Impact Of Social Institutions On Caribbean Culture

Impact of Societal
Institutions On Caribbean
Culture and Society

Objectives
• Gain a thorough understanding of the different social institutions: family, education, political systems • Understand the main ideas of the Marxist and
Functionalist perspectives
• Understand the Marxist and perspective on social institutions

Functionalist

Social Institutions
• Social Institutions are a fundamental part of the operations of society. They are the major organising framework in social life. Social institutions have evolved overtime and therefore embody what the society holds valuable in relation to family, education, religion, the justice system, the economy and health. • Each social institution has functions that ensure the smooth working of the social system as they often illustrate the need for order, uniformity and consensus.
• Social institutions determine and guide behaviour: they signify what is accepted and what is not
• Social institutions are intangible. They are represented through our cherished beliefs and ideas (values)

Sociological Perspectives
• A sociological perspective may best be described as a way of seeing or understanding social reality.
• Two of the dominant sociological perspectives that can be used to analyse social institutions are: The Functionalist Perspective and The
Conflict Perspective (Marxism)

Functionalism
• Is the oldest perspective. and

most

dominant

sociological

• Holds a conservative understanding of society and the way social institutions impact on the lives of members.
The maintaining of the status quo is of utmost importance • The functionalists are of the view that society can be harmonious for all

Functionalism Cont’d
• They believe that if there is consensus, then there is the likelihood of order, stability, uniformity and rationality in social life
• Everyone has a role to play in society, and if performed effectively this results in maximum productivity and minimum behavioural problems, imbalances and