Change in Social Institution

Change In Social Institution
Introduction:
 A social institution is a group or organization that has specific roles, norms, and expectations,
which functions social institution is a group or organization that has specific roles, norms, and
expectations, which functions to meet to social needs of society. The family, government,
religion, education, and media are all examples of social institutions to meet to social needs
of society. The family, government, religion, education, and media are all examples of social
institutions.
DEFINATIONS:
 Bogardus – “A social institution is a structure of society that is organized to meet the needs
of people chiefly through well established procedures.”
 H. E. Barnes – “Social institutions are the social structure & machinery through which human
society organizes, directs & executes the multifarious activities required to society for human
need.”
Social institutions have several key characteristics:
1. They are enduring and stable.

2. They serve a purpose, ideally providing better chances for human survival and flourishing.
3. They have roles that need to be filled.
4. Governing the behavior and expectations of sets of individuals within a given community.
5. The rules that govern them are usually ingrained in the basic cultural values of a society, as
each institution consists of a complex cluster of social norms.
Examples (And Functions):

 Family
 Religion
 Education
 Marriage
 Law etc;
Theoretical Framework:
1. The functionalist perspective :
According to the functionalist perspective, also called functionalism, each aspect of society is
interdependent and contributes to society's functioning as a whole. The government, or state,
provides education for the children of the family, which in turn pays taxes on which the state
depends to keep itself running. That is, the family is dependent upon the school to help children
grow up to have good jobs so that they can raise and support their own families. In the process,
the children become law‐abiding, taxpaying citizens, who in turn support the state. If all goes well,
the parts of society produce order, stability, and productivity. If all does not go well, the parts of
society then must adapt to recapture a new order, stability, and productivity. For example, during a
financial recession with its high rates of unemployment and inflation, social programs are trimmed
or cut. Schools offer fewer programs. Families tighten their budgets. And a new social order,
stability, and productivity occur.
2. The symbolic interaction perspective:
According to the symbolic interaction perspective, people attach meanings to symbols, and then
they act according to their subjective interpretation of these symbols. Verbal conversations, in
which spoken words serve as the predominant symbols, make this subjective interpretation
especially evident. The words have a certain meaning for the “sender,” and, during effective
communication, they hopefully have the same meaning for the “receiver.” In other terms, words are
not static “things”; they require intention and interpretation. Conversation is an interaction of
symbols between individuals who constantly interpret the world around them. Of course, anything
can serve as a symbol as long as it refers to something beyond itself. Written music serves as an
example. The black dots and lines become more than mere marks on the page; they refer to notes
organized in such a way as to make musical sense. Thus, symbolic interactions give serious
thought to how people act, and then seek to determine what meanings individuals assign to their
own actions and symbols, as well as to those of others.
3. The conflict perspective:
The conflict perspective, which originated primarily out of Karl Marx's writings on class struggles,
presents society in a different light than do the functionalist and symbolic interaction perspectives.
While these latter perspectives focus on the positive aspects of society that contribute to its
stability, the conflict perspective focuses on the negative, conflicted, and ever‐changing nature of
society. Unlike functionalists who defend the status quo, avoid social change, and believe people
cooperate to effect social order, conflict theorists challenge the status quo, encourage social
change (even when this means social revolution), and believe rich and powerful people force
social order on the poor and the weak. Conflict theorists, for example, may interpret an “elite”
board of regents raising tuition to pay for esoteric new programs that raise the prestige of a local
college as self‐serving rather than as beneficial for students.
Factors Influencing Social Change:

1. Technological Advances: Technological developments can significantly impact social
institutions. For example, the advent of the internet has transformed the way education is
delivered, and social media has influenced communication patterns within families and
communities.
2. Economic Forces: Changes in the economy, such as recessions or technological shifts,

can impact the structure and function of social institutions. Economic factors can affect
employment patterns, income distribution, and access to resources, leading to changes
in family dynamics, education systems, and more.
3. Cultural Shifts: Changes in cultural norms, values, and beliefs can influence social
institutions. As societies evolve, the expectations and practices associated with
institutions like marriage, education, and religion may change to reflect new cultural
attitudes.
4. Demographic Changes: Shifts in population demographics, such as changes in birth

rates, life expectancy, and migration patterns, can impact the structure and demands
placed on social institutions. Aging populations, for instance, may necessitate changes in
healthcare and retirement systems.
5. Political and Legal Changes: Government policies and laws play a crucial role in shaping
social institutions. Reforms, regulations, or shifts in political ideologies can influence how
institutions operate and are structured.
6. Globalization: The interconnectedness of societies in a globalized world can lead to the

exchange of ideas, values, and practices. This can impact cultural norms, education
systems, and even governance structures as societies adapt to global influences.
7. Social Movements: Activism and social movements can bring about changes in social
institutions by challenging existing norms and advocating for reforms. Movements
advocating for gender equality, civil rights, or environmental sustainability, for example,
have influenced various social institutions.
8. Environmental Changes: Environmental factors, such as climate change and natural

disasters, can have profound effects on social institutions. These changes may
necessitate adjustments in how societies organize themselves to address new
challenges.
9. Educational Innovations: Changes in educational methods, curriculum, and philosophies

can lead to transformations in the education system, impacting the way knowledge is
transmitted and skills are developed.
10. Generational Shifts: Different generations may have distinct values, preferences, and
attitudes. As one generation replaces another, there can be shifts in societal norms and
expectations, influencing how social institutions operate.
Characteristics of Social Change:

Idrani (1998) and Anele (1999) observed and attributed certain characteristics
to social change.
1. Inevitable
 As mentioned earlier, social change is a phenomenon tied to the very root of human
society, therefore it is inevitable and unavoidable. Social change may take place
without society being acutely aware of the process.
2. Ubiquitous
 Social change is not a concept tied down to one society, it is not unique to particular
geographical locations or subsets of society but occurs across all societies. No society
remains static and unchanging, micro and macro events take place to shift the way
they function. Therefore it must be looked at as a universal phenomenon.
3. Multi-leveled
 As discussed above, change occurs both on a micro and macro level. Certain
definitions of social change look at the concept to understand how social structures
evolve and introduce new social institutions. However, social change takes place on all
levels and is not restricted to evolutionary change.
4. Contagious
 Especially in the present day, given how interwoven and connected one society is with
another, social change is contagious in the sense that change in one society can inflict
change in another.
5. Rate
 There is no fixed time duration during which social change occurs, its rate depends on
this issue at hand and can be rapid or gradual [revolutionary or evolutionary].
6. Measurable
 This is perhaps the most important characteristic of social change. Social change can
be measured and detected based on scale, brevity and repetition.

Change in Social Institution

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Change In Social Institution

Social institutions have several key characteristics:

1. They are enduring and stable.

Examples (And Functions):

2. The symbolic interaction perspective:

3. The conflict perspective:

Factors Influencing Social Change:

2. Economic Forces: Changes in the economy, such as recessions or technological shifts,

4. Demographic Changes: Shifts in population demographics, such as changes in birth

6. Globalization: The interconnectedness of societies in a globalized world can lead to the

8. Environmental Changes: Environmental factors, such as climate change and natural

9. Educational Innovations: Changes in educational methods, curriculum, and philosophies

Characteristics of Social Change:

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