MEANING OF THE CONCEPT OF

SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS

• satisfying basic needs, including the rules governing those relationships.

According to Nnatu (2007) a social institution is a recognized normative pattern, a
system of required, concerted, co-operative and reciprocal relationships and
practices whereby people concerned tend to satisfy their individual and social
needs.
• Igbo (2003) notes that a society has basic needs of procreation, training of member, transmission of
culture, provision of food, shelter and clothing as well as allocation of power and maintenance of
order. According to him, society creates the institutions of the family, education, polity, economy and
religion to cater to such needs.

• Schaefer and Lamm (1997) defined social institutions as organized patterns of beliefs and
behaviour centered on basic social needs. They re-affirmed that institutions are organized in
response to particular needs such as replacing personnel (family), and preserving order (the
government).
 GENERAL FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL
INSTITUTIONS:

(1) Institution Satisfy the Basic Needs of Society.

(2) Institution Define Dominant Social Values.
(3) Socialization
(4) Institutions Establish Permanent Patterns of Social behaviour
(5) Preservation of Social Order.
(6) Institutions Support Other Institutions.
(7) Institutions Provide Roles for Individuals.  
• Sociologists often reserve the term "institution" to describe normative systems
that operate in five basic areas of life, which may be designated as the primary
institutions.
1. In determining Kinship
2. In providing for the legitimate use of power

3. In regulating the distribution of goods and services

4. In transmitting knowledge from one generation to the next

5. In regulating our relation to the supernatural.

 CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIAL
INSTITUTIONS
• The following are the characteristics of Social Institutions according to Merwill;
• Social institutions are patterns of behavior grouped about the central needs of human beings in society.
• In all societies, the institution of family plays a central role.
• Social institutions are therefore social patterns directing the ordered behavior of human beings in the performance
of their basic activities.
• The continuity of institutional practices is further assured by the development of rituals.
• The central aspects of institutions are the functions they perform and the pattern, established to carry out the
functions.
• The claim of institutions upon the members is also known as loyalties.
• The institutions of a society are connected in a close end interdependent pattern.
• Institutions are connected through status and role of the members.
• Institutions are the most important agencies in the formation of personality.
• Social institutions are the great conservers and transmitters of cultural heritage.
• Cultural heritage is thus transmitted through social interaction.
• The moral values of the society are embodied in its institution.
• Each institution is a center of complex social norms.
• In shorthand form, or as concepts, these five basic institutions are called the family,
government, economy, education and religion. Institutions are the most important agencies
in the formation of personality. Social institutions are the great conservers and transmitters
of cultural heritage. Cultural heritage is thus transmitted through social interaction.
Thank you for listening……

reporter: Hermo, Avelino Jr. E.

BSED_FIL.S48