Social institution

several definitions of institutions have been formulated by sociologigsts and rural sociologists:

"An institution is an organised system of social relationships which embodies certain common values and procedures and meets certain basic needs of society". [Horton, 1964, p. 206]

"Social institutions are formal cultural structures devised to meet basic social needs". [Landis, 1955, p. 555]

"An institution is a relatively permanent structure of social patterns of roles and relations that people enact in certain sanctioned and unified ways for the purpose of satisfying basic social needs". [Fitcher, 1964, p. 248]

Composition and function of institution:

Institutions may vary in their purpose and in other ways but also exhibit strong similarities.The following lists such common aspects in the composition and function of institutions:

1.       Institutions consist of material cultural objects, specified patterns of behaviour, a set of attitudes, roles and expectations .Cultural objects of a materials natures that are a part of institutions include symbols such as the flag of a nation.

2.       Institutions must prepare their members for effective participation.The marriage ceremony involves the reception of marriage vows.

3.       Institutions function in achieving for people realisation of some of their basic needs, such as child rearing in the family institution; or securing of food , shelter and clothing in economic institutions.

4.       Institutions have a dual structure .One structure consists of the set of norms of expections,rules and procedures.The second , of individuals or personal -the network of roles, persones and status through which the institution carries out its activities.

function	Institutions	Major roles	Physical traits	symbolic traits
bearing and rearing children.	Family	Father Mother Child	house furnishings	ring weeding will
Providing food,clothing,and shelter.	Economic	Employer Employee consumer producer	factory office store	merit award emblem trade-mark
enforching laws, rules, and standards.	Political	Ruler subject	public building public works	flag codes charter
promoting cooperative attitudes, faith, hope, charity.	Religious	pastor member	cathedral temple	cross altar bible
Socializing persons into basic values and practices of society.	Education	Teacher student	school college books	diploma degrees

source:Lundberg et. al. sociology, p. 706

Major institutions in rural society:

Generally recognised are five basic institutions in both rural and urban society : the family, religion, the economic, government, and education.

1.       The family: the family is the most multifunctional of all institutions in society, and is a system of organised relationships involving workable and dependable ways of meeting basic social needs. more specifically the family commonly fulfils the following tasks in society:

·         Sex regulation.

·         reproduction and perpetuation of the family and human race ,

·         socialisation

·         provision of economic maintenance and livelihood in many cultures.

·         provision of  love , affection and security to the individual , and

·         provision of class status to the individual of the family into which he has been born.

within the basic institution of the family are secondary institutions such as engagement , marriage, courtship, and relationships with the  family into which marriage has taken place.

The family has tremendous influence on the individual,  his behaviour and his actions for it moulds him from infancy and has significant influence on the development of his personality.

2. Religion: From antiquity , human beings have sought answers to questions concerning the mysteries of creation, relationship to the super natural , a satisfying philosophy of life, and life after death.

Most religious of the world have the following elements:

·         "A set of beliefs regarding the ultimate power in the universe,

·         A set of beliefs regarding the ideal and proper pattern of behaviour,

·         A set of ceremonial ways of expressing these beliefs". [Rose , 1964, p. 203]

Each of the elements will vary in form, in ovservance, in the response they evoke from individuals.

Many taboos in various cultures have religious sanction, e.g., the taboo against eating of pork in jewish and Muslim cultures has definite and precise religious sanction.

Religion include rituals, forms of workship, and organised groups for propa-gating religions.

3. Government: Also referred to as the political institution, government administers the regulatory functions of law and order and maintains security in society.within this major institution are secondary institutions such as military system, police forces, legal system, and diplomatic relations with other countries.Government has many functions e.g.; the normal education of children,physical protection of home, fixation of prices, credit, and the regulation of marriage conditions.Another tendency or trend has been an increase in the number and scope of its functions.

4. Economic or maintenance: Such institutions provide basic physical subsistence for society and meet basic needs for food,shelter, clothing and other necessities.Included are the economic institutions of production -agriculture,industry, and the distribution, exchange, and consumption of commodities, goods and services necessary for human survival.Secondary institutions ibcluded within the major economic institutions are credit and banking system,advertising,cooperatives,etc.

5. Education: Educational institutions are those which seek to socialise individuals in society or introduce them in formal ways into their social and cultural world.Every new generation must be prepared and trained to play a role in society.In some societies, part of the function of the institution of education is performed by the institutions of the family and religion of education is performed by the institutions of the family and of religion.Educational institutions have emerged from this back ground from the home and the temple, the mosque, the church or the ashram to the formal village school, college and university .This major institutions is of tremendous influence on the behaviour of rural people,their inter-relationship and the moulding of behaviour and personality of individuals and group.

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