Social Institution
Introduction:
Society has its various needs to be satisfied. People behave in the set customary patterns which are controlled by the instruments of social norms.
Sociology is defined as " the study of social institution."
Malinowski defines institution as endowed with material equipment, following rules of their tradition or agreement and contributing to the work of culture as a whole.
Elements of Social Institution
An institution to a society is like an organ of human body. Institution works as entity. its parts cannot function alone because the division of institution is not possible.
Taking the institution through whole we analyze in to fallowing segments.
* It is a group of people who are interrelated through social interaction.
* This group of people is united under common interest.
* This group function according to the customs of life.
* This group fulfils some needs of social life.
Five elements are found in all institutions of the world societies.
These elements can be summed up by following:
* A group of people
* United by common interest
* Having material resources
* Having norms
* Fulfill some social needs
Nature of Social Institution
From the above we can deduce about the nature of social institution.
The people interact with one another in their general social living. This reciprocal relationship is based on status and role of the people which they preform in various social situation. this role performance when regularized into some permanent form is called institution.
i. permanent association of people:
It is more or less a permanent association of people cantered round a specific objective.
ii. preserve value:
The institution preserves the values, sometimes, ethos, customs, belief and tradition of culture. the people while living in society follow these ways of life. These ways functions as social norms. These ways of society marriage, religion and education.
iii. Possess material Objects:
The institution being a group of people has national resources and material object also. The building, Furniture, books and other material objects of social life are a part of institution.
iv. Network of social norms:
An institution is a network of social norms. It means the people in the institution performs their roles according to the customary ways of life.
v. Uses Symbols to distinguish:
Every institution uses symbols by which it is distinguished from others are called by this name. A name is given to an institution which is a image.
vi. Institution function within normative frame work:
All the institution functions according to certain rules and regulations which are mostly written. The violators are punished according to the same rule.
Characteristics of Social Institutions
The following characteristics of institution are given by Merrill.
1. Social Institution are patterns if behaviour grouped about the central needs of human being in society.
2. In all societies the organization of family performs a principal position.
3. More the Behaviour become patterns.
4. Many of the basic cultural values of a society are embodied in its institutions.
5. The claims of institutions upon the members are also known as loyalties.
6. Institutions are connected through status and role of the members.
7. The morality of a society is embodied in its institutions.
8. Each Institutions is thus a center of complex cluster or social norms.
Types of Institutions
There are followings types of institutions according to Gillin and Gillin.
1. Crescive and Enacted institutions:
Crescive grows up unconsciously out of the more such as property, marriage and religion.
2. Basic and Subsidiary institution:
The basic are those which are necessary from maintenance of order in society like family, mosque, College and state.
3. Sanctioned and unsanctioned institution:
Business and trade are socially sanctioned but smuggling is unsanctioned institution.
4. General and restricted institution:
The federal Govt. of pakistan is general and provincial Govt. are the restricted institutions.
5. Operative and regulative institution:
Operative are those which organize patterns for the attainment of objectives industries.
The General Functions of Institution
There are following functions of the general institutions.
1. Reproduction:
The institution reproduce human race, goods, services, traditions and all other patterns of social life.
2. Socialization:
All the establishments hold social morns with the aid of transmitting them to the people taking part in them. This techniques is begin from beginning and contains up to the quit of lifestyles.
3. Sense of Purpose:
Every institution is established for the fulfillment of a social purpose. Religions institutions impart religious education to the students.
4. Preservation of social order:
The main aim of human societies is to maintain control and order. this aim cam be achieved by creating an organization among the institution.
5. Personality:
The institutions ,shapes personalities of the individuals. A child born to a pakistani family if socialized in America will display American traits in him after 1 to 10 years of life.
Interrelationship of social Institutions
The whole Society of social functions as a whole. Society is composed of institutions. The institutes fulfill the needs of the people. Human needs are multiplying day by day due to expansions of education, technology and industry. Similarly the number of institution to satisfy these needs is increasing. Human needs independent from one another. One man cannot fulfill all the needs thus they needs the others. Thus relation among the institution is the social structure a frame work of society.
Institutions and Associations
Man creates associations, also rules and procedure for the fulfillment of common needs and relationship of members to one another. Association on the other hand have institution with respect to their interest.
The family, for example a marriage that cis an institution of making relationship. we belong to association not to institution. by using the same term in different references, confusion between institution and association may arise which can be removed.