Signs and elements of social institutions. Science as a social institution Two signs of a social institution on the example of education

One of the factors that characterize society as a whole is the totality of social institutions. Their location seems to be on the surface, which makes them especially successful objects for observation and control.

In turn, a complex organized system with its own norms and rules is a social institution. Its signs are different, but classified, and it is they that are to be considered in this article.

The concept of a social institution

A social institution is one of the forms of organization. For the first time this concept was applied. According to the scientist, the whole variety of social institutions creates the so-called framework of society. The division into forms, Spencer said, is produced under the influence of the differentiation of society. He divided the whole society into three main institutions, among which:

reproductive;
distributive;
regulating.

E. Durkheim's opinion

E. Durkheim was convinced that a person as a person can realize himself only with the help of social institutions. They are also called upon to establish responsibility between inter-institutional forms and the needs of society.

Karl Marx

The author of the famous "Capital" evaluated social institutions from the point of view of industrial relations. In his opinion, the social institution, the signs of which are present both in the division of labor and in the phenomenon of private property, was formed precisely under their influence.

Terminology

The term "social institution" comes from the Latin word "institution", which means "organization" or "order". In principle, all the features of a social institution are reduced to this definition.

The definition includes the form of consolidation and the form of implementation of specialized activities. The purpose of social institutions is to ensure the stability of the functioning of communications within society.

The following short definition of the term is also acceptable: an organized and coordinated form of social relations, aimed at meeting the needs that are significant for society.

It is easy to see that all of the definitions provided (including the above opinions of scientists) are based on "three pillars":

society;
organization;
needs.

But these are not yet full-fledged features of a social institution, rather, key points that should be taken into account.

Conditions for institutionalization

The process of institutionalization is a social institution. It occurs under the following conditions:

social need as a factor that will satisfy the future institution;
social ties, that is, the interaction of people and communities, as a result of which social institutions are formed;
expedient and rules;
material and organizational, labor and financial necessary resources.

Stages of institutionalization

The process of establishing a social institution goes through several stages:

the emergence and awareness of the need for an institution;
development of norms of social behavior within the framework of the future institution;
the creation of its own symbols, that is, a system of signs that will indicate the social institution being created;
formation, development and definition of a system of roles and statuses;
creation of the material basis of the institute;
integration of the institution into the existing social system.

Structural features of a social institution

Signs of the concept of "social institution" characterize it in modern society.

Structural features cover:

Scope of activity, as well as social relations.
Institutions that have certain powers in order to organize the activities of people, as well as perform various roles and functions. For example: public, organizational and performing the functions of control and management.
Those specific rules and norms that are designed to regulate the behavior of people in a particular social institution.
Material means to achieve the goals of the institute.
Ideology, goals and objectives.

Types of social institutions

The classification that systematizes social institutions (table below) divides this concept into four certain types. Each of them includes at least four more specific institutions.

What are the social institutions? The table shows their types and examples.

Spiritual social institutions in some sources are called institutions of culture, and the sphere of the family, in turn, is sometimes called stratification and kinship.

General signs of a social institution

The general, and at the same time the main, signs of a social institution are as follows:

the range of subjects that, in the course of their activities, enter into relationships;
the sustainability of these relationships;
a certain (and this means, to some extent formalized) organization;
behavioral norms and rules;
functions that ensure the integration of the institution into the social system.

It should be understood that these signs are informal, but logically follow from the definition and functioning of various social institutions. With the help of them, among other things, it is convenient to analyze institutionalization.

Social institution: signs on specific examples

Each specific social institution has its own characteristics - signs. They closely overlap with roles, for example: the main roles of the family as a social institution. That is why it is so revealing to consider examples and the signs and roles corresponding to it.

Family as a social institution

A classic example of a social institution is, of course, the family. As can be seen from the above table, it belongs to the fourth type of institutions covering the same area. Therefore, it is the basis and ultimate goal for marriage, fatherhood and motherhood. In addition, the family also unites them.

Features of this social institution:

marriage or consanguinity ties;
overall family budget;
cohabitation in the same dwelling.

The main roles are reduced to the well-known saying that she is a "cell of society". Essentially, that's exactly what it is. Families are particles that together form society. In addition to being a social institution, the family is also called a small social group. And it is no coincidence, because from birth a person develops under its influence and experiences it for himself throughout his life.

Education as a social institution

Education is a social subsystem. It has its own specific structure and features.

Basic elements of education:

social organizations and social communities (educational institutions and division into groups of teachers and students, etc.);
sociocultural activity in the form of an educational process.

The characteristics of a social institution include:

Norms and rules - in the institute of education, examples can be considered: craving for knowledge, attendance, respect for teachers and classmates / classmates.
Symbolism, that is, cultural signs - hymns and coats of arms educational institutions, animal symbol of some famous colleges, emblems.
Utilitarian cultural features such as classrooms and classrooms.
Ideology - the principle of equality between students, mutual respect, freedom of speech and the right to vote, as well as the right to one's own opinion.

Signs of social institutions: examples

Let's summarize the information presented here. The characteristics of a social institution include:

a set of social roles (for example, father/mother/daughter/sister in the institution of the family);
sustainable behavior patterns (for example, certain models for the teacher and student at the institute of education);
norms (for example, codes and the Constitution of the state);
symbolism (for example, the institution of marriage or a religious community);
basic values (i.e. morality).

The social institution, the features of which were considered in this article, is designed to guide the behavior of each individual person, being directly a part of his life. At the same time, for example, an ordinary senior student belongs to at least three social institutions: the family, the school, and the state. It is interesting that, depending on each of them, he also has the role (status) that he has and according to which he chooses his behavior model. She, in turn, sets his characteristics in society.

Science as a social institution is a system of scientific organizations and institutions.

Social organizations are characterized by the following features:

1. the presence of a goal;

2. distribution of members of the organization by roles and statuses;

3. division of labor, specialization on a professional basis;

4. construction according to the vertical hierarchical principle with the allocation of the control and managed subsystems;

5. availability of specific means of regulation and control of the organization's activities;

6. the presence of an integral social system.

The social essence of the organization is manifested in the implementation of its goals through the achievement of personal ones. Without this connection, the union between the whole (organization) and the part (person) is impossible. People will be part of an organization only if they have the opportunity to receive a salary, communicate, have the opportunity to grow professionally, and so on.

The purpose of science as a social institution is the production of new knowledge, the application of new knowledge in production, in everyday life, in culture.

There is a hierarchical structure in science: an academician, a doctor, a candidate of science, a senior researcher, a laboratory assistant have their own duties and roles that they must perform.

In addition, there are scientific norms for obtaining, processing and analyzing scientific information, verified by previous practice of research work.

Science includes a network of institutions: academies of sciences, research and design institutes, laboratories and bureaus, botanical gardens, experimental stations, scientific communities, libraries, coordination and planning bodies scientific research, publishing houses, etc. and the means to achieve the objectives, in particular scientific equipment.

Science as a social institution has a system of sanctions: incentives, punishments (assignment of academic titles, positions, recognition of copyright, etc.), as well as the presence of specific means of regulation and control. There are acts on the introduction of this or that scientific innovation, the Academy of Sciences performs a regulatory role in the form of normative acts issued by it, and so on.

Science as a social institution is connected with other social institutions of society: production, politics, art.

In addition to the explicit functions described above, performed by science, there are implicit (hidden) functions: in particular, such a hidden function for a long time, for example, in the USSR-Russia, was the prestige of doing science, the belonging of scientists to the spiritual elite.

Science as a social institution is in constant change: old institutions and organizations are closing down, new ones are emerging. The process of formation of new institutions is called institutionalization.

Science as a social institution arose simultaneously with the advent of science.

Already in the era of antiquity, the first scientific institutions appeared in the form of private schools, scientific communities under the patronage of famous thinkers or at temples. So everyone knows: the society of the Pythagoreans, where the first place was given to science, Plato's scientific academy, where he taught for 40 years, Aristotle's lyceum, the school of Hippocrates.

In the Hellenistic era, the prototype of the first medieval universities was the school of scientists of Alexandria at the Library of Alexandria (museum), which has about 500,000 books. Creation of a unique library, an influx of scholars and manuscripts from different countries caused a significant development of mathematics, mechanics, astronomy.

In the Middle Ages, such schools existed at monasteries. In the late Middle Ages, theological universities arose: the University of Paris (1160), Bologna, Oxford (1167), Cambridge (1209), Padua (1222), Naples (1224), Prague (1347), etc.

The main feature of these scientific organizations was that scientific disciplines were studied here as a whole, without specialization. The focus was on the humanities. Only at the end of the XVII century. Universities begin to teach natural sciences and technical disciplines.

Formation modern science, which occurred in modern times, was marked by the creation of academies. In 1603, the "Academy of the Lynx" was created in Rome - from the motto "the eyes of a scientist should be as keen as the eyes of a lynx." In this academy, in the spirit of the teachings of Galileo, lectures were given, individual experiments were carried out.

But the academy in the fuller sense of the term was the Royal Society of London, organized in 1660, the Paris Academy of Sciences - 1666, the Berlin Academy of Sciences - 1700. As a result, by the end of the 17th century. Most European scientists were members of scientific academies and societies.

In 1724 the Academy of Sciences was founded in St. Petersburg. It was a state institution, well equipped for that time with scientific equipment: there was an astronomical observatory, a chemical laboratory, a physics office were equipped. The greatest scientists of that time worked here - M.V. Lomonosov, L. Euler and others. In 1775, on the initiative of M.V. Lomonosov, Moscow University was opened.

At the end of the 18th - beginning of the 19th centuries. the process of bringing together researchers working in various fields of knowledge was further developed: physical, chemical, biological and other scientific communities arise: the French Conservatory of Technical Arts and Crafts (1795), the Collection of German Naturalists (1822), the British Association for the Promotion of Progress” (1831) and others. They provided financial support to novice scientists in carrying out any experiments.

In the XVIII century. The general growth of science and information, the spread of experimental methods and the complication of their technique, the increase in the laboriousness of scientific research led to the emergence of stable, permanent scientific teams. There are laboratories, departments, institutes as a reaction to the need for collective activity.

At the end of the XVIII century. there is a need for the training of experienced experimental scientists: in particular, the Polytechnic School in Paris (1795), where Lagrange, Laplace, Carnot and others taught. scientific school). The creation of scientific schools was due to the insufficient preparedness for research activities of university students who did not receive the practical skills necessary for experimental work within the walls of higher educational institutions.

In the middle of the XIX century. from the general structure of scientific institutions, research subdivisions (laboratories) are finally distinguished, developing more or less narrow areas of science: the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, etc. Here, in addition to managers, not only technicians and laboratory assistants work, but also researchers. In the second half of the XIX century. similar laboratories are moving from academies to higher educational institutions: they appear at universities in Germany, Russia, France and other countries. There is a parallel existence and competition between research teams-laboratories and single scientists.

Science acquires the features of a mature organism, the profession of a scientist is firmly rooted in society, and there is a need for targeted training of scientific personnel. At the beginning of the twentieth century. there is a wide network of research laboratories and institutes not associated with educational process independent of higher education institutions. Numerous scientific teams emerged that received the status of laboratories, departments, etc.; the organization was fixed formally, with official documents. But informal research teams that did not have legal rights, scientific schools, survived and continued to exist.

I am engaged in "Five with a plus" in the group of Gulnur Gataullovna in biology and chemistry. I am delighted, the teacher knows how to interest the subject, find an approach to the student. Adequately explains the essence of his requirements and gives realistic homework (and not like most teachers in the year of the exam, ten paragraphs at home, but one in the class). . We study strictly for the exam and it is very valuable! Gulnur Gataullovna is sincerely interested in the subjects she teaches, she always gives the necessary, timely and relevant information. Highly recommend!

Camille

I'm preparing for "Five with a plus" for mathematics (with Daniil Leonidovich) and the Russian language (with Zarema Kurbanovna). Very satisfied! The quality of classes is at a high level, at the school there are now only fives and fours in these subjects. I wrote test exams for 5, I'm sure that I will pass the OGE perfectly. Thank you!

Airat

I was preparing for the exam in history and social science with Vitaly Sergeevich. He is an extremely responsible teacher in relation to his work. Punctual, polite, pleasant in communication. It can be seen that the man lives his work. Well versed in adolescent psychology, has a clear method of preparation. Thank you "Five with a plus" for the work!

Leysan

I passed the exam in the Russian language with 92 points, mathematics with 83, social studies with 85, I think this is an excellent result, I entered the university on a budget! Thanks Five Plus! Your teachers are true professionals, with them a high result is guaranteed, I am very glad that I turned to you!

Dmitry

David Borisovich is a wonderful teacher! I was preparing in his group for the Unified State Examination in mathematics at the profile level, I passed by 85 points! although knowledge at the beginning of the year was not very good. David Borisovich knows his subject, knows the requirements of the Unified State Examination, he himself is a member of the commission for checking examination papers. I am very glad that I was able to get into his group. Thank you "Five with a plus" for this opportunity!

Violetta

"Five with a plus" - an excellent center for preparing for exams. Professionals work here, a cozy atmosphere, friendly staff. I studied English and social studies with Valentina Viktorovna, I passed both subjects with a good score, I am satisfied with the result, thank you!

Olesya

In the "Five with a plus" center, she studied two subjects at once: mathematics with Artem Maratovich and literature with Elvira Ravilievna. I really liked the classes, a clear methodology, an accessible form, a comfortable environment. I am very pleased with the result: mathematics - 88 points, literature - 83! Thank you! I will recommend your educational center to everyone!

Artem

When I was choosing tutors, I was attracted by good teachers, convenient class schedule, free trial exams, my parents - affordable prices for high quality. In the end, we were very pleased with the whole family. I studied three subjects at once: mathematics, social studies, and English. Now I am a student of KFU on a budgetary basis, and all thanks to good preparation - I passed the exam with high scores. Thanks!

Dima

I very carefully selected a tutor in social studies, I wanted to pass the exam for the maximum score. "Five with a plus" helped me in this matter, I studied in the group of Vitaly Sergeevich, the classes were super, everything is clear, everything is clear, and at the same time fun and at ease. Vitaly Sergeevich presented the material in such a way that it was remembered by itself. I am very happy with the preparation!

What changes in family and marriage relations does the author highlight? Name any three of them.

In response, the following changes can be named: 1) the diversity of family forms has increased; 2) people marry less willingly; 3) people marry at a later age; 4) the level of divorces has increased significantly; 5) the number of incomplete families has increased

From the social studies course, you know that the family is seen as a small group and as a social institution. Name two signs of a family as a small group that the author singled out. Based on social science knowledge, indicate any three functions of the family as a social institution.

The answer should be the following items:

1) two signs are named: - this is a group of people connected by direct family relations; – adult family members assume responsibility for the care of children.

2) functions are indicated, for example: - educational; - economic; - reproductive; – economic; - emotional; - social status.

The author notes the growing diversity of family forms. List the two forms of family mentioned in the text. Based on social science knowledge, give examples of any two other forms of family. Specify the distinguishing feature of any of them.

The response must contain the following elements:

1) two forms of family: - extended; - nuclear;

2) examples, for example: - patriarchal; - partnership (democratic).

3) a distinctive feature, for example: - a sign of a family of partner type is the equality of spouses; - a sign of a patriarchal family is the primacy of the father of the family.

DEFINITION

What is the meaning of the term lawyers "civil marriage"? Drawing on the knowledge of the social science course, make two sentences: one sentence containing information about the conditions for marriage, and one sentence revealing the features of the property rights of the spouses.

Explanation.

The correct answer must contain the following elements

1) the meaning of the concept, for example: “Civil marriage is a form of relationship between a man and a woman, when they live together, have a joint household, their relationship is legalized, but not in the church.”;

2) one sentence with information about the conditions of marriage, based on the knowledge of the course, for example: “One of the conditions for entering into marriage is the mutual voluntary consent of a man and a woman to enter into a marriage relationship”;

3) one sentence, which, based on knowledge of the course, reveals the features of the property rights of spouses, for example: “Property that belonged to each of the spouses before marriage, as well as things for individual use, are their personal property and are not divided upon divorce.”

ILLUSTRATIONS

Name and illustrate with examples any three grounds for declaring a marriage invalid, provided for by the Family Code of the Russian Federation.

Explanation.

In the correct answer, the following grounds for declaring a marriage invalid can be named and illustrated:

1) if the marriage is concluded between persons, of which at least one person is already in another registered marriage (Mikhail, being outside the Russian Federation, entered into marriage, being in another marriage registered in the Russian Federation);

2) the marriage was concluded between close relatives (Aleksey and Svetlana entered into a marriage, being half-brother and sister);

3) the marriage was concluded between the adoptive parent and the adopted child (Vladimir married Nina, adopted by him);

4) at least one of those who entered into marriage was declared incompetent (Ksenia, declared legally incompetent by the court, married Nikolai);

5) the marriage was concluded without the purpose of creating a family (Paul married Valentina in order to obtain registration in Moscow.

Name and illustrate with examples any three grounds for divorce in court.

Explanation.

In the correct answer, the following grounds for divorce in court can be named and illustrated:

1) the spouses have common minor children (Ivan and Elena filed an application for divorce by mutual agreement. Since the spouses have a common daughter, 6-year-old Vera, the marriage will be dissolved in court);

2) the absence of the consent of one of the spouses to dissolve the marriage (Valentina filed an application for divorce with Mikhail. Since Mikhail objects to the dissolution of the marriage, the divorce case will be considered by the court, which will examine the possibility of reconciliation of the spouses and the preservation of the family);

3) evasion of one of the spouses from dissolution of marriage in the registry office (Irina filed an application for divorce with Vladimir at the registry office. The spouses have no common children, and Vladimir does not object to the dissolution of the marriage, but does not come to the registry office to dissolve the marriage. In connection with evasion of Vladimir from the dissolution of the marriage in the registry office, the case on the dissolution of the marriage will be considered in court).

Name and illustrate with examples any three circumstances that prevent marriage, provided for by the Family Code of the Russian Federation.

Explanation.

In the correct answer, the following circumstances that prevent marriage can be named and illustrated:

1) being in another registered marriage (Fyodor suggested that Svetlana marry him, however, since Svetlana was married, the marriage between her and Fedor could not be registered until the official dissolution of Svetlana's previous marriage);

2) close relationship (Ivan and Sophia cannot marry, as they are brother and sister);

3) marriages between adoptive parents and adopted (adopted) are not allowed (Semyon cannot marry Ekaterina, adopted by him, despite the absence of consanguinity between them);

4) the incapacity of a person as a result of a mental disorder (Nikolai and Tamara cannot register a marriage, since Nikolai was declared legally incompetent by a court as a result of a mental disorder).

(from lat. institutum - establishment, institution), which form the basic element of society. Therefore, it can be said that society is a set of social institutions and the links between them. There is no theoretical certainty in the understanding of a social institution. First of all, the relationship between "social systems" and "social institutions" is unclear. In Marxist sociology, they are not distinguished, while Parsons considers social institutions as the regulatory mechanism of social systems. Further, the distinction between social institutions and social organizations, which are often confused, is not clear.

The concept of a social institution came in from jurisprudence. There it denotes a set of legal norms that regulate the legal activities of people in some area (family, economic, etc.). In sociology, social institutions are (1) stable complexes of social regulators (values, norms, beliefs, sanctions), they (2) control systems of statuses, roles, behaviors in various spheres of human activity (3) exist to satisfy social needs and ( 4) arise historically in the process of trial and error. Social institutions are the family, property, trade, education, and so on. Let's consider the listed signs.

First, social institutions are expedient character, i.e. created to satisfy some public needs. For example, the institution of the family serves to meet the needs of people in procreation and socialization, economic institutions - to meet the needs for production and distribution wealth, educational institutions - to meet the needs for knowledge, etc.

Secondly, social institutions include a system of social statuses(rights and obligations) and roles resulting in a hierarchy. For example, at the institute higher education these are the statuses and roles of rectors, deans, heads of departments, teachers, laboratory assistants, etc. The statuses and roles of the institute correspond to stable, formalized, diverse regulators social ties: ideology, mentality, norms (administrative, legal, moral); forms of moral, economic, legal, etc. stimulation.

Thirdly, in the social institution social statuses and the roles of people are fulfilled by virtue of the transformation into values and norms related to the needs and interests of people. “It is only through the internationalization of institutionalized values that a genuine motivational integration of behavior into the social structure takes place: very deep layers of motivation begin to work to fulfill role expectations,” writes T. Parsons.

Fourthly, social institutions arise historically, as if by themselves. Nobody invents them the way they invent technical and social goods. This happens because the social need that they must satisfy does not arise and be recognized immediately, but also develops. Man owes many of his greatest achievements not to conscious aspirations, much less to the deliberately coordinated efforts of many, but to a process in which the individual plays a role that is not entirely comprehensible to himself. They are<...>are the result of a combination of knowledge that a single mind cannot grasp,” Hayek wrote.

Social institutions are a kind self-governing systems consisting of three interconnected parts. Initial some of these systems form a network of agreed-upon status-roles. For example, in a family these are the statuses-roles of husband, wife, children. Them managing the system is formed, on the one hand, by the needs, values, norms, and beliefs shared by the participants, and, on the other hand, by public opinion, law, and the state. transformative the system of social institutions includes the coordinated actions of people in which appear respective statuses and roles.

Social institutions are characterized by a set of institutional features that distinguish these forms of social connection from others. These include: 1) material and cultural characteristics (for example, an apartment for a family); 2 institutional symbols (seal, brand name, coat of arms, etc.); 3) institutional ideals, values, norms; 4) charter or code of conduct, fixing ideals, values, norms; 5) an ideology that explains the social environment from the point of view of a given social institution. Social institutions are type(general) social connection of people, and their specific(single) manifestation, and a system of specific institutions. For example, the institution of the family is both a certain type of social connection, and a specific family, and a multitude of individual families that are socially connected with each other.

The most important characteristic of social institutions is their functions in the social environment, which consists of other social institutions. The main functions of social institutions are the following: 1) stable satisfaction of the needs of people for the sake of which the institutions arose; 2) maintaining the stability of subjective regulators (needs, values, norms, beliefs); 3) determination of pragmatic (instrumental) interests, the implementation of which leads to the production of benefits necessary to meet the corresponding needs; 4) adapting the available funds to the chosen interests; 5) integration of people into a cooperative relationship around identified interests; 6) transformation external environment into essential goods.

Social institutions: structure, functions and typology

An important structural element of society are social institutions. The very term "institution" (from lat. institution- establishment, institution) was borrowed from jurisprudence, where it was used to characterize a certain set of legal norms. This concept was first introduced into sociological science. He believed that every social institution develops as a stable structure of "social actions".

In modern sociology, there are different definitions of this concept. Thus, the Russian sociologist Y. Levada defines a “social institution” as “something similar to an organ in a living organism: it is a node of people’s activities that remains stable over a certain period of time and ensures the stability of the entire social system.” In Western sociology, a social institution is most often understood as a stable set of formal and informal rules, principles, norms, and attitudes that regulate various spheres of human activity and organize them into a system of roles and statuses.

With all the differences in such definitions, a generalization can be the following: social institutions- these are historically established stable forms of organizing the joint activities of people, designed to ensure the reproduction of social relations. reliability and regularity in meeting the basic needs of society. Thanks to social institutions, stability and order in society are achieved, and the predictability of people's behavior becomes possible.

There are many social institutions that appear in society as products of social life. The process of formation of a social institution, which involves the definition and consolidation of social norms, rules, statuses and roles and bringing them into a system that can satisfy socially significant needs, is called institutionalization.

This process includes several successive steps:

the emergence of a need, the satisfaction of which requires joint organized actions;
formation of common goals;
the emergence of social norms and rules in the course of spontaneous social interaction, implemented by trial and error;
the emergence of procedures related to rules and regulations;
formalization of norms, rules, procedures, i.e. their adoption and practical application;
the establishment of a system of sanctions to maintain norms and rules, the differentiation of their application in individual cases;
creation of a system of appropriate statuses and roles;
organizational design of the emerging institutional structure.

The structure of a social institution

The result of institutionalization is the creation, in accordance with the norms and rules, of a clear status-role structure, socially approved by the majority of participants in this process. If speak about structure of social institutions, then they most often have a certain set of constituent elements, depending on the type of institution. Jan Szczepanski singled out the following structural elements of a social institution:

the purpose and scope of the institute;
functions necessary to achieve the goal:
normatively conditioned social roles and statuses presented in the structure of the institute:
means and institutions to achieve the goal and implement functions, including appropriate sanctions.

Common and basic for all social institutions function is an satisfaction of social needs for which it is created and exists. But to perform this function, each institution performs other functions in relation to its participants, including: 1) consolidation and reproduction of social relations; 2) regulatory; 3) integrative: 4) broadcasting; 5) communicative.

The activity of any social institution is considered functional if it benefits society, contributes to its stability and integration. If a social institution does not fulfill its basic functions, then they talk about its dysfunctionality. It can be expressed in the fall of public prestige, the authority of a social institution and, as a result, lead to its degeneration.

The functions and dysfunctions of social institutions can be explicit if they are obvious and understood by everyone, and implicit (latent) when they are hidden. For sociology, it is important to identify hidden functions, since they can lead not only to an increase in tension in society, but also to the disorganization of the social system as a whole.

Depending on the goals and objectives, as well as the functions performed in society, the whole variety of social institutions is usually divided into main And minor (private). Among the first, satisfying the fundamental needs of society, there are:

institutions of family and marriage - the need for the reproduction of the human race;
political institutions - in safety and social order;
economic institutions - in providing means of subsistence;
institutes of science, education, culture - in obtaining and transferring knowledge, socialization;
institutions of religion, social integration- in solving spiritual problems, searching for the meaning of life.

Signs of a social institution

Each social institution has both specific features. and common features with other institutions.

There are the following signs of social institutions:

attitudes and patterns of behavior (for the institution of the family - affection, respect, trust; for the institution of education - the desire for knowledge);
cultural symbols (for the family - wedding rings, marriage ritual; for the state - anthem, coat of arms, flag; for business - brand name, patent sign, for religion - icons, crosses, Koran);
utilitarian cultural features (for a family - a house, apartment, furniture; for education - classes, a library; for business - a shop, factory, equipment);
oral and written codes of conduct (for the state - the constitution, laws; for business - contracts, licenses);
ideology (for a family - romantic love, compatibility; for business - freedom of trade, expansion of business; for religion - Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism).

It should be noted that the institution of family and marriage is at the intersection of the functional links of all other social institutions (property, finance, education, culture, law, religion, etc.), while being a classic example of a simple social institution. Next, we will focus on the characteristics of the main social institutions.