1. Social Institutions
Organizations within society that allow the society to function – government, family, law, economics, school, health care…

2. What are Social Institutions?
Social institutions are organized and predictable ways that societies develop to meet their basic needs and each SI plays a role within society
These organized methods may vary from culture to culture
Social institutions change (evolve) over time, in order to meet the changing needs of society

3. Total Institutions - Conformity
A place of work and residence where a great number of similarly situated people, cut off from the wider community for a considerable time, together lead an enclosed, formally controlled life.
Forced to conform to social norms not identified for the rest of society not in this institution.

4. Sociologist: Erving Goffman
Total institutions are divided into five different types:
institutions established to care for people: orphanages, poor houses and nursing homes
places established to care for people felt to be incapable of looking after themselves and a threat to the community: mental hospitals
institutions organized to protect the community against what are felt to be intentional dangers to it, with the welfare of the people not the immediate issue: concentration camps, penitentiaries, and jails
institutions established to pursue some work-like tasks into the future: boarding schools
establishments designed as retreats from the world while often serving also as training stations for the religious: convents and monasteries

5. How Did Social Institutions Develop?
Foraging
defined as a way of life based on hunting wild animals, fishing, and harvesting wild grains, fruits, and roots
Began 10,000yrs ago to ease food collection
Societies were egalitarian (little distinction b/w wealth) and related by kinship or marriage
Family was main social institution as it served all needs

6. How Did Social Institutions Develop?
Agricultural
Marked the beginning of settlement
Established crops in fertile valleys that gave surpluses to support a greater # of people
Villages grew into cities
Social institutions expand from family reliance to include religious, political, and economic divisions

7. How Did Social Institutions Develop?
Industrial
Begins in Europe, then N. America and Japan
Industrialization led to the development of a complex and highly varied set of social institutions depending on the country people reside

8. Theories of Social Institutions
Functionalists
Recall that they believe social institutions work together to serve the basic needs of society and contribute towards the common good (analogous to the parts of the body)
Conflict Theorists
Agree with functionalists - intended to develop basic needs of society however, institutions have come to serve the needs of a small group (the wealthy)

9. Theories on the Purpose of School
Lets look at how functionalists and conflict theorists view schools What about other institutions…
Social
Institution
Conflict Theory Perspective
Structural Functionalist Perspective
School –
- School benefits rich people b/c they have more options for learning and resources that assist them in higher education
- Schools teach students values important in society – they socialize members of society – Other institutions benefit from school (economics) b/c people will contribute to the society further

10. Conflict Theory Perspective Structural Functionalist Perspective
Social
Institution
Conflict Theory Perspective
Structural Functionalist Perspective
Family –
- Society has been set up to create gender roles – capitalist economy – affects relationships between family members – discontent for women
- families differ over societies but the universal functions are similar – socialize children, survival, caring for family members, emotional support
Police/Law –
- The law is created by wealthy people who have power and status in society – the wealthy benefit – poor people tend to be punished more often, therefore, they mistrust the police
- Duties of the police are prevent and detect crime, arrest offenders, keep society safe, maintain order in society
Crime/
Deviance –
- legal system is biased and in favour of the wealthy
- those who own corporations are in charge of the political system and the legal system
- they use their power to enact laws that punish people – especially poor classes – who are charged with crimes more often – people who commit crimes are rebelling against the power held by the rich in society
- social institutions socialize members of society to conform to the rules and norms of society
- obeying laws is the behaviour members of society are expected to follow

11. Role Expectations in Institutions
For an SI to work properly it must insist upon certain predictable behaviours or roles from its members
Example: Military at war
Commanding Officers must make life or death decisions and must be obeyed by soldiers w/out hesitation
Therefore, military training emphasises obedience
Health institutions insist that doctors heal the sick
Schools insist that educators teach/facilitate learning

12. Prisons (Institutions) Case Study
Make Notes on the following case studies related to prisons as an institution. List the advantages and disadvantages of each system.
Conventional Prison System
Bard Prison Program

13. Total Institution – Prison Case Study

14. Bard Prison Initiative – Alternate Prison

15. Reflection – In Class Task
When you have completed your chart – use the information as well as your own opinion to respond to ONE of the following quotes –
“It is better to lock criminals up and keep society safe. They do not deserve freedom, education or other rights because they lost that privilege when they committed a crime. Once they serve their time, they may be allowed back into society.” OR
“If you teach someone who has committed a crime to make better choices, they are less likely to repeat their crimes and become functioning members of society. We have a responsibility as a society to invest money into their education to make society safer.”
You must provide 3 solid arguments to back up your opinion