UCSP - Lesson 6-7

SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS

organized sets of elements such as beliefs, rules, practices, and relationships that exists to attain social order– refers to well-established and structured relationships between groups of people that are considered fundamental components of a society's culture

INSTITUTIONAL APPROACH

tells us that social institutions are ordered sets of rules, norms, beliefs, or values that organize human behavior

RELATIONAL APPROACH

focuses on social relations rather than rules, norms, beliefs, or values

THE FAMILY, EDUCATION, HEALTH, ECONOMY, RELIGION

examples of social institutions

FAMILY

considered a vital social institution that nurtures offspring from childhood to adulthood–Aristotle viewed it as arising from man’s desire for legacy, while in the Philippines, the 1987 Constitution recognizes it as the foundation of the nation–a group of people related by blood, marriage, or shared residence

NUCLEAR FAMILY

immediate family composed of parents and children

EXTENDED FAMILY

includes the nuclear family plus relatives such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins

RECONSTITUTED FAMILY

spouses and their children from a previous marriage

SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY

one parent, either father or mother, raising children and providing financial, emotional, and basic support

GRANDPARENT FAMILY

grandparents take on the role of parenting and nurturing the children

KINSHIP

social structure defined by relations among individuals linked by blood or marriage ties–influences social status in many societies

MATRILINEAL, PATRILINEAL, BILINEAL

kinship ties based on descent can either be

MATRILINEAL KINSHIP

descent based on the female line

PATRILINEAL KINSHIP

descent based on the male line

BILINEAL KINSHIP

descent based on both male and female lines

MARRIAGE

formally recognized union of a man and a woman–can be monogamous or polygamous

MONOGAMOUS

one spouse only

POLYGAMOUS

more than one spouse

POLYGYNY, POLYANDRY

type of polygamy

POLYGYNY

a husband with many wives

POLYANDRY

a wife with many husbands, practiced in ancient India

ENDOGAMY, EXOGAMY

marriage across culture

ENDOGAMY

marriage within one’s community, social, or religious group

EXOGAMY

marriage outside one’s group, community, or social class

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

ensure functional literacy and may be provided by the state or private entities–ideally, basic education is free, and in some countries like Germany, tertiary education is also free

HEALTH INSTITUTIONS

established to ensure public health and provide universal services–western health systems rely on standardized science-based practices, while traditional systems use natural methods and address culture-specific illnesses

BINAT

recurrence of disease symptoms due to incomplete healing, requiring rest for recovery

PASMA

trembling of hands or fingers caused by sudden exposure of the body from hot to cold conditions

ECONOMY

addresses questions on production, distribution, and consumption of resources–liberal economists favor market self-regulation (Adam Smith), while socialists argue that the bourgeoisie dominate and exploit the proletariat in free-market systems

MARKET FAILURE

occurs when the market becomes inefficient due to imperfect competition, information, or mobility

RELIGION

institution involving beliefs and practices that guide members’ behavior–organized as a church (universal membership, aligned with society) or a sect (exclusive, often challenges norms)

MONOTHEISM

belief in one god (e.g., Christianity, Judaism, Islam)

POLYTHEISM

belief in many gods (e.g., Hinduism)

ANIMISM

belief system that ascribes spiritual essence to animate and inanimate objects (e.g., rocks, plants, lakes), seen in Shintoism and Jainism

THEOCRACIES

state government under the power of religious leaders

POLITICS

activities through which people make, preserve, and amend the general rules under which they live– involves conflict resolution, cooperation, and the exercise of power

POWER

ability to do something to achieve a desired outcome–enables a person to control others or make them act against their will

AUTHORITY

legitimate power–the right to exercise power, where people obey because the leader is recognized as rightful and legitimate

LEGITIMACY

from the Latin legitimare meaning "to declare lawful"–broadly defined as rightfulness

TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY, CHARISMATIC AUTHORITY, LEGAL-RATIONAL AUTHORITY

max weber, 3 types of authority

TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY

based on systems believed to have always existed–often inherited or passed down (e.g., elders in tribes, monarchs)

CHARISMATIC AUTHORITY

based on extraordinary qualities or leadership charisma–seen as born leaders or heroes, sometimes manufactured through propaganda

LEGAL-RATIONAL AUTHORITY

based on written rules and laws–leaders gain authority through procedures like elections or appointments (e.g., presidents, prime ministers)–considered the most stable among the three types

POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS

groups within a culture responsible for public decision-making, leadership, social cohesion, protection of group rights, and safety from external threats

POLITICAL LIBERATION

emergence of liberal-democratic regimes with representative democracy–leaders chosen through competitive elections, supported by institutions like political parties, principles of political equality, and legally-based leadership (common in European societies)

POLITICAL CULTURE

pattern of orientation to political objects such as parties, government, and constitution, expressed through beliefs, symbols, and values–formed through political socialization

CLIENTELISTIC BEHAVIOR

observed in democratic elections where voters choose candidates based on personal ties or benefits received, such as medical assistance, jobs, or scholarships–common in some areas of the Philippines

POLITICAL AND LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE

evolved over time from simple bands, tribes, and chiefdoms to modern nation-states–early societies like bands and tribes were dominated by personal and familial ties, often composed of families and clans