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SOCI 222
Comparative Social Institutions
Session 2 – Sociological Perspectives on the Social
Institutions
Lecturer: Dr. Rosemond Akpene Hiadzi
Contact Information: [email protected]
College of Education
School of Continuing and Distance Education
2014/2015 – 2016/2017
Session Overview
• This session presents the sociological perspectives or theories
on the social institutions. These theories/perspectives are the
bedrock of sociology and is therefore useful in enhancing
understanding of the social institutions. It examines how the
social institutions perform roles that help in the perpetuation
of society (functionalist view). It also describes the ways in
which social institutions in performing their roles, can lead to
conflict (Conflict view). Finally, it presents ways in which social
institutions perform their roles through interactions between
individuals and small groups using symbols, gestures and the
like (symbolic interactionism)
Slide 2
Session Outline
The key topics to be covered in the session are as follows:
• Topic one – The functionalist perspective
• Topic two – The conflict perspective
• Topic three – The symbolic interactionist perspective
Slide 3
Reading List
• Schaefer, R, & Lamm, R. (1997) Sociology: A Brief Introduction.
McGraw-Hill Companies
• Turner, J. (2006). Sociology. Pearson Prentice Hall
Slide 4
The Sociological Perspectives
• Theory: a general statement about how some parts of
the world fit together and how they work; it explains
how two or more facts are related to one another
• Theoretical Perspective: a set of assumptions about an
area of study
• These perspectives offer sociologists theoretical
paradigms for explaining how society influences people
and vice versa
Slide 5
Topic One
THE FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE
Slide 6
Biological analogy of Social Institutions
• The image that functionalists use to
understand society is a living
organism
• Society is viewed as a complex
system of parts that interacts to
perform various necessary
functions
• Each part of society works together
for the benefit of the whole much
like the human body as a system
Slide 7
Biological Analogy of Social Institutions
• From biology, organisms eg a plant has different parts such as
the roots, leaves, stems, branches, etc.
• There is an interdependence among the various parts as they
work together
• Sociologists also consider society as a social organism or
system made up of different parts
• Parts = institutions
• Thus each part of society (ie. Family, Religion, Education,
Economy etc.) contributes to the maintenance of the whole
society
Slide 8
Social Institutions as Aspects of
Human Behaviour
• Social Institutions are not objects that can be observed
• Institutions are aspects of our human thought and
behavior in society as they shape our behavior
• Social Institutions develop and are reinforced or even
changed as we interact daily through social interaction
• For instance, as students and lecturers interact, we have
educational institutions manifesting.
• Social Institutions then become normative patterns of
behavior
Slide 9
Functions of Social Institutions
• They bring about order by providing clear guidance and procedure
for individuals to pursue their needs;
• They serve as sources of social control by legitimizing and
regulating statuses and roles in society;
• They serve as a source of social identity providing collective ways of
acting and thinking;
• They specify the relationships between individuals and groups;
• They determine the rights and responsibilities of individuals and
groups.
Slide 10
Functionalism
• Functionalist believe that Social Institutions exist
because they perform vital functions for society;
hence there is no society without institutions;
• Functionalist argue that all social institutions are
functional due to the functions or role they play
towards the maintenance and survival of society.
• To them, the functions performed by the institutions
are always beneficial leading to law and order.
Slide 11
Illustrations
• Functionalist argue that the political institution exist for the
maintenance of law and order in society;
• The family and marriage institution to the functionalist
ensures procreation, socialization etc.
• To the functionalist, religion plays a very important role of
integration and social solidarity as well as a mechanism of
social control;
• The Economic institution is responsible for the production and
equitable distribution of scare good and services;
• Functionalist explain the role of education as transmission of
culture, social integration, socialization etc.
Slide 12
Topic Two
THE CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE
Slide 13
Conflict Perspective
• Conflict theory agrees that institutions are originally designed
to meet the basic needs of society
• However, they do not see them as working harmoniously for
the common good of society
• They see the functions of the institutions leading to
domination, exploitation and disorder
• Conflict theorists argue that the functions of the institutions
are not always beneficial but can lead to conflict and disorders
Slide 14
Illustrations
• Conflict theory sees the political institution as a
vehicle through which the rich and powerful
dominate others in society
• The family, to the conflict theorist, is the institution
in which male dominance of females is expressed
• For conflict theory, religion is a tool used to exploit
the poor
– According to Karl Marx, religion is the “opium of the
masses” i.e. it is a tool used by the ruling class to make the
workers accept their low status or social positions.
Slide 15
Sample Question
• In what ways is conflict evident in
the other major institutions namely
education, economic and health?
Slide 16
Topic Three
THE SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONIST
PERSPECTIVE
Slide 17
Symbolic Interactionism
• Microsociology
• Studies society through interactions within individual and small
groups
• Interaction between individuals is negotiated through shared
symbols, gestures and nonverbal communications
• Humans are social animals and require interaction
• Asks the questions” “How do individuals experience one another?”
“How do they interpret the meaning of these interactions?” and
“How do people construct a sense of self and the society as a
whole?”
Slide 18
Illustrations
• Within the economic institution, workers engage in
informal interactions within the work environment
• According to symbolic interactionists, a husband and wife
will negotiate if and how many children to have, what
tasks to perform in the home etc through verbal and
non-verbal interactions
• In religion, every religion has its own symbols and
gestures that their practitioners identify with and which
distinguishes one group from the other
• Other means of interacting include smiles, frowns,
greetings etc and these have specific meanings based on
the particular social context
Slide 19
Slide 20
References
• Schaefer, R, & Lamm, R. (1997) Sociology: A Brief
Introduction. McGraw-Hill Companies
• Turner, J. (2006). Sociology. Pearson Prentice Hall
Slide 21