4.2 Institutionalization

The first, most often used meaning of the term “ social institution“is associated with the characteristics of any kind of ordering, formalization and standardization of social connections and relationships. And the process of streamlining, formalization and standardization itself is called institutionalization.

Institutionalization is the transformation of a phenomenon or movement into an organized institution, an ordered process with a certain structure of relations, hierarchy of power, discipline, rules of behavior.

Classical institutionalism originated at the beginning of the twentieth century in the United States. Thorstein Veblen is considered its founder. Followers of institutionalism sought to expand the scope economic analysis, involving approaches and methods of related sciences. Representatives of institutionalism were Thorstein Veblen, John Commons, Clarence Ayres, Mitchell, Welsey Clare, John Kennett and others. They believed that the behavior of an economic person is formed mainly within the framework and under the influence of social groups and collectives. In the works of institutionalists you will not find a passion for complex formulas and graphs. Their arguments are usually based on experience, logic, and statistics. The focus is not on analysis of prices, supply and demand, but on broader issues. They don't care purely economic problems, but economic problems are interconnected with social, political, ethical and legal problems. Focusing on solving individual, usually significant and urgent problems, institutionalists did not develop a general methodology or create a unified scientific school. This revealed the weakness of the institutional direction, its unwillingness to develop and adopt a general, logically coherent theory.

Behind any social institution there is a history of its institutionalization. Institutionalization can concern any public sphere: economic, political, religious, etc.

Specific examples of institutionalization may be: the transformation of people's assemblies into parliament; sayings, creative heritage of the thinker - to a philosophical or religious school; passion for any literary genre, direction in music - into a subcultural organization.

The concept of institutionalism includes two aspects: “institutions” - norms, customs of behavior in society, and “institutions” - consolidation of norms and customs in the form of laws, organizations, institutions.

The meaning of the institutional approach is not to be limited to the analysis of economic categories and processes in their pure form, but to include institutions in the analysis and take into account non-economic factors.

The process of institutionalization includes a number of points. According to the definition of the famous social researcher G. Lenski, social processes give rise to such processes of institutionalization as:

1) the need for communication (language, education, communications, transport);

2) the need for the production of products and services;

3) the need for the distribution of benefits (and privileges);

4) the need for the safety of citizens, the protection of their lives and well-being;

5) the need to maintain a system of inequality (placement of social groups according to positions, statuses depending on various criteria);

6) the need for social control over the behavior of members of society (religion, morality, law, penitentiary system).

It follows that each social institution is characterized by the presence of a goal for its activity, specific functions that ensure the achievement of such a goal, and a set of social positions and roles typical for a given institution. Based on all of the above, one more definition of a social institution can be given. Social institutions are organized associations of people performing certain socially significant functions that ensure the joint achievement of goals based on the members’ fulfillment of their social roles, defined by social values, norms and patterns of behavior.

4.3 Functions of a social institution

Each institution performs its own characteristic social function.

The function (from Latin - execution, implementation) of a social institution is the benefit that it brings to society, i.e. This is a set of tasks to be solved, goals to be achieved, and services provided. The totality of all social functions adds up to general social functions social institutions as certain types of social system. These functions are very diverse.

Sociologists of different directions strive to classify these functions and present them in the form of a certain ordered system. Representatives of the institutional school in sociology (S. Lipset, D. Landberg, etc.) identify several main functions of social institutions.

The first and most important function of social institutions is to satisfy the most important vital needs of society, i.e. something without which society cannot exist as such. It cannot exist if it is not constantly replenished with new generations of people, acquiring means of subsistence, living in peace and order, acquiring new knowledge and passing it on to next generations, and dealing with spiritual issues.

No less important is the function of socialization of people, carried out by almost all social institutions (the assimilation of cultural norms and the development of social roles). It can be called universal. Also universal functions institutions are: consolidation and reproduction of social relations; regulatory; integrative; broadcasting; communicative.

Along with universal ones, there are other specific functions. These are functions that are inherent in some institutions and not in others. For example: establishing, establishing and maintaining order in society (state); discovery and transfer of new knowledge (science and education); obtaining a means of subsistence (production); reproduction of a new generation (family institution); carrying out various rituals and worship (religion), etc.

Some institutions perform the function of stabilizing social order, others support and develop the culture of society. All universal and specific functions can be represented in the following combination of functions:

1) Reproduction - Reproduction of members of society. The main institution performing this function is the family, but other social institutions are also involved in it, such as the state, education, and culture.

2) Production and distribution. Provided economically - social institutions of management and control - authorities.

3) Socialization - the transfer to individuals of patterns of behavior and methods of activity established in a given society - institutions of family, education, religion, etc.

4) Management and control functions are carried out through a system of social norms and regulations that implement the corresponding types of behavior: moral and legal norms, customs, administrative decisions, etc. Social institutions control the behavior of an individual through a system of rewards and sanctions.

5) Regulation of the use of power and access to it - political institutions

6) Communications between members of society - cultural, educational.

7) Protection of members of society from physical danger - military, legal, medical institutions.

Each social institution may have a number of subfunctions that this institution performs and that other institutions cannot have. For example: the institution of family has the following subfunctions: reproductive, status, economic satisfaction, protective, etc.

In addition, each institution can perform several functions simultaneously, or several social institutions specialize in performing one function. For example: the function of raising children is performed by institutions such as family, state, school, etc. At the same time, the institution of the family performs several functions at once, as noted earlier.

The functions performed by one institution change over time and can be transferred to other institutions or distributed among several. So, for example, the function of education together with the family was previously carried out by the church, but now by schools, the state and other social institutions. In addition, during the times of gatherers and hunters, the family was still engaged in the function of obtaining means of subsistence, but at present this function is performed by the institution of production and industry.

In addition to the above functions, there are explicit and latent functions of social institutions. These functions represent not only characteristics of the social structure of a society, but also indicators of its overall stability.

The explicit functions of social institutions are written down in the charters, formally stated, accepted by the community of people involved, and declared. Since explicit functions are always announced and in every society this is accompanied by a rather strict tradition or procedure (from anointing to the kingdom or the presidential oath to constitutional records and the adoption of special sets of rules or laws: on education, health care, the prosecutor's office, social security, etc.) , they turn out to be necessary, more formalized and controlled by society.

Latent functions of institutions are those that are hidden and not declared. Sometimes they are quite identical to the declared functions, but usually there is a discrepancy between the formal and real activities of institutions.

From this we can conclude that explicit functions indicate what people wanted to achieve within a particular institution, and latent functions indicate what came out of it.

The activities of an institution are considered functional if they contribute to the preservation of society. If an institution causes harm to society through its activities, there is dysfunction of the institution.

Need. Functions and dysfunctions of social institutions The function of a social institution can be defined as a set of tasks it solves, goals achieved, and services provided. The first and most important function of social institutions is to satisfy the most important vital needs of society, that is, that without which society cannot exist as such. It can't exist unless...

1994 Social institutions. Another type of social systems is formed on the basis of communities, the social connections of which are determined by associations of organizations. Such social connections are called institutional, and social systems are called social institutions. The latter act on behalf of society as a whole. Institutional connections can also be called normative, since their nature and...

... "[v]. However, the separation of information law from common system law is not associated only with the satisfaction of a social and state task or need. The process of formation of information law is also associated with the presence of the following structures in this industry: 1. an independent subject legal regulation; 2. methods of information law; 3. a conceptual apparatus unique to this...

It is not social at all, but just the desires of the “powers of this world.” But this problem deserves more serious study. (See Chapter II. P 2.5.) Chapter II. Sociology public opinion. 2.1. Public opinion as a social institution. Before we begin to study public opinion as a social institution, it is necessary to define...

Social institutions - These are historically established stable forms of organizing joint activities of people.

The most commonly used meaning of the term “social institution” is associated with the characteristics of any kind of ordering, formalization and standardization of social connections and relationships.

Social Institute – a stable set of rules, norms, guidelines governing various areas human activity and the system of social roles and statuses that organize them.

The process of streamlining, formalization and standardization is called institutionalization .

Stages of institutionalization:

1. The emergence of needs, the satisfaction of which requires joint organized actions

2. Formation of general ideas

3. The emergence of social norms and rules during a spontaneous social interaction carried out by trial and error

4. The emergence of procedures related to the implementation of rules and regulations

5. Institutionalization of norms, rules and procedures (adoption, consolidation, practical application)

6. Establishing systems of sanctions to maintain norms and rules; differentiation of their application in specific cases

7. Material and symbolic design of the emergence of institutional systems.

The process of institutionalization includes a number of points:

1. One of the necessary conditions for the emergence of social institutions is the corresponding social need. Institutions are called upon to organize the joint activities of people in order to satisfy certain social needs. The emergence of certain social needs, as well as the conditions for their satisfaction, are the first necessary moments of institutionalization.

The diversity of institutions corresponds to the diversity of human needs:

a) The need for the production of products and services

b) The need for the distribution of benefits and privileges

c) The need for safety, protection of life and well-being

d) The need for social control over the behavior of human society

e) Need for communication

f) The need for collectivism in collective action, but in a certain situation.

2. A social institution is formed on the basis of social connections, interactions and relationships of specific persons, individuals, social groups and other communities. But it, like other social systems, cannot be reduced to the sum of these individuals and their interactions.

Social institutions are supra-individual character, have their own systemic quality. Hence, social institution is an independent public entity that has its own development logic. From this point of view social institutions can be considered as organized social systems, characterized by the stability of the structure, the integration of their elements and a certain variability of their functions.

These systems consist of a number of basic elements that are seen in a system of values, norms, ideals, as well as patterns of activity and behavior of people and other elements of the sociocultural process.

This system guarantees similar behavior of people, coordinates and channels their specific aspirations, establishes ways to satisfy their needs, resolves conflicts that arise in the process of everyday life, and ensures a state of balance and stability within a particular social community and society as a whole.

The mere presence of these sociocultural elements does not ensure the functioning of a social institution. In order for it to work, necessary:

a) So that these elements become the property of the inner world of the individual, are internalized by them in the process of socialization, and are embodied in the form of social roles and statuses.

b) Internalization by individuals of all sociocultural elements, the formation on their basis of a system of personal needs, value orientations and expectations is the second most important element of institutionalization.

3. Organizational design of a social institution .

Externally social institution – a set of persons and institutions equipped with certain material resources and performing a certain social function.

Each public sphere has its own social institution:

Economic sphere – bank, stock exchange

Political sphere – parties, government

Spiritual sphere – culture, religion, education

Each social institution is characterized by the presence of a goal of its activity, specific functions that ensure the achievement of such a goal, a set of social positions and roles typical for this institution.

Social institutions – these are organized associations of people performing certain socially significant functions that ensure the joint achievement of goals based on the members’ fulfillment of their social roles, defined by social values, norms and patterns of behavior.

The more complex the society, the more developed the system of social institutions.

The history of social institutions, their evolution is subject to the following patterns: from institutions of traditional society, based on rules of behavior and family ties prescribed by rituals and customs, to modern institutions, based on achievement goals, based on competence, independence, personal responsibility, rationality and relatively independent from moral precepts.

A problem for modern society is contradiction between the institutional complexes of the state, some of which tend to professional activity, which inevitably entails a certain closeness and inaccessibility to others, with other institutions, which act as a direct channel for the open expression of the interests of a wide variety of groups in society.

The problem of interaction between social institutions arises, if the system of norms characteristic of one institution begins to invade other spheres of social life in which other institutions previously functioned. The consequence may be disorganization of public life, growing social tension and even the destruction of any of the institutions.

Changes in social institutions can be caused by internal and external reasons.

Internal reasons are most often associated with a change in cultural orientation in the development of society, with a change in spiritual and moral ideas, which leads to a crisis.

External reasons – ineffectiveness of social institutions, contradiction between existing institutions and social motivation.

Social institutions (from Latin institutum - establishment, establishment) - these are historically established stable forms of organizing the joint activities of people.

The term "social institution" is used in a wide variety of meanings. They talk about the institution of the family, the institution of education, health care, the institution of the state, etc. The first, most often used meaning of the term “social institution” is associated with the characteristics of any kind of ordering, formalization and standardization of social ties and relationships. And the process of streamlining, formalization and standardization itself is called institutionalization.

The process of institutionalization includes a number of points. One of the necessary conditions for the emergence of social institutions is a corresponding social need. Institutions are called upon to organize the joint activities of people in order to satisfy certain social needs. Thus, the institution of family satisfies the need for the reproduction of the human race and raising children, implements relations between the sexes, generations, etc.

Institute higher education provides training work force, allows a person to develop his abilities in order to realize them in subsequent activities and ensure his existence, etc. The emergence of certain social needs, as well as the conditions for their satisfaction, are the first, necessary moments of institutionalization. A social institution is formed on the basis of social connections, interactions and relationships of specific persons, individuals, social groups and other communities. But it, like other social systems, should not be reduced to the sum of these individuals and their interactions. Social institutions are supra-individual in nature and have their own systemic quality.

Consequently, a social institution is an independent social entity that has its own logic of development. From this point of view, social institutions can be considered as organized social systems, characterized by the stability of the structure, the integration of their elements and a certain variability of their functions.

First of all, it is a system of values, norms, ideals, as well as patterns of activity and behavior of people and other elements of the sociocultural process. This system guarantees similar behavior of people, coordinates and channels their specific aspirations, establishes ways to satisfy their needs, resolves conflicts that arise in the process of everyday life, and ensures a state of balance and stability within any social community and society as a whole.

The concept of a social institution, its elements, characteristics. The process of institutionalization - concept and types. Classification and features of the category "The concept of a social institution, its elements, characteristics. The process of institutionalization" 2015, 2017-2018.

Social institutions (from the Latin tsShiSht - establishment, establishment) are historically established stable forms of organizing the joint activities of people. The term “social institution” is used in a wide variety of meanings. They talk about the institution of the family, the institution of education, health care, the institution of the state, etc. The first, most often used meaning of the term “social institution” is associated with the characteristics of any kind of ordering, formalization and standardization of social ties and relationships. And the process of streamlining, formalization and standardization itself is called institutionalization.
The process of institutionalization includes a number of points. One of the necessary conditions for the emergence of social institutions is a corresponding social need. Institutions are called upon to organize the joint activities of people in order to satisfy certain social needs. Thus, the institution of family satisfies the need for the reproduction of the human race and raising children, implements relations between the sexes, generations, etc. The institution of higher education provides training for the workforce, allows a person to develop his abilities in order to realize them in subsequent activities and provide its existence, etc. The emergence of certain social needs, as well as the conditions for their satisfaction, are the first necessary moments of institutionalization. A social institution is formed on the basis of social connections, interactions and relationships of specific persons, individuals, social groups and other communities. But it, like other social systems, cannot be reduced to the sum of these individuals and their interactions. Social institutions are supra-individual in nature and have their own systemic quality. Consequently, a social institution is an independent social entity that has its own logic of development. From this point of view, social institutions can be considered as organized social systems, characterized by the stability of the structure, the integration of their elements and a certain variability of their functions.
What kind of systems are these? What are their main elements? First of all, it is a system of values, norms, ideals, as well as patterns of activity and behavior of people and other elements of the sociocultural process. This system guarantees similar behavior of people, coordinates and channels their specific aspirations, establishes ways to satisfy their needs, resolves conflicts that arise in the process of everyday life, and ensures a state of balance and stability within a particular social community and society as a whole. The mere presence of these sociocultural elements does not ensure the functioning of a social institution. In order for it to work, it is necessary that they become the property of the inner world of the individual, be internalized by them in the process of socialization, and embodied in the form of social roles and statuses. Internalization by individuals of all sociocultural elements, the formation on their basis of a system of personal needs, value orientations and expectations is the second most important element of institutionalization. The third most important element of institutionalization is the organizational design of a social institution. Externally, a social institution is a collection of persons and institutions equipped with certain material means and performing a certain social function. Thus, an institute of higher education consists of a certain set of persons: teachers, service personnel, officials who operate within institutions such as universities, the ministry or the State Committee for Higher Education, etc., who have certain material assets (buildings, finances, etc.) for their activities.
So, each social institution is characterized by the presence of a goal for its activity, specific functions that ensure the achievement of such a goal, and a set of social positions and roles typical for a given institution. Based on all of the above, we can give the following definition of a social institution. Social institutions are organized associations of people performing certain socially significant functions that ensure the joint achievement of goals based on the social roles performed by members, set by social values, norms and patterns of behavior.
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More on the topic The concept of “social institution”. Institutionalization of public life:

1. Concepts of society and system, social connections, social interaction, social relations. System analysis of social life

History of the term

Basic information

The peculiarities of its word usage are further complicated by the fact that in the English language traditionally, an institution is understood as any established practice of people that has a sign of self-reproduction. In such a broad, not highly specialized, meaning, an institution can be an ordinary human queue or English language as a centuries-old social practice.

Therefore, a social institution is often given another name - “institution” (from the Latin institutio - custom, instruction, instruction, order), meaning by it a set of social customs, the embodiment of certain habits of behavior, way of thinking and life, passed on from generation to generation, changing depending on the circumstances and serving as an instrument of adaptation to them, and by “institution” - the consolidation of customs and orders in the form of a law or institution. The term “social institution” includes both “institution” (customs) and “institution” itself (institutions, laws), since it combines both formal and informal “rules of the game.”

A social institution is a mechanism that provides a set of constantly repeating and reproducing social relations and social practices of people (for example: the institution of marriage, the institution of family). E. Durkheim figuratively called social institutions “factories for the reproduction of social relations.” These mechanisms are based both on codified sets of laws and on non-thematized rules (non-formalized “hidden” ones that are revealed when they are violated), social norms, values ​​and ideals historically inherent in a particular society. According to the authors of a Russian textbook for universities, “these are the strongest, most powerful ropes, which decisively determine the viability of [the social system].”

Spheres of life of society

There are 4 spheres of society, each of which includes various social institutions and various social relations arise:

• Economic- relations in the production process (production, distribution, consumption of material goods). Institutions related to economic sphere: private property, material production, market, etc.
• Social- relationships between various social and age groups; activities to ensure social guarantee. Institutions related to social sphere: education, family, healthcare, social security, leisure, etc.
• Political- relations between civil society and the state, between the state and political parties, as well as between states. Institutions related to the political sphere: state, law, parliament, government, judicial system, political parties, army, etc.
• Spiritual- relationships that arise in the process of creating and preserving spiritual values, creating the distribution and consumption of information. Institutions related to the spiritual sphere: education, science, religion, art, media, etc.

Institutionalization

The first, most often used meaning of the term “social institution” is associated with the characteristics of any kind of ordering, formalization and standardization of social connections and relationships. And the process of streamlining, formalization and standardization itself is called institutionalization. The process of institutionalization, that is, the formation of a social institution, consists of several successive stages:

1. the emergence of a need, the satisfaction of which requires joint organized action;
2. formation of common goals;
3. the emergence of social norms and rules in the course of spontaneous social interaction carried out by trial and error;
4. the emergence of procedures related to norms and regulations;
5. institutionalization of norms and rules, procedures, that is, their adoption and practical application;
6. establishment of a system of sanctions to maintain norms and rules, differentiation of their application in individual cases;
7. creation of a system of statuses and roles covering all members of the institute without exception;

So, the final stage of the institutionalization process can be considered the creation, in accordance with the norms and rules, of a clear status-role structure, socially approved by the majority of participants in this social process.

The process of institutionalization thus includes a number of aspects.

• One of the necessary conditions for the emergence of social institutions is a corresponding social need. Institutions are called upon to organize the joint activities of people in order to satisfy certain social needs. Thus, the institution of the family satisfies the need for the reproduction of the human race and raising children, implements relations between the sexes, generations, etc. The Institute of Higher Education provides training for the workforce, allows a person to develop his abilities in order to realize them in subsequent activities and provide for his existence, etc. The emergence of certain social needs, as well as the conditions for their satisfaction, are the first necessary moments of institutionalization.

• A social institution is formed on the basis of social connections, interactions and relationships of specific individuals, social groups and communities. But it, like other social systems, cannot be reduced to the sum of these individuals and their interactions. Social institutions are supra-individual in nature and have their own systemic quality. Consequently, a social institution is an independent social entity that has its own logic of development. From this point of view, social institutions can be considered as organized social systems, characterized by the stability of the structure, the integration of their elements and a certain variability of their functions.

First of all, we are talking about a system of values, norms, ideals, as well as patterns of activity and behavior of people and other elements of the sociocultural process. This system guarantees similar behavior of people, coordinates and channels their certain aspirations, establishes ways to satisfy their needs, resolves conflicts that arise in the process of everyday life, and ensures a state of balance and stability within a particular social community and society as a whole.

The mere presence of these sociocultural elements does not ensure the functioning of a social institution. In order for it to work, it is necessary that they become the property of the inner world of the individual, be internalized by them in the process of socialization, and embodied in the form of social roles and statuses. The internalization by individuals of all sociocultural elements, the formation on their basis of a system of personal needs, value orientations and expectations is the second most important element of institutionalization.

• The third most important element of institutionalization is the organizational design of a social institution. Externally, a social institution is a set of organizations, institutions, individuals, equipped with certain material resources and performing a certain social function. Thus, an institute of higher education is operated by a social corps of teachers, service personnel, officials who operate within the framework of institutions such as universities, the ministry or the State Committee for Higher Education, etc., which for their activities have certain material assets (buildings, finances, etc.).

Thus, social institutions are social mechanisms, stable value-normative complexes that regulate various spheres of social life (marriage, family, property, religion), which are little susceptible to changes in people’s personal characteristics. But they are put into action by people carrying out their activities, “playing” by their rules. Thus, the concept of “monogamous family institution” does not mean a separate family, but a set of norms implemented in countless families of a certain type.

Institutionalization, as P. Berger and T. Luckman show, is preceded by a process of habitualization, or “habituation” of everyday actions, leading to the formation of patterns of activity that are subsequently perceived as natural and normal for a given type of activity or solving problems typical in given situations. Patterns of action act, in turn, as the basis for the formation of social institutions, which are described in the form of objective social facts and are perceived by the observer as “social reality” (or social structure). These trends are accompanied by procedures of signification (the process of creating, using signs and fixing meanings and meanings in them) and form a system of social meanings, which, developing into semantic connections, are recorded in natural language. Signification serves the purpose of legitimation (recognition as competent, socially recognized, legal) of the social order, that is, justification and justification of the usual ways of overcoming the chaos of destructive forces that threaten to undermine stable idealizations of everyday life.

The emergence and existence of social institutions is associated with the formation in each individual of a special set of sociocultural dispositions (habitus), practical patterns of action that have become for the individual his internal “natural” need. Thanks to habitus, individuals are included in the activities of social institutions. Social institutions, therefore, are not just mechanisms, but “original “meaning factories” that set not only patterns of human interactions, but also ways of comprehending, understanding social reality and the people themselves.”

Structure and functions of social institutions

Structure

Concept social institution assumes:

• the presence of a need in society and its satisfaction by the mechanism of reproduction of social practices and relationships;
• these mechanisms, being supra-individual formations, act in the form of value-normative complexes that regulate social life as a whole or its separate sphere, but for the benefit of the whole;

Their structure includes:

• role models of behavior and statuses (instructions for their implementation);
• their justification (theoretical, ideological, religious, mythological) in the form of a categorical grid, defining a “natural” vision of the world;
• broadcast media social experience(material, ideal and symbolic), as well as measures that stimulate one behavior and repress another, tools for maintaining institutional order;
• social positions - the institutions themselves represent a social position (“there are no empty” social positions, so the question of the subjects of social institutions disappears).

In addition, they assume the presence of a certain social position of “professionals” who are capable of putting this mechanism into action, playing by its rules, including a whole system of their preparation, reproduction and maintenance.

In order not to denote the same concepts by different terms and to avoid terminological confusion, social institutions should be understood not as collective subjects, not social groups and not organizations, but special social mechanisms that ensure the reproduction of certain social practices and social relations. But collective subjects should still be called “ social communities", "social groups" and "social organizations".

Functions

Each social institution has a main function that determines its “face”, associated with its main social role in consolidating and reproducing certain social practices and relationships. If this is an army, then its role is to ensure the military-political security of the country by participating in hostilities and demonstrating its military power. In addition to it, there are other obvious functions, to one degree or another, characteristic of all social institutions, ensuring the fulfillment of the main one.

Along with explicit ones, there are also implicit ones - latent (hidden) functions. Thus, the Soviet Army at one time carried out a number of hidden state tasks unusual for it - national economic, penitentiary, fraternal assistance to “third countries”, pacification and suppression of mass riots, popular discontent and counter-revolutionary putschs both within the country and in the countries of the socialist camp. The explicit functions of institutions are necessary. They are formed and declared in codes and enshrined in a system of statuses and roles. Latent functions are expressed in the unintended results of the activities of institutions or individuals representing them. Thus, the democratic state that was established in Russia in the early 90s, through the parliament, government and president, sought to improve the lives of the people, create civilized relations in society and instill in citizens respect for the law. These were the explicit goals and objectives. In fact, the crime rate in the country has increased, and the standard of living of the population has fallen. These are the results of the latent functions of the institutions of power. Explicit functions indicate what people wanted to achieve within a particular institution, and latent functions indicate what came out of it.

Identification of the latent functions of social institutions allows not only to create an objective picture of social life, but also makes it possible to minimize their negative and enhance their positive influence in order to control and manage the processes occurring in it.

Social institutions in public life perform the following functions or tasks:

The totality of these social functions adds up to the general social functions of social institutions as certain types of social system. These functions are very diverse. Sociologists of different directions sought to somehow classify them, present them in the form of a certain ordered system. The most complete and interesting classification was presented by the so-called. "institutional school". Representatives of the institutional school in sociology (S. Lipset, D. Landberg, etc.) identified four main functions of social institutions:

• Reproduction of members of society. The main institution performing this function is the family, but other social institutions, such as the state, are also involved.
• Socialization is the transfer to individuals of patterns of behavior and methods of activity established in a given society - institutions of family, education, religion, etc.
• Production and distribution. Provided by economic and social institutions of management and control - authorities.
• The functions of management and control are carried out through a system of social norms and regulations that implement the corresponding types of behavior: moral and legal norms, customs, administrative decisions, etc. Social institutions manage the behavior of the individual through a system of sanctions.

In addition to solving its specific problems, each social institution performs universal functions inherent to all of them. The functions common to all social institutions include the following:

1. The function of consolidating and reproducing social relations. Each institution has a set of norms and rules of behavior, fixed, standardizing the behavior of its participants and making this behavior predictable. Social control provides the order and framework within which the activities of each member of the institution should take place. Thus, the institution ensures the stability of the structure of society. The Code of the Family Institute assumes that members of society are divided into stable small groups - families. Social control ensures a state of stability for each family and limits the possibility of its disintegration.
2. Regulatory function. It ensures the regulation of relationships between members of society through the development of patterns and patterns of behavior. A person’s entire life takes place with the participation of various social institutions, but each social institution regulates activities. Consequently, a person, with the help of social institutions, demonstrates predictability and standard behavior, fulfills role requirements and expectations.
3. Integrative function. This function ensures cohesion, interdependence and mutual responsibility of members. This occurs under the influence of institutionalized norms, values, rules, a system of roles and sanctions. It streamlines the system of interactions, which leads to increased stability and integrity of the elements of the social structure.
4. Broadcasting function. Society cannot develop without the transfer of social experience. Each institution for its normal functioning needs the arrival of new people who have mastered its rules. This happens by changing the social boundaries of the institution and changing generations. Consequently, each institution provides a mechanism for socialization to its values, norms, and roles.
5. Communication functions. Information produced by an institution should be disseminated both within the institution (for the purpose of managing and monitoring compliance with social norms) and in interaction between institutions. This function has its own specifics - formal connections. At the Institute of Funds mass media- this is the main function. Scientific institutions actively absorb information. The commutative capabilities of institutions are not the same: some have them to a greater extent, others to a lesser extent.

Functional qualities

Social institutions differ from each other in their functional qualities:

• Political institutions - state, parties, trade unions and other types public organizations pursuing political goals aimed at establishing and maintaining a certain form of political power. Their totality constitutes the political system of a given society. Political institutions ensure the reproduction and sustainable preservation of ideological values ​​and stabilize the dominant social and class structures in society.
• Sociocultural and educational institutions aim at the development and subsequent reproduction of cultural and social values, the inclusion of individuals in a certain subculture, as well as the socialization of individuals through the assimilation of stable sociocultural standards of behavior and, finally, the protection of certain values ​​and norms.
• Normative-orienting - mechanisms of moral and ethical orientation and regulation of individual behavior. Their goal is to give behavior and motivation a moral reasoning, an ethical basis. These institutions establish imperative universal human values, special codes and ethics of behavior in the community.
• Normative-sanctioning - social regulation of behavior on the basis of norms, rules and regulations enshrined in legal and administrative acts. The binding nature of norms is ensured by the coercive power of the state and the system of corresponding sanctions.
• Ceremonial-symbolic and situational-conventional institutions. These institutions are based on a more or less long-term acceptance of conventional (under agreement) norms, their official and unofficial consolidation. These norms regulate everyday contacts and various acts of group and intergroup behavior. They determine the order and method of mutual behavior, regulate methods of transmission and exchange of information, greetings, addresses, etc., regulations for meetings, sessions, and activities of associations.

Dysfunction of a social institution

Violation of normative interaction with social environment, which is society or community, is called dysfunction of a social institution. As noted earlier, the basis for the formation and functioning of a specific social institution is the satisfaction of one or another social need. In conditions of intensive social processes and the acceleration of the pace of social change, a situation may arise when changed social needs are not adequately reflected in the structure and functions of the relevant social institutions. As a result, dysfunction may occur in their activities. From a substantive point of view, dysfunction is expressed in the vagueness of the goals of the institution, the uncertainty of its functions, the decline of its social prestige and authority, the degeneration of its individual functions into “symbolic”, ritual activity, that is, activity not aimed at achieving a rational goal.

One of the obvious expressions of the dysfunction of a social institution is the personalization of its activities. A social institution, as we know, functions according to its own, objectively operating mechanisms, where each person, based on norms and patterns of behavior, in accordance with his status, plays certain roles. Personalization of a social institution means that it ceases to act in accordance with objective needs and objectively established goals, changing its functions depending on the interests of individuals, their personal qualities and properties.

An unsatisfied social need can give rise to the spontaneous emergence of normatively unregulated types of activities that seek to compensate for the dysfunction of the institution, but at the expense of violating existing norms and rules. In its extreme forms activity this kind may result in illegal activities. Thus, the dysfunction of some economic institutions is the reason for the existence of the so-called “ shadow economy", results in speculation, bribery, theft, etc. Correction of dysfunction can be achieved by changing the social institution itself or by creating a new social institution that satisfies a given social need.

Formal and informal social institutions

Social institutions as well as social relations, which they reproduce and regulate, can be formal and informal.

Role in the development of society

According to American researchers Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson (English) Russian It is the nature of the social institutions that exist in a particular country that determines the success or failure of the development of that country.

Having examined examples from many countries around the world, scientists came to the conclusion that the determining and a necessary condition development of any country is the presence of public institutions, which they called publicly accessible (eng. Inclusive institutions). Examples of such countries are all developed democratic countries of the world. Conversely, countries where public institutions are closed are doomed to lag and decline. Public institutions in such countries, according to researchers, only serve to enrich the elites who control access to these institutions - this is the so-called. "privileged institutions" extractive institutions). According to the authors, economic development society is impossible without priority political development, that is, without the formation public political institutions. .

see also

Literature

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Footnotes and notes

1. Social Institutions // Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy
2. Spencer H. First principles. N.Y., 1898. S.46.
3. Marx to K. P. V. Annenkov, December 28, 1846 // Marx K., Engels F. Soch. Ed. 2nd. T. 27.S. 406.
4. Marx K. Toward a critique of Hegel’s philosophy of law // Marx K., Engels F. Soch. Ed. 2nd. T.9. P. 263.
5. see: Durkheim E. Les forms elementaires de la vie religieuse. Le systeme totemique en Australie.Paris, 1960
6. Veblen T. The Theory of the Leisure Class. - M., 1984. S. 200-201.
7. Scott, Richard, 2001, Institutions and Organizations, London: Sage.
8. See ibid.
9. Fundamentals of sociology: Course of lectures / [A. I. Antolov, V. Ya. Nechaev, L. V. Pikovsky, etc.]: Rep. ed. \.G.Efendiev. - M, 1993. P.130
10. Acemoglu, Robinson
11. Theory of institutional matrices: in search of a new paradigm. // Journal of Sociology and Social Anthropology. No. 1, 2001.
12. Frolov S.S. Sociology. Textbook. For higher educational institutions. Section III. Social relationships. Chapter 3. Social institutions. M.: Nauka, 1994.
13. Gritsanov A. A. Encyclopedia of Sociology. Publishing House "Book House", 2003. - p. 125.
14. See for more details: Berger P., Luckman T. Social construction of reality: a treatise on the sociology of knowledge. M.: Medium, 1995.
15. Kozhevnikov S. B. Society in the structures of the life world: methodological research tools // Sociological Journal. 2008. No. 2. P. 81-82.
16. Bourdieu P. Structure, habitus, practice // Journal of Sociology and Social Anthropology. - Volume I, 1998. - No. 2.
17. Collection "Knowledge in the connections of sociality. 2003": Internet source / Lektorsky V. A. Preface - http://filosof.historic.ru/books/item/f00/s00/z0000912/st000.shtml
18. See J. Shchepansky. Elementary concepts of sociology / Transl. from Polish - Novosibirsk: Science. Sib. department, 1967. P. 106].