExtended family--- other relatives, --- other relatives, such as grandparents, uncles and such as grandparents, uncles and aunts are also includedaunts are also included