Sociologists define social institutions as organized patterns of beliefs and behavior that are centered on basic social needs (Schaefer 2019, p. 206). This weeks readings look in detail at five social institutions: family, religion, government, the education system, and the economic system. From the functionalist perspective, social institutions provide customs and ideas to meet societys needs to replace its members, teach its members cultural norms, values, knowledge, and skills, provision it members with goods and services, maintain social control and order, and provide and maintain a sense of purpose (Schaefer 2019, p. 207). From a conflict perspective social institutions preserve the social status quo of roles, statuses, privileges.
Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:
How do social institutions help hold together human societies when they comprise individuals and social groups who hold diverse interests and aspirations?
Which social institutions have changed the most in the last 50 years in the United States? How so?
Have these changes made society better or worse?
Which social institutions need societal reform and how would you work to change it?
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