THEME 1: Introduction to Social Institutions
C. Wright Mills - Sociological Imagination
Defining social institutions
“…set of regular behaviour patterns associated with a particular sphere of our lives that is structured
by rules of behaviour” (Gelderblom, page 3)
Behaviour patterns govern specific part of our lives. Not always physical institutions - like education.
Key features of social institutions
* Structured by a set of rules (ideals)
* What is considered socially acceptable?
* Rules are not written down. They combine historical and current developments.
* We learn the rules through instruction or observation. We internalise the rules.
* Sanctions can be imposed when rules are violated
- Regular behaviour patterns:
- Habitualization
- Predictability
- Reciprocity
- Particular sphere of our lives:
- Family
- Education
- Economy
- Religion
- Mass media
- Law
, How do institutions arise?
* Habitualization
* For institutions to from “…collectives containing considerable numbers of people” are required.
* Establish individual roles
* Establish common roles
* Objectivity of social institutions
* “Exist over and beyond the individual”
* They become “difficult to change”
How do institutions shape our lives?
* “We make institutions as much as they make us”
* They structure our lives through rules of behaviour
* Sanctions
* Coercion to comply
* Consent
* Rewards - “soft power”
* Habitualization - “we just do it”
* Institutions are not neutral. What is established as the norm tends to serve the powerful - there
are inherent “power relationships”
* Institutions are interdependent
How do we shape Institutions?
* “We make institutions as much as they make us” - “mutually constitutive”
* We create them through collective behaviours
* Intent
* Discursive knowledge
* Institutions are enduring. They are reproduced through our patterned behaviour
C. Wright Mills - Sociological Imagination
Defining social institutions
“…set of regular behaviour patterns associated with a particular sphere of our lives that is structured
by rules of behaviour” (Gelderblom, page 3)
Behaviour patterns govern specific part of our lives. Not always physical institutions - like education.
Key features of social institutions
* Structured by a set of rules (ideals)
* What is considered socially acceptable?
* Rules are not written down. They combine historical and current developments.
* We learn the rules through instruction or observation. We internalise the rules.
* Sanctions can be imposed when rules are violated
- Regular behaviour patterns:
- Habitualization
- Predictability
- Reciprocity
- Particular sphere of our lives:
- Family
- Education
- Economy
- Religion
- Mass media
- Law
, How do institutions arise?
* Habitualization
* For institutions to from “…collectives containing considerable numbers of people” are required.
* Establish individual roles
* Establish common roles
* Objectivity of social institutions
* “Exist over and beyond the individual”
* They become “difficult to change”
How do institutions shape our lives?
* “We make institutions as much as they make us”
* They structure our lives through rules of behaviour
* Sanctions
* Coercion to comply
* Consent
* Rewards - “soft power”
* Habitualization - “we just do it”
* Institutions are not neutral. What is established as the norm tends to serve the powerful - there
are inherent “power relationships”
* Institutions are interdependent
How do we shape Institutions?
* “We make institutions as much as they make us” - “mutually constitutive”
* We create them through collective behaviours
* Intent
* Discursive knowledge
* Institutions are enduring. They are reproduced through our patterned behaviour
