1. A social institution is a complex, integrated set of social norms organized around the preservation of a basic
societal value. Obviously, the sociologist does not define institutions in the same way as does the person on
the street. Lay persons are likely to use the term "institution" very loosely, for churches, hospitals, jails, and
many other things as institutions.
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; and (5) in regulating our relation to the supernatural. In
shorthand form, or as concepts, these five basic institutions are called the family, government, economy,
education and religion.
The five primary institutions are found among all human groups. They are not always as highly elaborated or
as distinct from one another as into the United States, but, in rudimentary form at last, they exist
everywhere. Their universality indicates that they are deeply rooted in human nature and that they are
essential in the development and maintenance of orders. Sociologists operating in terms of the functionalist
model society have provided the clearest explanation of the functions served by social institutions.
Apparently there are certain minimum tasks that must be performed in all human groups. Unless these tasks
are performed adequately, the group will cease to exist. An analogy may help to make the point. We might
hypothesize that cost accounting department is essential to the operation of a large corporation. A company
might procure a superior product and distribute it then at the price which is assigned to it, the company will
soon go out of business. Perhaps the only way to avoid this is to have a careful accounting of the cost of
each step in the production and distribution process.
d primarily with the scientific study of social groups and social relations. Sociologists
seek to understand how societies, institutions, organizations and other social forces
shape and are shaped by individSociology of Education
As schools in the twentieth century became an increasingly core societal institution,
sociologists have directed continuous, concerted effort toward understanding both their
structure and their effects on individuals. Over the past century, sociologists who
developed the theoretical framework for the discipline as a whole (e.g., Emile Durkheim,
Max Weber, Talcott Parsons, Pierre Bourdieu, James Coleman and John Meyer), also
directly focused and wrote on the role of education in society. Because schools were
complex institutions, sociological theorizing was multi-dimensional and multi-layered.
Sociology of education as a field developed a focus on two separate levels of analysis.
At a macro-level, sociologists worked to identify how various social forces (such as
politics, economics, culture, etc.) created variation in schools as organizations. At a more
micro-level, researchers sought to identify how variation in school practices led to
differences in individual-level student outcomes.
In addition to these distinct levels of analysis, researchers further developed separate
focuses on various aspects of the functioning of education in society. While some
researchers focused on economic aspects of education (e.g., how economic forces shaped
school practices and how schools determined individual productivity and earnings),
others focused on related issues of socialization, allocation and legitimization. When
approaching research in the sociology of education, these distinctions are useful to keep
in mind.
uals.

2. Why Pakistan is not progressing is due to our weak social institutions. Social
institution can play an important role in making any country stronger. If the
country has weak institutions than it will be very hard for the nation to survive
with out any problems and difficulties. Instead of strong institutions, we have
strong Persons. The only way Pakistan can progress is my making its institutions
strong by converting it truly into welfare state. Strong institutions means end of
corruption, rule of law all problems mentioned below are by product of weak
institutions. While the progressing countries have only one thing in common they
all have strong institutions. They prefer merit instead of personal satisfaction
which ultimately results in frustration among People.
1.Poverty
2. Illiteracy
3. Corruption
3. Terrorism/sectarianism
4. Foreign debt
5. Restoration/promotion of democracy results in Weak Institutions
6. Water crisis
7. Lack of leadership
8. Population explosion
9. Pollution
10.provincial disharmony?
All these problems are the result of weak social institutions when family
institution will be weaker than it will produce the disorganized members of
society and than they will can not give their best in other social institutions of
Pakistan. When one institution will be affected than the chain of disorganized
society will keep moving and in every aspect of society weakness will occurs and
will result in destabilizing of country.
Social institutions and its importance are not known by every one. But really
what actually social institution is.
Each society has its own social institutions. These are not buildings or places, but

3. structures of relationship, obligation, role and function. These are social concepts
and practices, but also involve cognitive structures. Members of a society have a
similar mental concept of right and wrong, order and relationships, and patterns
of good (positive values). Those who do not honor these concepts are “criminals,”
or at least antisocial.
There are five social institutions on which society revolves and if any of the
institution become weak that it result in destruction and disturbance of society.
Some of the main functions of social institution are as under.
THE BASIC INSTITUTIONS
FAMILY
RELIGION
GOVERNMENT
EDCATION
ECONOMICS
In the past these have centered around five basic social institutions:
The family Economy
Religion Government or Politics
Education
New social institutions have been established with the growth of industrialized
societies:
Mass Media Sports
Science and medicine Military
GENERAL FUCTIONS OF SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
1. Institution Satisfy the Basic Needs of Society.
2. Institution Define Dominant Social Values.
“Bill of Rights”
3. Institutions Establish Permanent Patterns of Social Behavior
Monogamy
4. Institutions Support Other Institutions.
“Adultery”.
5. Institutions Provide Roles for Individuals .
Husband and Wife.

4. SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS OF INDIVIDUAL INSTITUTIONS
THE SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS OF THE FAMILY
1. The control and regulation of sexual behavior.
2. To provide for new members of society (children).
3. To provide for the economic and emotional maintenace of individuals.
4. To provide for primary socialization of children.
THE SPECIFIC FUNCTIONOF RELIGION
1. Providing solutions for unexplained natural, phenomena.
2. Supplying a means for controlling the natural world.
3. Religion tends to support the normative structure of the society.
4. Furnishing a psychological diversion from unwanted life situations.
5. Sustaining the existing class structure.
6. Religion serves as an instrument of socialization.
7. Religion may both promote and retard social change.
8. Religion may both reduce and encourage conflict in groups.
THE SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS OF GOVERMENT
1. The Institutionalization of norms (Laws).
2. The enforcement of laws.
3. The adjudication of conflict (Court).
4. Provide for the welfare of members of society.
5. Protection of Society from external threat.
THE SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS OF EDUCATION
1. Transmitting culture.
2. Preparation for occupational roles
3. Evaluating and selecting competent individuals
4. Transmitting functional skills for functioning in society.
SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS OF ECONOMY
1. Provide methods for the production of goods and services.
2. Provide methods for the distribution of goods and services.
3. Enable society’s members to consume goods and services which are produced
These all functions are important aspects of society and if the duties should be
performed in a proper and organized way than every society can improve even
Pakistani society also. So, as a citizen its our duty to respect all the institutions

5. and respect its functions for a betterment of society.
Hence, it is concluded that social institutions can play a vital role in
Answer:
Commonly, experts officially recognize five major social institutions that have been
evident in some way in every civilization in history:
government
religion
education
economics
family