NCERT Book Class 11 Sociology (Introducing Sociology) Chapter 3 Understanding Social Institutions

40 INTRODUCING SOCIOLOGY

CHAPTER 3

UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS

I least acknowledged by law or by
custom. And whose regular and
INTRODUCTION continuous operation cannot be
understood without taking those rules
This book began with a discussion into account. Institutions impose
about the interaction of the individual constraints on individuals. They also
and society. We saw that each of us as provide him/her with opportunities.
individuals, occupies a place or An institution can also be viewed as
location in society. Each one of us has
an end in itself. Indeed people have
a status and a role or roles, but these
viewed family, religion, state or even
are not simply what we as individuals
education as an end in itself.
choose. They are not like roles a film
actor may or may not opt to do. There
Activity 1
are social institutions that constrain and
control, punish and reward. They could Think of examples of how people
be ‘macro’ social institutions like the sacrifice for family, for religion or for
state or ‘micro’ ones like the family. the state.
Here in this chapter we are introduced
to social institutions, and also to how We have already seen that there
sociology/social anthropology studies are conflicting and different
them. This chapter puts forth a very understandings of concepts within
brief idea of some of the central areas sociology. We have also been introduced
where important social institutions are to the functionalist and conflict
located namely: (i) family, marriage and perspective, and seen how differently
kinship; (ii) politics; (iii) economics; they saw the same thing, for instance,
(iv) religion; and (v) education. stratification or social control. Not
In the broadest sense, an surprisingly, therefore, there are
institution is something that works different forms of understanding of
according to rules established or at social institutions as well.