SOCI 101 - Week 10

Social Institutions & Micro-Macro Link

Social Institutions

• organized beliefs/rules

• establish societal attempts to meet basic social needs

• guide behavior

• work together in society

• carry out various functions for social survival

• universal

• perpetuate inequality

• micro-macro link - interaction/structure intersection

  • macro level impact (policy, economic decision, war)

  • formed by everyday (micro) interactions

Institutionalized Life Course

• modern era concept

• movement through social institutions

• define life stages

• largely age differentiated

• education → work → retirement/leisure

Education

• dependent on family

• not in labor force

• childhood, teens

Work

• live independently

• begin own family

• in the labor force

• adults 20-65

Retirement/Leisure

• live independently

• not in labor force

• adults 65+

Political System

• institution

• regulates use/access to power

Government

• formal, organized agency

• exercises power/control

• modern society

• direct/coordinate political/economic involvement/activities of countries/territories

• 2 components: power and authority

• 4 types: monarchy, dictatorship, totalitarianism, democracy

Authority

3 components

• traditional

• charismatic

• legal-rational

Traditional Authority

• long-standing custom

• historic

• patriarchy

Charismatic Authority

• personal qualities

• dynamic personality

Legal-Rational Authority

• Authority in office, not a person

• bureaucratic officials

• presidency/congress

Monarchy

• single royal family member

• hereditary ruler

• Absolute (unchecked authority) v. Constitutional (power limited)

• revolutions are historically common

Dictatorship

• one person has total power

• make/enforce laws

Totalitarianism

• complete government control/surveillance

• over all social/political aspects

Democracy

• people/citizens have full say in government

US Power Structures

2 models:

• Power Elite Models

• Pluralist Model

Power Elite Models

• C.Wright Mills Model: pyramid of power

  • power elite

  • corporate rich, executive branch, military leaders

  • interest group leaders, legislators, local opinion leaders

  • unorganized, exploited masses

• Domhoff’s Model: venn diagram

  • corporate community v. social upper class v. policy-planning network

  • center = power elite

• conflict theory: power held by few influential/leading

C.Wright Mills Model

• decisions affect millions worldwide

• self-perpetuating system

• legal-rational power

• powerless/manipulated citizens

William Domhoff

• economic/political/military institutional overlap

• network of influence

• class dominance by elites

• older, white, male, upper class

• corporate community/leaders

• small minority

Pluralist Model

• power shared more widely than elite models indicate

• competing groups with government access

• variety of groups with decision-making power + signifcant roles

• no dominant group

• checks and balances

Structural Functionalism - Social Institutions

• social institutions (politics, education, religion)

• provide critical functions for societal needs

• maintain order/unity

• school: social integration/placement, socialization, social/cultural innovation

Conflict Theory - Social Institutions

• social institutions (politics, education, religion)

• represent interest of powerful

• create/maintain inequality

Symbolic Interactionism - Social Institutions

• social institutions (politics, education, religion)

• created via individual participation

• give meaning to / part of everyday experience

• school: expectations divide students into groups

• self-fulfilling prophecy

Education

• provide/transmit knowledge/skills/values/norms/societal expectations

• encourage social integration

• tracking/ability grouping - teach place in society (gifted/remedial/success)

• effective social functioning

• formal/informal

• often universal/compulsory

• replicates inequality (income, tuition, segregation, qualities)

Hidden Curriculum

• indirectly learned values/behaviors

Theoretical Perspectives - Education

• conflict theory: education system maintains dominance

• tracking (college v vocational track)

• racial disparity

• education passes privilege

• cultural bias

Religion

• belief/ritual/ceremonial system

• sacred matters

• promotes community/spiritual experience

• shapes everyday life

• Durkheim

• 2 types: monotheism, polytheism

Durkheim

• religion

• unified system

• beliefs/practices relative to sacred things

Sacred

• Durkheim

• supernatural qualities

Profane

• Durkheim

• ordinary

Monotheism

• belief in a single god

Polytheism

• belief in multiple gods

9 Types of Intelligence

• Spatial - 3D visualization

• Naturalist - living things and nature

• Musical - sounds, pitch, tone, rhythm, timbre

• Logical-Mathematical - quantifying, hypothesis, proofs

• Existential - why we live/die

• Interpersonal - sensing others’ feelings/emotions

• Bodily-Kinesthetic - coordinating mind/body

• Linguistic - the right words to express intention

• Intra-personal - understanding self/feelings/desires

Theoretical Perspectives - Religion

• Functionalism - Durkheim (3 major functions)

  • establishing social cohesion

  • promoting social control

  • providing meaning/purpose

• M. Weber

  • religion v. social change

  • protestant work ethic = discipline, worldly labor, glory to god

  • spirit of capitalism = non-religious, values economic success + hard work → used as proof of salvation

Conflict Theory - Religion

• Marx

• inhibits social change

• focus on otherworldly concerns (not each other)

• religion → social inequality + submission/manipulation

Symbolic-Interactionism Theory - Religion

• socially constructed

• rituals

• sacred vs. profane

• cosmic frame of reference + divine inspiration