Sociology

A social institution is just any group that has members who are related or bound by social relations. In every social institution, the main aim is to socialize the members in the group. The social institutions are managed well by many laws and rules that direct the affairs and how people interact. Sociology provides theories that explain how this is done. Some of the major Sociological theories that are going to be tackled in this work are Functionalism, Conflict and Interactionism. This work therefore will involve discussion of issues that will be drawn from the theories, tackling the family as a social institution.

Thompson (1979) Functionalism is a school of thought in sociology that claims that either every thing or everyone in a social institution serves a purpose or plays an important role in the social institution. According to this theory, each one of all the societal aspects acts interdependently as it contributes to the functioning of the society as a whole. Basing on this theory, in a family every member of the family has a purpose regardless of how the rest of the family members view them or the position they have in the family. Basing on this theory, there has to be a consensus in the family where all have to agree on the way things have to be carried. Functionalism theory poses different question when trying to understand the theory. One will be compelled to ask themselves how will this work, in a family if both good and bad acts both serve good purposes in the society.

According to Bohm (2001) even the negative aspects in a family of any social institution serve a purpose. For example, the act of deviance can be used as a way of reaffirmation or clarification of norms in the family and the society at large. Other good aspects that can be drawn from this vice are through such an act as deviance, status quo can be challenged and also family unity can be enhanced. This is because, when such acts occur, it means that in the family there is something that is not right with every one. Going to the root cause of the problem means dealing with things that will call for a positive change that will impact the whole family in a positive way.

Functionalism theory as it is applicable in a family can affect the way people view various aspects in the family or the society as a whole. Within the family, Functionalism brings together people into a consensus based on the way they perceive other societal issues that surround their family. This is because the family as a unit has a common way of thinking and perception based on their common family norms and values. The society also due to the degree of change caused by Functionalism in the family, might perceive the family in away that is determined by believes that adherence to Functionalism theory has fostered on them. For example the society might view family aspects like divorce as being caused by break down of family due to failure in performing common things that bring unity in the family (Mooney et al, 2008)

Conflict theory on the contrary poses as a school of thought that is based on issues of inequality in a social institution. Gumplowicz (1980) defines this theory as the theory of violence that has much association with Marxism that Karl Marx wrote based on his class struggles. This theory mostly touches and focuses on the most conflicted and the negative aspects of a social institution. There are several kinds of conflicts that can occur in a social institution for example, social conflict, economic conflict which are all diverse in themselves. This theory according to Mooney et al, (2008) views any social institution as an institution that is made of different kinds of people with different interest, wants and needs that they compete for. Based on this theory, in every social institution, there have to be people who have more power than others and there fore they assume controlling roles in the society.

This theory is applicable in a family as a social institution, in that, different roles those different members of the family assume determine their influence in the family. The way and manner in which family members view each other is determined by the amount of influence each member has in the family. Also, the different roles played by each family member can be a determining factor of how the whole family as a system works. For example based on the duties that are defined by the conflict theory, mothers in the family are responsible for the day to day running of the family, fathers due to their nature of being the bread winners and a source of security due to their commanding nature, act as the heads of the family (Mooney et al, 2008)

This theory has also a big impact on the social change within the family as an institution. Basing on the roles which are shaped by power of control, that each member has, one member of the family, lets say, the head of the family can determine and set a social standard of behavior that all in the family can adhere to.

This theory also influences how the members of the family as a social institution view the society. Norms and believes of the family are shaped by the influence and the authority that the heads of the family have on the members. These family norms and behaviors influence how the family associates or competes for resources with the rest of the members of the society. There character and actions determine the way the family is perceived in the society.

Interactionism theory according to Mooney et al, (2008) is a theory that deals with the details or the symbols that are in the lives of the people. This theory studies individual and the way they carry out their affairs within a social set up. As this theory is based on the interactions of the people, it draws its details from reactions, like mannerism, body language and how people react toward each other when they are together face to face. This kind of interaction determines the effectiveness of communication between the two involved parties.

A family as a social institution draws much of its success on this theory. Communication effective communication is very vital for the well being of any group. In a family, actions and words of a member of the family acts as symbols that determine the way the family members treat each other. This is because what some one sees, according to their perception determines their actions. Body languages, manners and words all act as symbols that determine the reactions and responses towards each other, thus, this also guides people on how to treat each other and how to react in different circumstances.

Interactionism theory will affect the views of the family members in that. Since there are aware that their symbols which are Body languages, manners and words determine the way other people perceive or take them, they will be cautious of how they interact with each other. This shapes the overall behavior of the different people in the family. This theory can affect social change in that, the behaviors or the patterns of change of behaviors will be determined by the reactions and the way how people react towards each other.

Basing on a family as a social institution, this theory affects the societys views in general. A society or community is comprised of different family units. These units collectively form the societal social behavior. Interactionism theory attributes from the different families therefore mould the general societal views.

Even though all the three discussed theories of sociologist can be used to explain ways and aspects of how people interact with each other in a social institution, they are different in the way they tackle the different issues in a social institution. This is because they perceive societal issues differently basing on different social institution issues that affect the members of the social institutions