- "An institution is a humanly devised structure of rules and norms that shape and constrain individual behavior."
An overview of the various types of social institutions, including the family, religion, education, and government.
Family: The social institution of family refers to a group of people linked by blood, marriage or adoption who share common resources and live together.
Education: The social institution of education refers to the process of acquisition and imparting of knowledge, skills and values.
Economics: The social institution of economics refers to the systems and structures that govern the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services in a society.
Politics: The social institution of politics refers to the organization and administration of power in a society.
Religion: The social institution of religion refers to the beliefs, practices and rituals that people follow in the context of their higher power(s).
Law: The social institution of law refers to the principles and rules established by a society to regulate behavior and maintain order.
Medicine: The social institution of medicine refers to the systems and practices that address the prevention and treatment of illnesses and injuries in a society.
Mass media: The social institution of mass media refers to the communication channels that disseminate information to large audiences.
Military: The social institution of military refers to the organizations, practices, and cultures associated with the use of organized force for political purposes in society.
Science: The social institution of science refers to the process of identifying, understanding, and explaining phenomena and the natural world through empirical evidence.
Sports: The social institution of sports refers to the activities and practices that involve physical exercise and competition, as well as the cultural and social significance assigned to these activities.
Technology: The social institution refers to technological advancements which shape societal norms and expectations, and govern the access and use of technology in society.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs): The social institution of NGOs refers to voluntary organizations established to further specific social or political causes.
Social welfare: The social institution of social welfare refers to the systems and policies aimed at promoting social and economic well-being for members of society.
Agriculture: The social institution of agriculture refers to the production, distribution and consumption of food and agricultural products in society.
Family: The family is a fundamental social institution that is responsible for nurturing and raising children, providing emotional support, and transmitting cultural values.
Education: Education institutions are responsible for providing formal education and knowledge to individuals so that they can acquire the necessary knowledge and skills for their personal and professional development.
Religion: Religion institutions facilitate participation in shared beliefs, values, and rituals that promote moral and ethical guidance, as well as social and cultural cohesion.
Economy: Economic institutions are responsible for creating, producing, distributing and exchanging goods and services in societies.
Government: Government institutions are responsible for maintaining law and order, enacting and enforcing public policies, and safeguarding national security.
Health Care: Health care institutions are responsible for providing medical care and health services to individuals who require medical assistance and guidance.
Media: Media institutions are responsible for transmitting information and knowledge on a mass scale through different modes of communication such as newspapers, social media, television, and radio.
Military: Military institutions are responsible for providing national security and safeguarding territorial integrity by maintaining all internal and external conflicts.
Arts and Literature: The institutions of arts and literature are responsible for promoting culture, creativity, and diversity by protecting and encouraging artistic and literary expressions.
Sports: The institutions of sports are responsible for promoting physical fitness, healthy living and well-being, and community engagement.
- "All definitions of institutions generally entail that there is a level of persistence and continuity."
- "Laws, rules, social conventions, and norms are all examples of institutions."
- "Institutions vary in their level of formality and informality."
- "Political science, anthropology, economics, and sociology...science of institutions, their genesis, and their functioning."
- "Primary or meta-institutions are institutions such as the family or money that are broad enough to encompass sets of related institutions."
- "Institutions are also a central concern for law, the formal mechanism for political rule-making and enforcement."
- "Historians study and document the founding, growth, decay, and development of institutions as part of political, economic, and cultural history."