Social Institutions

A social institution is defined as a collection of individuals banded together in pursuit of a common purpose. A social institution's common purposes include granting its members certain rights and privileges. Members of a social institution also possess certain delineated duties, responsibilities and liabilities. As a group, the people making up a social institution share common objectives and goals.

 

A wide array of different types of social institutions exist. Religious organizations represent a prime example of social institutions. In the case of these types of social institutions, people get together in a shared belief and reverence for a supernatural power, for an entity beyond themselves.

Schools of all types, from primary schools to institutions of higher education, represent another form of social institution. Schools exist for the common purpose of the instruction of others, such as to teach skills and share knowledge between educators and students or pupils.

The general definition of social institutions also includes an extended family. In its basic or essential terms, an extended family is a collection of nuclear families. These nuclear families band together as a group or social institution because of a shared common ancestry. The nuclear families in and of themselves also constitute social institutions. Indeed, any household group, whether related by blood, is considered a social institution.

Examples of Social institutions in different way
community Service Organizations

Boys Clubs, Boy Scouts, Girls Clubs, Girl Scouts, Rotary Clubs

Educational Institutions 

Educational Institutions, teach skills and knowledge to individuals. Examples are:

Colleges, Community colleges, Universities, Schools

Ethnic or Cultural Groups

Ethnic or Cultural Groups are social institutions that include a group of extended family groups related by a distant, common ancestry.

Examples are:

African Americans, Asian, Canadian, Pacific Islanders

Families

An extended family is a social organization with several generations or several nuclear family groups. Families and households are usually parents and children living under the same roof.

Governments and Legal Institutions

Governments and legal institutions are also social institutions. Examples include:

Police, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy.

Health Care Institutions

Doctor’s offices, Clinics, Hospitals, Dispensaries.

Justice System 

Appeals courts, District attorneys, District courts, High courts, Supreme Court, Traffic court.

Market Institutions 

Market institutions cover the industry that buys and sells goods. Examples are:

Banks, Businesses, Corporations, Credit unions, Insurance companies, Stock Market.

Political Institutions 

These social institutions influence the process of government, such as political parties. Examples are:

Congress, BJP, Samajwadi party.

Religious Organizations

These are groups of people that have similar beliefs in the existence of God or gods. Here are examples:

Temple group, Church, Mosque, Gurudwara

Social Welfare Institutions

These include non-profit organizations and charities. Examples are:

World Vision, Hans Foundation, UNESCO