Guide
What is a social institution? - ANSWER:an institution is an accepted and persistent constellation of
statuses, roles, values, and norms that respond to important societal needs.
EX: religion, family, education. an intangible thing that isn't a place just a concept.
What are some things that social institutions are? - ANSWER:-are intangible, however, their impact and
structure are visible
-confront individuals at birth
-influence individual behavior and group behavior
-transcend individual experience (omnipresent)
Social institutions meet what societal needs? Give an example of each societal need met. - ANSWER:-
have a continuing supply of new members EX: family
-socialize new members EX: law
-deal with members sickness and health issues EX: military
- select members for certain jobs and tasks EX: family
-create knowledge EX:science
-control members EX: education
-defend against enemies EX: military
-produce and exchange goods and services EX: economy
-promote social unity and the search for higher meanings EX: religion
What are some examples of social institutions that we discussed in class? - ANSWER:family, religion,
economy, law, politics, science, military, education, and healthcare
Social institution are generally... - ANSWER:..unplanned, they develop gradually
..inherently conservative, they change but slowly
A particular society's institutions are interdependent and because of this change in one institution tends
to bring what? - ANSWER:change in others
Do the statuses, roles, values, and norms associated with an institution in one society frequently bear
resemblance to those in another society? - ANSWER:No, the statuses, roles, values, and norms
associated with an institution in one society frequently bear little resemblance to those in another
society
, Describe how marriage is a example of a social institution and how it follows the nature of social
institutions? - ANSWER:marriage at first was for economical reasons, slowly changed to be based on
love. same sex marriage changes institutional law, had impact on politics, here marriage is based on love
but in China the word for love was negative and in 1920's they made up a new word to make love
positive.
Define socialization - ANSWER:the life long process through which people learn the expectations of
society. you learn how to be socialized through agents of socialization
Describe Charles H. Cooley's: The Looking-Glass Self. Give an example. - ANSWER:you think about
yourself through interactions of other people.
-sense of self is achieved through interaction with others
-sense of self is based on our perceptions of how others see us (reflections of ourselves from others)
EX: you trip and think that everyone thinks I'm clumsy
Describe George Herbert Mead's:
The "I" and the "Me". Give an example. - ANSWER:-the "me" is the part of self that is based on how one
views other people as seeing oneself
-the "I" is what you want to do no matter what other people think. It is the part of self that is uniquely
you; your personal
reaction before socially accepted behavior is considered
Ex: The I- you want to eat 5 doughnuts
The Me- Everyone will think I'm a fatty so I won't.
Through interactions you have what to fill? - ANSWER:you have societal expectations to fill
What is a total institution? - ANSWER:a place of residence and work where a large number of like
situated individuals, cut off from the wider society for an appreciable period of time, together lead an
enclosed, formally administered round of life.
-the concept of total institution came out of Goffman's work in mental hospitals
EX: prison, mental hospitals
What is taken away in a total institution and replaced with what? - ANSWER:sense of self is taken away
and replaced with something that fits with norms of society
What is Resocialization? - ANSWER:take away an individuals sense of self and replace it with a self that
fits with the norms and values of the new society (or total institution)
What film did we watch as an example of resocialization? - ANSWER:Zimbardo's "The Stanford Prison
Experiment" film