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Class-XI

Chapter-3

Book-1

Understanding Social Institutions

(Module-1)

Short Notes

An institution is something that works according to rules established or at least acknowledged by
law or by custom. Thus, “an established and structured pattern of behaviour or of relationships
that is accepted as a fundamental part of a culture” can be referred to as social institutions.

There are social institutions that constrain and control, punish and reward. Social institutions can
be macro like the state or micro like the family.

This chapterputs forth a very brief idea of some of the central areas where important social
institutions are located namely:

(i) Family, marriage and kinship;

(ii) Politics

(iii) Economics

(iv) Religion
(v) Education.

A functionalist view understands social institutions as a complex set of social norms, beliefs,
values and role relationship that arise in response to the needs of society.
Social institutions exist to satisfy social needs.

A conflict view holds that all individuals are not placed equally in society. All social institutions
whether familial, religious, political, economic, legal or educational will operate in the interest of
the dominant sections of society be it class, caste, tribe or gender.

The dominant social section not only dominates political and economic institutions but also
ensures that the ruling class ideas become the ruling ideas of a society. This is very different
from the idea that there are general needs of a society.