The following social institutions are distinguished in society. Social institutions: concept, types, functions

Concept, signs ,types, functions of social institutions

English philosopher and sociologist Herbert Spencer was the first to introduce the concept of a social institution into sociology and define it as a stable structure of social actions. He singled out six types of social institutions: industrial, trade union, political, ritual, church, home. He considered the main purpose of social institutions to provide for the needs of members of society.

Consolidation and organization of relationships that develop in the process of meeting the needs of both society and the individual are carried out by creating a system of standard models based on a generally shared system of values ​​- a common language, common ideals, values, beliefs, moral standards, etc. They establish rules of behavior for individuals in the process of their interaction, embodied in social roles. According to this, the American sociologist Neil Smelser calls a social institution “a set of roles and statuses designed to satisfy a specific social need”

In addition, in order to ensure compliance with these rules, it is necessary to create a system of sanctions that establish how a person should behave in a given situation. People's behavior that meets the standards is encouraged, and behavior that deviates from them is suppressed. Thus, social institutions represent “ value-normative complexes through which people’s actions in vital spheres are directed and controlled - economics, politics, culture, family, etc.”

Since a social institution has a stable value-normative structure, the elements of which are patterns of human activity and behavior, values, norms, ideals, is characterized by the presence of a goal, and also performs socially significant functions, it can be considered as a social system.

So, social institution(lat.socialis- public and lat.institutum- establishment) - these are historically established, sustainable, self-renewing forms of specialized activity that satisfy human needs and ensuring the stable functioning of society.

The literature identifies the following successive stages of the institutionalization process:

1) the emergence of a need (material, physiological or spiritual), the satisfaction of which requires joint organized actions;

2) formation of common goals;

3) the emergence of social norms and rules in the course of spontaneous social interaction carried out by trial and error;

4) the emergence of procedures related to norms and rules;

5) institutionalization of norms, rules and procedures, i.e. their adoption and practical use;

6) establishment of a system of sanctions to maintain norms and rules, differentiation of their application in individual cases;

7) creation of a system of statuses and roles covering all members of the institute without exception.

In addition, one of the most important elements of institutionalization is the organizational design of a social institution - the formation of a set of individuals and institutions, provided with material resources, to perform a certain social function.

The result of institutionalization is the creation, in accordance with the norms and rules, of a clear status-role structure supported by the majority of participants in this social process.

Signssocial institution. The range of features is wide and ambiguous, because in addition to features common to other institutions, they have their own specific features. So. as main A. G. Efendiev highlights the following.

A clear distribution of functions, rights, and responsibilities of participants in institutional interaction and the performance by each of them of their functions, which ensures the predictability of their behavior.

Division of labor and professionalization to effectively meet people's needs.

A special type of regulation. The main condition here is the impersonality of the requirements for the performer of actions provided for by this institution. These actions must be carried out regardless of the personal interests of the individuals included in the institution. Deindividualization of requirements ensures the integrity and stability of social ties regardless of personal composition, the preservation and self-reproduction of the social system;

The clear, often rationally justified, strict and binding nature of regulatory mechanisms, which is ensured by the presence of unambiguous norms, a system of social control and sanctions. Norms - standard patterns of behavior - regulate relationships within an institution, the effectiveness of which is based, among other things, on sanctions (incentives, punishments) that guarantee compliance with the norms underlying it.

The presence of institutions in which the activities of the institute are organized, management and control of the necessary means and resources (material, intellectual, moral, etc.) for its implementation.

The listed features characterize social interaction within a social institution as regular and self-renewing.

S. S. Frolov combines features common to all institutions V five large groups:

*attitudes and patterns of behavior (for example, for the institute of family this is affection, respect, responsibility; for the institute of education - love of knowledge, attendance at classes);

*cultural symbols (for family - wedding rings, marriage ritual; for the state - coat of arms, flag, anthem; for business - corporate symbols, patent mark; for religion - objects of worship, shrines);

*utilitarian cultural features (for a family - house, apartment, furnishings; for business - store, office, equipment; for a university - auditoriums, library);

*oral and written codes of conduct (for the state - constitution, laws; for business - contracts, licenses);

*ideology (for family - romantic love, compatibility, individualism; for business - monopoly, free trade, right to work).

The presence of the above signs in social institutions suggests that social interactions in any sphere of society's life they acquire a regular, predictable and self-renewing character.

Types of social institutions. Depending on the scope and functions, social institutions are divided into

relational, determining the role structure of society according to a variety of characteristics: from gender and age to type of occupation and abilities;

relative, establishing acceptable limits of individual behavior in relation to existing norms of action in society, as well as sanctions that punish those who go beyond these limits.

Institutions can be cultural, associated with religion, science, art, ideology, etc., and integrative, associated with social roles responsible for meeting the needs and interests of the social community.

In addition, they highlight formal And informal institutes.

Within formal institutions interaction between subjects is carried out on the basis of laws or other legal acts, formally approved orders, regulations, rules, charters, etc.

Informal institutions operate in conditions where there is no formal regulation (laws, administrative acts, etc.). An example of an informal social institution is the institution of blood feud.

Social institutions differ also in functions which they carry out in diverse spheres of social life.

Economic institutions(property, exchange, money, banks, business associations of various types, etc.) are considered the most stable, subject to strict regulation, ensuring the entire range of economic relations. They are engaged in the production of goods, services and their distribution, regulate money circulation, organization and division of labor, while simultaneously connecting the economy with other spheres of public life.

Political institutions(state, parties, public associations, court, army, etc.) express the political interests and relations existing in society, create conditions for the establishment, distribution and maintenance of a certain form political power. They are aimed at mobilizing the capabilities that ensure the functioning of society as an entity.

Institutes of culture and education(church, media, public opinion, science, education, art, etc.) contribute to the development and subsequent reproduction of sociocultural values, the inclusion of individuals in any subculture, the socialization of individuals through the adoption of sustainable standards of behavior and the protection of certain values ​​and norms .

Functions of social institutions. The functions of social institutions usually mean various aspects of their activities, more precisely, the consequences of the latter, which affect the preservation and maintenance of the stability of the social system as a whole.

Distinguish latent(completely unplanned, unexpected) and obvious(expected, intended) functions of institutions. Explicit functions related to meeting people's needs. Thus, the institute of education exists to educate, educate and prepare young people to master various special roles, to assimilate the prevailing value standards, morality and ideology in society. However, it also has a number of implicit functions that are not always realized by its participants, for example, the reproduction of social inequality, social differences in society.

The study of latent functions gives a more complete understanding of the functioning of the entire system of interconnected and interacting social institutions and each of them separately. Latent consequences make it possible to create a reliable picture of social connections and characteristics of social objects, to monitor their development, and to manage the social processes occurring in them.

Consequences that contribute to the strengthening, survival, prosperity, self-regulation of social institutions, R. Merton calls explicit functions, and the consequences that lead to disorganization of this system, changes in its structure - dysfunctions. The emergence of dysfunctions in many social institutions can lead to irreversible disorganization and destruction of the social system.

Unsatisfied social needs become the basis for the emergence of normatively unregulated activities. They make up for the dysfunction of legal institutions on semi-legal or illegal grounds. Due to the fact that moral and legal norms, as well as legal laws are not fulfilled, property, economic, criminal and administrative offenses arise.

Evolution of social institutions

The process of development of social life finds expression in the restructuring of institutionalized social connections and forms of interaction.

Politics, economics and culture have a huge influence on their change. They act on social institutions functioning in society both directly and indirectly through the role positions of individuals. At the same time, it is important to ensure gradual, adjustable and continuity of renewal or even change of social institutions. Otherwise, disorganization of social life and even collapse of the system as a whole are possible. The evolution of the analyzed phenomena follows the path of transformation of traditional institutions into modern ones. What is their difference?

Traditional institutions are characterized ascriptivism and particularism, that is, they are based on rules of behavior and family ties strictly prescribed by rituals and customs.

With the emergence of cities as special types of settlements and the organization of social life, the exchange of products of economic activity becomes more intense, trade appears, a market is formed, and accordingly, special norms regulating them arise. As a result, there is a differentiation of types of economic activity (craft, construction), a division of mental and physical labor, etc.

The transition to modern social institutions, according to T. Parsons, is carried out along three institutional “bridges”.

First - Western Christian Church. She introduced the idea of ​​general equality before God, which became the basis for a new order of interaction between people, the formation of new institutions, and preserved the institutional system of her organization with a single center, independence and autonomy in relation to the state.

The second "bridge" - medieval city with its inherent normative elements, different from blood relations. This was the reason for the growth of achievement-universal principles, which formed the basis for the growth of modern economic institutions and the formation of the bourgeoisie.

The third "bridge" - Roman state-legal heritage. The fragmented feudal state formations with their own laws, rights, etc. are being replaced by a state with a single authority and a single law.

During these processes, modern social institutions,the main features of which, according to A. G. Efendiev, are divided into two groups.

The first group includes the following signs:

1) unconditional dominance in all main spheres of social life of achievement regulation: in economics - money and the market, in politics - democratic institutions, which are characterized by a competitive-achievement mechanism (election, multi-party system, etc.), universalism of the law, equality of all before him;

2) development of an educational institution, the purpose of which is to disseminate competence and professionalism (this becomes a basic prerequisite for the development of other institutions of an achieved type).

The second group of features is differentiation and autonomization of institutions. They appear:

*in the separation of the economy from the family and the state, in the formation of specific normative regulators of economic life that ensure effective economic activity;

*in accelerating the process of emergence of new social institutions (constant differentiation and specialization);

* strengthening the autonomy of social institutions;

*in the increasing interdependence of spheres of public life.

Thanks to the above properties of modern social institutions, society’s ability to adapt to any external and internal changes increases, its efficiency, stability and sustainability increase, and integrity increases.

SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND METHODS OF INFORMATION COLLECTION IN SOCIOLOGY

Types and stages of sociological research

To know the phenomena and processes of the social world, it is necessary to obtain reliable information about them. In sociology, the source of such information is sociological research, a complex of methodological, methodological, organizational and technical procedures interconnected by a common goal - obtain reliable data for their subsequent use in solving theoretical or practical problems.

Conducting research requires professional knowledge and skills. The result of violating the rules of conducting a study is usually the receipt of unreliable data.

Types of sociological research:

1.By tasks

*Reconnaissance/aerobatic

*Descriptive

*analytical

2.By frequency

*One-time

*repeated: panel, trend, monitoring

3. By scale

*international

*national

*Regional

*Industry

*local

4.By goals

* theoretical

* practical (applied).

The first are focused on developing theory, identifying trends and patterns of the phenomena being studied, social systems, and analyzing social contradictions that arise in society and require detection and resolution. The second concerns the study of specific social problems related to solving practical problems and regulating certain social processes. In reality, sociological research is usually of a mixed nature and acts as theoretical and applied research.

The tasks distinguish between exploratory, descriptive and analytical research.

Intelligence research solves problems that are very limited in content. It covers, as a rule, small survey populations and is based on a simplified program and a compressed set of instruments. Typically, exploratory research is used for a preliminary examination of some little-studied phenomenon or process of social life. If the research checks the reliability of the instruments, then it is called aerobatic.

Descriptive research more difficult than reconnaissance. It allows you to form a relatively holistic picture of the phenomenon being studied, its structural elements and is carried out according to a fully developed program

Target analytical sociological research - an in-depth study of a phenomenon, when it is necessary to describe not only its structure, but also the causes and factors of its occurrence, changes, quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the object, its functional relationships, dynamics. Preparing an analytical study requires considerable time, carefully developed programs and tools.

Depending on whether social phenomena are studied statically or dynamically, one-time and repeated sociological studies differ in frequency.

Sociological research that makes it possible to conduct surveys taking into account the time factor and analyze data “over time” is often called longitudinal.

One-time study provides information about the state and characteristics of a phenomenon or process at the time of its study.

Data on changes in the object being studied are extracted from the results of several studies conducted at certain intervals. Such studies are called repeated. In essence, they represent a way of conducting comparative sociological analysis, which is aimed at identifying the dynamics of change (development) of an object. Depending on the goals put forward, repeated collection of information can take place in two, three or more stages.

Repeated studies allow you to analyze data in a time perspective and are divided into trend, cohort, panel, and monitoring.

Trend Surveys closest to one-time, “slice” surveys. Some authors refer to them as regular surveys, that is, surveys conducted at more or less regular intervals. In a trend survey, the same population is studied at different points in time, and each time the sample is constructed anew.

A special direction is cohort studies, the grounds for which are somewhat arbitrary. If in trend studies the selection is made each time from the general population (all voters, all families, etc.), then in the study of “cohorts” (Latin cohors - subdivision, species group) the selection is made each time from one specific population, for in order to track changes in her behavior, attitudes, etc.

The most perfect embodiment of the idea of ​​introducing a time perspective into a research design is panel survey, i.e., multiple surveys of the same sample from the general population with a certain time interval according to a single program and methodology. This reusable sample is called a panel. The choice of a panel survey design in the case of pilot or exploratory studies is not justified.

Monitoring in sociology, this is usually repeated research of public opinion on various social issues (monitoring of public opinion).

Another basis for distinguishing types of sociological research is their scale. Here we need to name international, national (country-wide), regional, sectoral, local research.

Stages of sociological research It is customary to distinguish five stages of sociological research:

1. preparatory (development of a research program);

2. field research (collection of primary social information);

3. processing of received data;

4. analysis and synthesis of the information received;

5. compiling a report on the research results.

The foundation on which the entire society is built are social institutions. The term comes from the Latin “institutum” - “charter”.

This concept was first introduced into scientific circulation by the American sociologist T. Veblein in his book “The Theory of the Leisure Class” in 1899.

A social institution in the broad sense of the word is a system of values, norms and connections that organize people to satisfy their needs.

Externally, a social institution looks like a collection of persons and institutions, equipped with certain material means and performing a specific social function.

Social institutions have historical origin and are in constant change and development. Their formation is called institutionalization.

Institutionalization is the process of defining and consolidating social norms, connections, statuses and roles, bringing them into a system that is capable of acting in the direction of satisfying some social need. This process consists of several stages:

1) the emergence of needs that can only be satisfied as a result of joint activities;

2) the emergence of norms and rules governing interaction to meet emerging needs;

3) adoption and implementation in practice of the emerging norms and rules;

4) creation of a system of statuses and roles covering all members of the institute.

Institutes have their own distinctive features:

1) cultural symbols (flag, coat of arms, anthem);

3) ideology, philosophy (mission).

Social institutions in society perform a significant set of functions:

1) reproductive – consolidation and reproduction of social relations, ensuring order and framework of activity;

2) regulatory – regulation of relationships between members of society by developing patterns of behavior;

3) socialization – transfer of social experience;

4) integrative - cohesion, interconnection and mutual responsibility of group members under the influence of institutional norms, rules, sanctions and a system of roles;

5) communicative – dissemination of information within the institute and throughout external environment, maintaining relationships with other institutions;

6) automation – the desire for independence.

The functions performed by an institution can be explicit or latent.

The existence of latent functions of an institution allows us to talk about its ability to bring greater benefits to society than initially stated. Social institutions perform functions in society social management and social control.

Social institutions guide the behavior of community members through a system of sanctions and rewards.

The formation of a system of sanctions is the main condition for institutionalization. Sanctions provide for punishment for inaccurate, careless and incorrect performance of official duties.

Positive sanctions (gratitude, material rewards, creation of favorable conditions) are aimed at encouraging and stimulating correct and proactive behavior.

The social institution thus determines the orientation social activities And social relations through a mutually agreed upon system of expediently oriented standards of behavior. Their emergence and grouping into a system depend on the content of the tasks being solved by the social institution.

Each such institution is characterized by the presence of an activity goal, specific functions that ensure its achievement, a set of social positions and roles, as well as a system of sanctions that ensure the encouragement of desired behavior and the suppression of deviant behavior.

Social institutions always perform socially significant functions and ensure the achievement of relatively stable social connections and relationships within the framework of the social organization of society.

Social needs unsatisfied by the institution give rise to new forces and normatively unregulated activities. In practice, the following ways out of this situation can be implemented:

1) reorientation of old social institutions;

2) creation of new social institutions;

3) reorientation of public consciousness.

In sociology, there is a generally accepted system of classifying social institutions into five types, which is based on the needs realized through institutions:

1) family – reproduction of the clan and socialization of the individual;

2) political institutions - the need for security and public order, with their help political power is established and maintained;

3) economic institutions– production and livelihood, they ensure the process of production and distribution of goods and services;

4) institutions of education and science – the need for obtaining and transferring knowledge and socialization;

5) the institution of religion - solving spiritual problems, searching for the meaning of life.

As already indicated, one of the main functions of social institutions is to ensure social control. Social control is the normative regulation of people's behavior in social systems.

This is a maintenance mechanism public order, including norms and sanctions.

So, the main mechanisms of social control are norms and sanctions.

Norm- a rule, standard, pattern of behavior existing in a given society and accepted by an individual that determines how he should behave in a given situation. Norms are socially approved invariants of behavior.

Norm is the range of acceptable actions. Norms can be formal or informal.

Sanctions– rewards and punishments associated with compliance with norms. Sanctions can also be classified into several types:

1) formal;

2) informal;

3) positive;

4) negative.

Phenomena that do not fit within the framework of social norms are called deviation.

Deviant behavior is actions, human activities, social phenomena that do not correspond to the norms established in a given society.

In sociological study deviant behavior the influence of the value orientations of the individual, his attitudes, the peculiarities of the formation of the social environment, the state of social relations, and institutional forms of ownership are analyzed.

As a rule, social deviations are associated with a persistent distortion of value orientations typical of society and social groups.

The main direction of sociological research into the problem of deviation is aimed at identifying its causes.

Within the framework of sociology, the following theories have developed on this issue.

1. Charles Lombarzo, William Sheldon believed that certain physical personality traits predetermine personality deviation from the norm.

So Sheldon divides people into 3 types:

1) endomorphs – overweight, not prone to deviant behavior;

2) mesomorphs - athletic build, can be characterized by deviant behavior;

3) ectomorphs are thin and are unlikely to be prone to deviant behavior.

2. Z. Freud saw the reason for deviations in the fact that conflicts constantly occur within each personality.

It is internal conflict that is the source of deviant behavior.

In any person there is an “I” (conscious beginning) and a “super-ego” (unconscious). Conflicts constantly arise between them.

The “I” tries to keep the unconscious in a person. If this fails, then the biological, animal essence breaks through.

3. Emile Durkheim. Deviation is determined by the process of socialization of the individual.

This process can be successful or unsuccessful.

Success or failure is associated with a person’s ability to adapt to the system of social norms of society.

Moreover, the more creative activity a person shows, the greater the chances of living his life successfully. Social institutions (family, educational institution, fatherland) influence success.

4. R. Merton believed that deviant behavior is a consequence of a mismatch between the goals generated by the social structure and culture and the socially organized means of achieving them.

Goals are something to strive for, a basic component in the life of all segments of society.

Means are assessed from the point of view of the possibility of achieving the goal.

They must be portable and efficient. Based on this premise, deviant behavior occurs only if the balance between goals and means of achieving them is disturbed.

Thus, the main cause of deviation is the gap between the goals and the means of achieving these goals, which occurs due to unequal access to the means of different sections of groups.

Based on his theoretical developments, Merton identified five types of deviant behavior depending on the attitude towards goals and means of achieving them.

1. Conformism– an individual’s agreement with the generally accepted goals and means of achieving them in society. The classification of this type as deviant is not accidental.

Psychologists use the term “conformism” to define a person’s blind following of someone else’s opinion, so as not to create unnecessary difficulties in communicating with others, to achieve the assigned goals, sometimes sinning against the truth.

On the other hand, conformist behavior makes it difficult to assert one's own independent behavior or opinion.

2. Innovation– the individual’s acceptance of goals, but a preference to use non-standard means to achieve them.

3. Ritualism– rejection of generally accepted goals, but the use of standard means for society.

4. Retreatism– complete rejection of social attitudes.

5. Mutiny– changing social goals and means in accordance with one’s will and elevating them to the rank of socially significant ones.

Within the framework of other sociological theories, the following types are distinguished as the main types of deviant behavior:

1) cultural and psychical deviations– deviations from cultural norms. May be dangerous or non-hazardous;

2) individual and group deviations - an individual person, an individual rejects the norms of his subculture. Group – illusory world;

3) primary and secondary. Primary – prank, secondary – deviant deviation;

4) culturally acceptable deviations;

5) superintelligence, supermotivation;

6) culturally condemned deviations. Violation moral standards and breaking the law.

Economy as a social institution is a set of institutionalized modes of activity, patterns of social actions that form various types of economic behavior of people and organizations to meet their needs.

The core of the economy is work. Job- this is the solution of problems associated with the expenditure of mental and physical effort, with the goal of producing goods and services that satisfy human needs. E. Giddens identifies six main characteristics of work.

1. Money. Salary or salary for most people is the main source of satisfaction of their needs.

2. Activity level. Professional activity often forms the basis for the acquisition and implementation of knowledge and capabilities.

Even if the work is routine, it offers some structured environment in which the person's energy can be realized.

Without work, the ability to realize knowledge and abilities may decrease.

3. Variety. Employment gives access to situations outside of the everyday environment. In a work environment, even when tasks are relatively monotonous, an individual may derive satisfaction from performing duties that are not similar to those at home.

4. Structuring time. For people with regular jobs, the day is usually organized around the rhythm of work. Although this can be overwhelming at times, it provides a sense of direction in daily activities.

For those who are deprived of work, boredom is a big problem; such people develop apathy towards time.

5. Social contacts. The work environment often breeds friendships and opportunities to participate in collaborative activities with others.

In the absence of contacts at work, a person’s circle of friends and acquaintances decreases.

6. Personal identity. Busyness is usually valued for its sense of personal social stability which she gives.

In historical retrospect, the following main types of economic activity are distinguished:

1) in primitive society - hunting, fishing, gathering;

2) in slave-owning and feudal societies - farming;

3) in an industrial society – commodity and industrial production;

4) in post-industrial society - information technology.

IN modern economy Three sectors can be distinguished: primary, secondary and tertiary.

The primary sector of the economy includes Agriculture, mining and forestry industry, fishing, etc. The secondary sector includes enterprises that convert raw materials into manufactured goods.

Finally, the tertiary sector is associated with the service industry, with those activities that, without directly producing material goods, offer others some services.

Five primary types can be distinguished economic systems or types of economic activity.

The state economy is a set of national enterprises and organizations working for the benefit of the entire population.

Every modern society has a public sector of the economy, although its share varies.

World practice shows that total nationalization of the economy is ineffective, since it does not give the desired economic effect, just like the general privatization of enterprises.

The private economy dominates in modern developed countries.

It arose as a result of the industrial revolution at the stage of industrial society.

Initially, the private economy developed independently of the state, but economic disasters raised the question of strengthening state regulation of the private sector in the economy.

Barracks economy- this is the economic behavior of military personnel, prisoners and all other people living in a confined space, “barracks” form (hospitals, boarding schools, prisons, etc.).

All these forms are characterized by the “camp collectivity” of their life, mandatory and compulsory performance of functions, and dependence on funding, usually from the state.

The shadow (criminal) economy exists in all countries of the world, although it belongs to criminal activity. This type of economic behavior is deviant, but it is closely related to the private economy.

The English sociologist Duke Hobbes in his book “Bad Business” develops the idea that it is impossible to draw a clear line between professional economic behavior and everyday business activity.

Banks in particular are sometimes rated as "elegant robbers." Among the traditional forms of mafia economic activity: trade in weapons, drugs, live goods, etc.

Mixed (additional) economy is a person’s work outside the scope of his professional employment.

Sociologist E. Giddens calls it “informal,” noting the “bifurcation” of labor into professional and “additional,” for example, the work of a doctor on a personal plot, which is carried out at a non-professional level.

Additional work sometimes requires a person to spend a huge amount of time and energy, but the result is low.

The economy as a social institution is designed to satisfy, first of all, the material needs of man.

Politics as a social institution is a set of certain organizations (authorities of government and administration, political parties, social movements) that regulate the political behavior of people in accordance with accepted norms, laws, and rules.

Each of the political institutions carries out a certain type of political activity and includes a social community, layer, group specializing in the implementation of political activities to manage society. These institutions are characterized by:

1) political norms governing relations within and between political institutions, and between political and non-political institutions of society;

2) material resources necessary to achieve the goals.

Political institutions ensure reproduction, stability and regulation of political activity, preservation of the identity of a political community even when its composition changes, strengthen social ties and intra-group cohesion, and exercise control over political behavior.

The focus of politics is on power and control in society.

The main bearer of political power is the state, which, based on law and law, exercises compulsory regulation and control over social processes in order to ensure the normal and stable functioning of society.

The universal structure of state power is:

1) legislative bodies (parliaments, councils, congresses, etc.);

2) executive bodies(government, ministries, state committees, law enforcement agencies, etc.);

3) judicial authorities;

4) army and state security agencies;

5) state information system, etc.

The sociological nature of the activities of the state and others political organizations connected with the functioning of society as a whole.

Politics should contribute to solving social problems; at the same time, politicians tend to strive to use state power and representative bodies to satisfy certain pressure groups.

The state as the core of the sociological system provides:

1) social integration of society;

2) life safety of people and society as a whole;

3) distribution of resources and social benefits;

4) cultural and educational activities;

5) social control over deviant behavior.

The basis of politics is power associated with the use of force and coercion in relation to all members of society, organizations, movements.

The basis of subordination to power is:

1) traditions and customs (traditional domination, for example, the power of a slave owner over a slave);

2) devotion to a person endowed with a certain supreme authority(charismatic power of leaders, for example, Moses, Buddha);

3) conscious conviction in the correctness of formal rules and the need to implement them (this type of subordination is characteristic of most modern states).

The complexity of sociopolitical activity is associated with differences in social status, interests, positions of people and political forces.

They influence differences in types of political power. N. Smelser gives the following types of states: democratic and non-democratic (totalitarian, authoritarian).

In democratic societies, all political institutions are autonomous (power is divided into independent branches - executive, legislative, judicial).

All political institutions influence the formation of state and government structures and shape the political direction of the development of society.

Democratic states are associated with representative democracy, when the people transfer power to their representatives through elections for a certain period of time.

These states, mostly Western, are characterized by the following features:

1) individualism;

2) constitutional form of government;

3) the general consent of those who are governed;

4) loyal opposition.

In totalitarian states, leaders strive to retain power by keeping the people under complete control, using a unified mono-party system, control over the economy, the media, the family, and carrying out terror against the opposition. In authoritarian states, approximately the same measures are carried out in softer forms, in the context of the existence of the private sector and other parties.

The sociopolitical subsystem of society represents a spectrum of different vectors of power, management, and political activity.

IN whole system In society, they are in a constant state of struggle, but without the victory of any one line. Crossing the limit of measure in struggle leads to deviant forms of power in society:

1) totalitarian, in which the military-administrative method of management dominates;

2) spontaneously market, where power passes to corporate groups that merge with the mafia and wage war on each other;

3) stagnant, when a relative and temporary balance of opposing forces and control methods is established.

In Soviet and Russian society one can find manifestations of all these deviations, but totalitarianism under Stalin and stagnation under Brezhnev were especially pronounced.

The education system is one of the most important social institutions. It ensures the socialization of individuals, through which they develop the qualities necessary for essential life processes and transformations.

The Institute of Education has a long history from primary forms transfer of knowledge from parents to children.

Education serves the development of personality and contributes to its self-realization.

At the same time, education is crucial for society itself, ensuring the fulfillment of the most important tasks of a practical and symbolic nature.

The education system makes a significant contribution to the integration of society and contributes to the formation of a sense of common historical destiny, belonging to a given single society.

But the education system also has other functions. Sorokin notes that education (especially higher education) is a kind of channel (elevator) through which people improve their social status. At the same time, education exercises social control over the behavior and worldview of children and adolescents.

The education system as an institution includes the following components:

1) educational authorities and institutions and organizations subordinate to them;

2) a network of educational institutions (schools, colleges, gymnasiums, lyceums, universities, academies, etc.), including institutes for advanced training and retraining of teachers;

3) creative unions, professional associations, scientific and methodological councils and other associations;

4) educational and scientific infrastructure institutions, design, production, clinical, medical and preventive, pharmacological, cultural and educational enterprises, printing houses, etc.;

5) textbooks and teaching aids for teachers and students;

6) periodicals, including magazines and yearbooks, reflecting the latest achievements of scientific thought.

The Institute of Education includes a certain field of activity, groups of persons authorized to perform certain managerial and other functions on the basis of established rights and responsibilities, organizational norms and principles of relations between officials.

The set of norms regulating the interaction of people regarding learning indicates that education is a social institution.

A harmonious and balanced education system that ensures the satisfaction of modern needs of society is the most important condition for the preservation and development of society.

Science, along with education, can be considered as a social macroinstitution.

Science, like the education system, is a central social institution in all modern societies and represents the most difficult area intellectual activity person.

Increasingly, the very existence of society depends on advanced scientific knowledge. Not only the material conditions of society’s existence, but also its members’ ideas about the world depend on the development of science.

The main function of science is the development and theoretical systematization of objective knowledge about reality. Target scientific activity- obtaining new knowledge.

Purpose of Education– transfer of new knowledge to new generations, i.e. youth.

If there is no first, then there is no second. That is why these institutions are considered in close connection and as a single system.

In turn, the existence of science without training is also impossible, since it is in the process of training that new scientific personnel are formed.

A formulation of the principles of science has been proposed Robert Merton in 1942

These include: universalism, communalism, disinterest and organizational skepticism.

The principle of universalism means that science and its discoveries are of a single, universal (universal) nature. None personal characteristics individual scientists (gender, age, religion, etc.) do not matter when assessing the value of their work.

Research results should be judged solely on their scientific merit.

According to the principle of communalism, no scientific knowledge can become the personal property of a scientist, but must be available to any member of the scientific community.

The principle of disinterest means that the pursuit of personal interests is not a requirement of the professional role of a scientist.

The principle of organized skepticism means that a scientist should refrain from formulating conclusions until the facts fully correspond.

A religious institute belongs to a non-secular culture, but plays a very important role in the lives of many people as a system of norms of cultural behavior, that is, serving God.

The social significance of religion in the world is evidenced by the following statistics on the number of believers at the beginning of the 21st century: out of 6 billion population globe more than 4 billion are believers. Moreover, about 2 billion profess Christianity.

Orthodoxy within Christianity ranks third after Catholicism and Protestantism. Islam is professed by a little more than 1 billion, Judaism by more than 650 million, Buddhism by more than 300 million, Confucianism by about 200 million, Zionism by 18 million, and the rest profess other religions.

Among the main functions of religion as a social institution are the following:

1) an explanation of the past, present and future of a person;

2) regulation of moral behavior from birth to death of a person;

3) approval or criticism of social orders in society;

4) uniting people and supporting them in difficult times.

The sociology of religion pays great attention to clarifying the social functions that religion performs in society. As a result, sociologists have formulated different views on religion as a social institution.

Thus, E. Durkheim believed that religion- a product of a person or social group, necessary for moral unity, an expression of a collective ideal.

God is a reflection of this ideal. Durkheim sees the functions of religious ceremonies in:

1) bringing people together - a meeting to express common interests;

2) revitalization - revitalizing the past, connecting the present with the past;

3) euphoria – general acceptance of life, distraction from the unpleasant;

4) order and training - self-discipline and preparation for life.

M. Weber paid special attention to the study of Protestantism and highlighted its positive influence on the development of capitalism, which determined such values ​​as:

1) hard work, self-discipline and self-restraint;

2) increasing money without waste;

3) personal success as the key to salvation.

The religious factor influences the economy, politics, the state, interethnic relations, the family, and the field of culture through the activities of religious individuals, groups, and organizations in these areas.

There is an “overlay” of religious relations on other social relations.

The core of a religious institution is the church. The church is an organization that uses a variety of means, including religious morality, rites and rituals, through which it obliges and forces people to act accordingly.

Society needs the Church because it provides spiritual support for millions of people, including those seeking justice, distinguishing between good and evil, and gives them guidelines in the form of moral norms, behavior and values.

In Russian society, the majority of the population professes Orthodoxy (70%), a significant number of Muslim believers (25%), the rest are representatives of other religious faiths (5%).

Almost all types of beliefs are represented in Russia, and there are also many sects.

It should be noted that in the 1990s, the religiosity of the adult population had a positive trend due to socio-economic transformations in the country.

However, at the beginning of the third millennium, a decrease in the trust rating in relation to religious organizations was revealed, including the Russian Orthodox Church which enjoys the most confidence.

This decline is part of a decline in trust in other public institutions as a reaction to unfulfilled hopes for reforms.

About a fifth pray daily, visit a temple (mosque) at least once a month, i.e. about a third of those who consider themselves believers.

At present, the problem of unifying all Christian movements, which was heatedly discussed during the celebration of the 2000th anniversary of Christianity, has not been resolved.

The Orthodox Church believes that this is possible only on the basis of the faith of the ancient, indivisible church, of which Orthodoxy considers itself to be the successor.

Other branches of Christianity, on the contrary, believe that Orthodoxy needs to be reformed.

Various points of view indicate the impossibility of uniting Christianity on a global scale, at least at the present time.

The Orthodox Church is loyal to the state and maintains friendly relations with other faiths to overcome interethnic tensions.

Religious institutions and society must be in a state of harmony, interacting with each other in the formation of universal human values, preventing social problems from escalating into interethnic conflicts on religious grounds.

Family is a social-biological system of society that ensures the reproduction of community members. This definition contains the main purpose of the family as a social institution. In addition, the family is called upon to perform the following functions:

1) socio-biological – satisfaction of sexual needs and needs for procreation;

2) education, socialization of children;

3) economic, which manifests itself in the organization of the economic and everyday life of all family members, including the provision of housing and the necessary infrastructure;

4) political, which is associated with power in the family and management of its life activities;

5) sociocultural - regulation of the entire spiritual life of the family.

The above functions indicate the need for a family for all its members and the inevitability of uniting people living outside the family.

The identification of types of families and their classification can be carried out on various grounds:

1) according to the form of marriage:

a) monogamous (marriage of one man with one woman);

b) polyandry (a woman has several spouses);

c) polygyny (marriage of one man with two or more wives);

2) by composition:

a) nuclear (simple) - consisting of a husband, wife and children (complete) or with the absence of one of the parents (incomplete);

b) complex – include representatives of several generations;

3) by number of children:

a) childless;

b) single children;

c) small children;

d) large families (three or more children);

4) by stages of civilizational evolution:

a) patriarchal family traditional society with the authoritarian power of the father, in whose hands is the solution to all issues;

b) egalitarian-democratic, based on equality in the relationship between husband and wife, on mutual respect and social partnership.

According to the forecasts of American sociologists E. Giddens And N. Smelser In post-industrial society, the institution of family is undergoing significant changes.

According to Smelser, there will be no return to the traditional family. The modern family will change, partially losing or changing some functions, although the family’s monopoly on regulation intimate relationships, childbearing and caring for young children will continue into the future.

At the same time, there will be a partial disintegration of even relatively stable functions.

Thus, the function of childbearing will be carried out by unmarried women.

Child education centers will be more involved in socialization.

Friendly disposition and emotional support will be available not only in the family.

E. Giddens notes a steady trend of weakening the regulatory function of the family in relation to sex life, but believes that marriage and family will remain strong institutions.

The family as a socio-biological system is analyzed from the perspective of functionalism and conflict theory. The family, on the one hand, is closely connected with society through its functions, and on the other, all family members are interconnected by consanguinity and social relations.

It should also be noted that the family is a bearer of contradictions, both with society and between its members.

Family life is associated with resolving contradictions between husband, wife, children, relatives, and surrounding people regarding the performance of functions, even if it is based on love and respect.

In a family, as in society, there is not only unity, integrity and harmony, but also a struggle of interests.

The nature of conflicts can be understood from the perspective of exchange theory, which implies that all family members should strive for equal exchange in their relationships. Tension and conflict arise because someone does not receive the expected “reward.”

The source of the conflict may be the low salary of one of the family members, drunkenness, sexual dissatisfaction, etc.

A severe disturbance in metabolic processes leads to family disintegration.

In 1916, Sorokin identified a trend of crisis in the modern family, which is characterized by: an increase in the number of divorces, a decrease in the number of marriages, an increase civil marriages, growth of prostitution, falling birth rate, liberation of wives from the guardianship of their husbands and changes in their relationships, destruction religious basis marriage, weakening of protection of the institution of marriage by the state.

The problems of the modern Russian family generally coincide with global problems.

All of these reasons allow us to talk about a certain family crisis.

Among the causes of the crisis are:

1) reducing the dependence of wives on husbands in an economic sense;

2) increased mobility, especially migration;

3) changes in family functions under the influence of social, economic, cultural, religious and ethnic traditions, as well as the new technical and environmental situation;

4) cohabitation of a man and a woman without marriage;

5) a decrease in the number of children in a family, as a result of which even simple population reproduction does not occur;

6) the process of nuclearization of families leads to a weakening of ties between generations;

7) the number of women in the labor market is increasing;

8) growth of social consciousness of women.

The most pressing problem is dysfunctional families arising for socio-economic, psychological or biological reasons. The following types of dysfunctional families are distinguished:

1) conflict – the most common (about 60%);

2) immoral - oblivion of moral standards (mainly drunkenness, drug use, fights, foul language);

3) pedagogically insolvent – ​​low level of general culture and lack of psychological and pedagogical culture;

4) asocial family - an environment of disdain for generally accepted social norms and requirements.

Dysfunctional families deform the personalities of children, causing anomalies in both the psyche and behavior, for example, early alcoholism, drug addiction, prostitution, vagrancy and other forms of deviant behavior.

To support the family, the state forms a family policy, which includes a set of practical measures that provide families and children with certain social guarantees for the purpose of family functioning in the interests of society. Thus, in a number of countries, family planning is carried out, special marriage and family consultations are created to reconcile conflicting couples, the terms of the marriage contract are changed (if previously the spouses had to take care of each other, now they must love each other, and failure to fulfill this condition is one of the most compelling reasons for divorce).

To solve the existing problems of the family institution, it is necessary to increase spending on social support families, increase the efficiency of their use, improve legislation to protect the rights of the family, women, children and youth.

A social institution in a sociological interpretation is considered as historically established, stable forms of organizing the joint activities of people; in a narrower sense, it is an organized system of social connections and norms designed to satisfy the basic needs of society, social groups and individuals.

Social institutions (insitutum - establishment) - value-normative complexes (values, rules, norms, attitudes, patterns, standards of behavior in certain situations), as well as bodies and organizations that ensure their implementation and approval in the life of society.

All elements of society are interconnected by social relations - connections that arise between and within social groups in the process of material (economic) and spiritual (political, legal, cultural) activities.

In the process of development of society, some connections may die out, others may appear. Connections that have proven their benefits to society are streamlined, become generally significant patterns and are subsequently repeated from generation to generation. The more stable these connections that are useful for society are, the more stable the society itself is.

Social institutions (from the Latin institutum - structure) are elements of society that represent stable forms of organization and regulation of social life. Such institutions of society as the state, education, family, etc., organize social relations, regulate the activities of people and their behavior in society.

The main social institutions traditionally include family, state, education, church, science, and law. Below is a brief description of these institutions and their main functions.

Family- the most important social institution of kinship, connecting individuals through a commonality of life and mutual moral responsibility. The family performs a number of functions: economic (housekeeping), reproductive (having children), educational (transferring values, norms, models), etc.

State- the main political institution that manages society and ensures its security. The state performs internal functions, including economic (regulating the economy), stabilization (maintaining stability in society), coordination (ensuring public harmony), ensuring the protection of the population (protecting rights, legality, social security) and many others. There are also external functions: defense (in case of war) and international cooperation (to protect the interests of the country in the international arena).

Education is a social cultural institution that ensures the reproduction and development of society through the organized transfer of social experience in the form of knowledge, skills and abilities. The main functions of education include adaptation (preparation for life and work in society), professional (training of specialists), civic (training of citizens), general cultural (introduction to cultural values), humanistic (discovery of personal potential), etc.

A church is a religious institution formed on the basis of a single religion. Church members share common norms, dogmas, rules of behavior and are divided into clergy and laity. The Church performs the following functions: ideological (determines views on the world), compensatory (offers consolation and reconciliation), integrating (unites believers), general cultural (introduces cultural values), etc.

TYPES OF SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS

The activities of a social institution are determined by:

 firstly, a set of specific norms and regulations governing relevant types of behavior;

 secondly, the integration of a social institution into the socio-political, ideological and value structures of society;

 thirdly, the availability of material means and conditions that ensure the successful implementation of regulatory requirements and the implementation of social control.

The most important social institutions are:

 state and family;

 economics and politics;

 production;

 culture and science;

 education;

 Media and public opinion;

 law and education.

Social institutions contribute to the consolidation and reproduction of certain social relations that are especially important for society, as well as the stability of the system in all main spheres of its life - economic, political, spiritual and social.

Types of social institutions depending on their field of activity:

 relational;

 regulatory.

Relational institutions (for example, insurance, labor, manufacturing) determine the role structure of society based on a certain set of characteristics. The objects of these social institutions are role groups (policyholders and insurers, producers and employees, etc.).

Regulatory institutions determine the boundaries of individual independence (separate independent actions) to achieve their own goals. This group includes institutions of the state, government, social protection, business, and healthcare.

In the process of development, the social institution of the economy changes its form and can belong to the group of either endogenous or exogenous institutions.

Endogenous (or internal) social institutions characterize the state of obsolescence of an institution, requiring its reorganization or in-depth specialization of activities, for example, institutions of credit, money, which become obsolete over time and need to introduce new forms of development.

Exogenous institutions reflect the effect on a social institution of external factors, elements of culture or the personality of the head (leader) of an organization, for example, changes occurring in the social institution of taxes under the influence of the level of tax culture of taxpayers, the level of business and professional culture of the leaders of this social institution.

FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS

The purpose of social institutions is to satisfy the most important needs and interests of society.

Economic needs in society are simultaneously satisfied by several social institutions, and each institution, through its activities, satisfies a variety of needs, among which vital (physiological, material) and social (personal needs for work, self-realization, creative activity and social justice) stand out. A special place among social needs occupies the individual's need for achievement - the achievement need. It is based on McLelland's concept, according to which each individual exhibits a desire to express and manifest himself in specific social conditions.

In the course of their activities, social institutions perform both general and individual functions that correspond to the specifics of the institution.

General Features:

 The function of consolidating and reproducing social relations. Any institution consolidates and standardizes the behavior of members of society through its rules and norms of behavior.

 The regulatory function ensures the regulation of relationships between members of society by developing patterns of behavior and regulating their actions.

 The integrative function includes the process of interdependence and mutual responsibility of members of social groups.

 Translating function (socialization). Its content is the transfer of social experience, familiarization with the values, norms, and roles of a given society.

Selected functions:

 The social institution of marriage and family implements the function of reproduction of members of society together with the relevant departments of the state and private enterprises (antenatal clinics, maternity hospitals, a network of children's medical institutions, bodies for supporting and strengthening the family, etc.).

 The Social Institute of Health is responsible for maintaining the health of the population (clinics, hospitals and other medical institutions, as well as state bodies, organizing the process of maintaining and strengthening health).

 A social institution for the production of means of subsistence, which performs the most important creative function.

 Political institutions that are in charge of organizing political life.

 A social institution of law that performs the function of developing legal documents and is in charge of compliance with laws and legal norms.

 Social institution of education and norms with appropriate function of education, socialization of members of society, familiarization with its values, norms, laws.

 A social institution of religion that helps people solve spiritual problems.

Social institutions realize all their positive qualities only under the condition of their legitimacy, that is, recognition of the expediency of their actions by the majority of the population. Sharp shifts in class consciousness and a revaluation of fundamental values ​​can seriously undermine the population's trust in existing governing and governing bodies and disrupt the mechanism of regulatory influence on people.

At its core, society consists of social institutions - a complex set of various characteristics that ensure the integrity of the social system. From a sociological point of view, this is a historically established form of human activity. The main examples of social institutions are school, state, family, church, and army. And today in the article we will analyze in detail the question of what social institutions are, what are their functions, types, and also give examples.

Terminological issue

In the narrowest sense, a social institution means an organized system of connections and norms that satisfy the basic needs of society in general and the individual in particular. For example, the social institution of the family is responsible for reproductive function.

If we go deeper into the terminology, a social institution is a value-normative set of attitudes and a body or organizations that approve them and help implement them. This term can also denote social elements that provide stable forms of organization and regulation of life. These are, for example, social institutions of law, education, state, religion, etc. The main goal of such institutions is to promote the stable development of society. Therefore, the main functions are considered to be:

• Meeting the demands of society.
• Control of social processes.

A little history

Ensuring functionality

In order for a social institution to perform its functions, it must have three categories of means:

• Right. Within a certain institution, it is necessary to establish its own norms, rules, and laws. This feature of a social institution, using the example of education, is manifested in mandatory receipt knowledge by children. That is, according to the laws of the Institute of Education, parents must send their children to schools from a certain age without fail.
• Material conditions. That is, in order for children to have a place to study, they need schools, kindergartens, institutes, etc. It is necessary to have the means that will help implement the laws.
• Moral component. Public approval plays a big role in compliance with laws. After finishing school, children go to courses or institutes; they continue to study because they understand why education is needed.

Main features

Based on the foregoing, it is already possible to determine the main features of a social institution using the example of education:

1. Historicity. Social institutions arise historically when society has a certain need. People had a thirst for knowledge long before they began to live in the first ancient civilizations. Exploring the world around them helped them survive. Later, people began to pass on experience to their children, who made their discoveries and passed them on to their offspring. This is how education came into being.
2. Sustainability. Institutions may die out, but before that they exist for centuries, or even entire epochs. The first people learned to make weapons from stone, today we can learn to fly into space.
3. Functionality. Each institution performs an important social function.
4. Material resources. The presence of material objects is necessary for the functions for which the institution was created to be performed. For example, an educational institute requires educational institutions, books and other materials so that children can learn.

Structure

Institutions were created to satisfy human needs, and they are quite diverse. If we give examples of social institutions, we can say that the need for protection is provided by the institute of defense, the institute of religion (in particular, the church) manages spiritual needs, and the institute of education responds to the need for knowledge. Summarizing all of the above, we can determine the structure of the institute, that is, its main components:

1. Groups and organizations that satisfy the needs of an individual or social group.
2. Norms, values, rules, laws, following which an individual or social group can satisfy their needs.
3. Symbols that regulate relationships in economic sphere activities (brands, flags, etc.) You can even give an example of a social institution with a very memorable green symbol of a snake wrapped around a cup. It is often seen in hospitals that provide an individual or group with the need for wellness.
4. Ideological foundations.
5. Social variables, that is, public opinion.

Signs

It is important to determine the characteristics of a social institution. This can best be illustrated using the example of education:

1. The presence of institutions and groups united by one goal. For example, a school offers knowledge, children want to receive this knowledge.
2. Availability of a system of sample norms of values ​​and symbols. You can also draw an analogy with an educational institution, where a book can be a symbol, values ​​can be acquiring knowledge, and norms can be compliance with school rules.
3. Conduct in accordance with these standards. For example, a student refuses to follow the rules and is expelled from school or from a social institution. Of course, he can take the right path and go to another educational institution, or it may happen that he will not be accepted into any of them, and he will find himself left out of society.
4. Human and material resources that will help in solving certain problems.
5. Public approval.

Examples of social institutions in society

Institutions are completely different in their manifestations and factors. In fact, they can be divided into large and low-level. If we talk about the Institute of Education, this is a large cooperation. As for its sublevels, these can be institutes of primary, secondary and high schools. Since society is dynamic, some institutions lower levels may disappear, like slavery, and some may appear, such as advertising.

Today in society there are five main institutions:

• Family.
• State.
• Education.
• Economy.
• Religion.

General Features

Institutions are designed to satisfy the most important needs of society and protect the interests of individuals. These can be both vital and social needs. According to social research, institutions perform common and distinct functions. General functions are assigned to each object, while individual functions may vary depending on the specifics of the institution. Studying examples of the functions of social institutions, we note that the general ones look like this:

• Establishment and reproduction of relationships in society. Each institution is obliged to designate the standard behavior of the individual by introducing rules, laws and norms.
• Regulation. Relations in society need to be regulated by developing acceptable models of behavior and imposing sanctions for violating norms.
• Integration. The activities of each social institution should unite individuals into groups so that they feel mutual responsibility and dependence on each other.
• Socialization. The main purpose of this function is to convey social experiences, norms, roles and values.

As regards additional functions, they should be considered in the context of the main institutions.

Family

It is considered to be the most important institution of the state. It is in the family that people receive the first basic knowledge about the external, social world and the rules that are established there. The family is the basic unit of society, which is characterized by voluntary marriage, maintaining a common household, and the desire to raise children. In accordance with this definition, the main functions of the social institution of the family are identified. Eg, economic function(general life, housekeeping), reproductive (childbirth), recreational (health), social control (raising children and transferring values).

State

The institution of the state is also called a political institution, which governs society and acts as a guarantor of its security. The state must perform such functions as:

• Economic regulation.
• Supporting stability and order in society.
• Ensuring social harmony.
• Protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens, education of citizens and formation of values.

By the way, in case of war, the state must perform external functions, such as border defense. In addition, take an active part in international cooperation to protect the interests of the country, solve global problems and establish profitable contacts for economic development.

Education

The social institution of education is considered as a system of norms and connections that unites social values ​​and satisfies its needs. This system ensures the development of society through the transfer of knowledge and skills. The main functions of the educational institute include:

• Adaptive. The transfer of knowledge will help you prepare for life and find a job.
• Professional. Naturally, in order to find a job, you need to have some kind of profession; the educational system will help in this matter.
• Civil. Together with professional qualities and knowledge skills are able to convey mentality, that is, they prepare a citizen of a particular country.
• Cultural. The individual is instilled with the values ​​accepted in society.
• Humanistic. Helps to unlock personal potential.

Among all institutions, education plays the second most important role. An individual receives his first life experience in the family where he was born, but when he reaches a certain age, the education sector provides big influence on the socialization of the individual. The influence of a social institution, for example, can manifest itself in the choice of a hobby that no one in the family not only does, but also does not know about its existence.

Economy

An economic social institution must be responsible for the material sphere of interpersonal relations. A society characterized by poverty and financial instability cannot support optimal population reproduction or provide an educational basis for the development of the social system. Therefore, no matter how you look at it, all institutions are related to the economy. For example, an economic social institution ceases to function properly. The country's poverty rate begins to rise and more unemployed people appear. Fewer children will be born, and the nation will begin to age. Therefore, the main functions of this institute are:

• Coordinate the interests of producers and consumers.
• Satisfy the needs of participants in the social process.
• Strengthen connections within the economic system, and cooperate with other social institutions.
• Maintain economic order.

Religion

The institution of religion maintains the belief system that most people adhere to. This is a unique system of beliefs and practices, popular in a particular society, and focused on something sacred, impossible, supernatural. According to the research of Emile Durkheim, religion has three most important functions - integrative, that is, beliefs help unite people together.

In second place is the normative function. Individuals who adhere to certain beliefs act in accordance with canons or commandments. This helps maintain order in society. The third function is communicative; during rituals, individuals have the opportunity to communicate with each other or with the minister. This helps you integrate into society faster.

Thus, there is reason to make a small conclusion: social institutions are special organizations that must satisfy the basic needs of society and protect the interests of individuals, which will make it possible to integrate the population, but if one of the institutions fails, the country with a 99% probability can coups, rallies, armed uprisings will begin, which will ultimately lead to anarchy.

Institute. Most often, this word is used in the sense of a higher educational institution (pedagogical, medical institute). However, the word “institute” is ambiguous. "Institute" is a Latin word. Translated it means “institution”.

In social sciences the term “social institution” is used.

What is a social institution?

There are several definitions of this concept.

Here is one of them, easy to remember and containing the essence of this term.

Social Institute - this is a historically established, stable form of organizing the joint activities of people implementing certain functions in society, the main one of which is the satisfaction of social needs.

EXPLANATION.

A social institution, to put it more simply, is such formations in society (an institution, a government body, a family and many, many other entities) that make it possible to regulate some relationships and actions of people in society. Allegorically speaking, this is the door through which you will enter to resolve some issues.

1. You need to order a passport. You will not go anywhere, but to the passport office - the institution of citizenship.
2. You got a job and want to know what your specific salary will be. Where will you go? In the accounting department, it was created to regulate salary issues. This is also the salary institute network.

And there are a huge number of such social institutions in society. Someone somewhere is responsible for everything, performing certain functions to satisfy people’s social needs.

I will give a table in which I will indicate the most important social institutions in each sphere of social relations.

Social institutions, their types

Social institutions are a constantly evolving structure. New ones arise, old ones die off. This process is called institutionalization.

Structure of social institutions

Structure, that is, the elements of the whole.

Jan Shchepalsky identified the following elements of social institutions.

• Purpose and scope of activity of a social institution
• Functions
• Social roles and statuses
• Facilities and institutions performing the functions of this institute. Sanctions.

Signs of social institutions

• Patterns of behavior, attitudes. For example, an educational institution is characterized by the desire to acquire knowledge.
• Cultural symbols. So, for the family it’s wedding rings, marriage ritual; for the state - coat of arms, flag, anthem; for religion - icon, cross, etc.
• Oral and written codes of conduct. So, for the state - these are codes, for business - licenses, contracts, for families - a marriage contract.
• Ideology. For a family it means mutual understanding, respect, love; for business - freedom of trade and entrepreneurship; for religion - Orthodoxy, Islam.
• Utilitarian cultural traits. So, for religion - religious buildings; for healthcare – clinics, hospitals, diagnostic rooms; for education - classes, gym, library; For family home, furniture.

Functions of social institutions

• Satisfying social needs is the main function of every institution.
• Regulatory function- that is, regulation certain types public relations.
• Consolidation and reproduction of social relations. Each institution has its own norms and rules that help standardize people's behavior. All this makes society more sustainable.
• Integrative function, that is, cohesion, interconnection of members of society.
• Broadcasting function— the opportunity to transfer experience and knowledge to new people who come to a particular structure.
• Socialization— the individual’s assimilation of norms and rules of behavior in society, methods of activity.
• Communicative- this is the transfer of information both within an institution and between social institutions as a result of the interaction of members of society.

Formal and informal social institutions

Formal institutions— their activities are regulated within the framework of current legislation (authorities, parties, courts, family, school, army, etc.)

Informal institutions- their activities are not established by formal acts, that is, laws, orders, documents.

Material prepared by: Melnikova Vera Aleksandrovna