15 Social Institutions

15.1 Introduction
As we group up there are many different influences which effect our behaviour. When we are very young, it is the family, especially our mother and father who effect us the most. After a certain age, we begin to go to school. School has a major impact on our behaviour and in shaping ones personality. In addition, the community of which we are a part also effects us and guides our actions. All of us belong to a particular religious group, each religion also has guidelines about right behaviour. In todays world, T.V and mass media also exert a very strong influence on our thoughts and activities. In this chapter all these influences in the form of different social institutions are discussed.

15.2 Objectives
After reading this lesson you will be able to : define family and state its changing nature; state the role of family as a social unit and optimal functioning of human behaviour; recognise the characteristics of community; indicate the role of religious group and how they influence social behaviour; assess the role of school as a socializing agent; identify the socializing influence of peer group.

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15.3 Family As A Social Unit

Have you ever thought about who you are? Where I belong to? To whom do I owe my existence? What and where are my roots? You may not have given a conscious thought to it. But if asked, you will immediately reply that my name is so and so. You will tell your grandfathers name. You may also tell some famous ancestors name. You may tell the name of the city you were born, the city you live at present. All these statements are mostly related to your family, some to neighbourhood and community. All of us belong to a family. Family is the basic unit of any society. Family is that basic unit where we learn to live with other fellow beings. In more than one way it teaches us to be social, to live in harmony with other human beings. It also teaches us moral values and social norms. Man is a social being. Man can not live in isolation. To live in a society we have to follow certain rules and regulations. These are called social norms. There are certain legal rules too. By not following them one can go to jail. There are some moral and ethical rules for which there is no punishment by law for them but we are answerable to a higher court that is our innerself. We may suffer a great deal by not following those norms. Our first teachers are our parents, our family. In Indian Society we have always given importance to family. Earlier we mostly had joint families. In joint families 3 or 4 generations used to live together. There were grand parents, uncles and aunts living under one roof. We have always given great deal of importance to our familial relationships. That is why we have different pronouns for different relationships in the family. For one word uncle & aunty in western societies we have different synonyms in our relationships. For our maternal and paternal grandparents, we have Nana, Nani, Dada and Dadi, not just Grandma or Grandpa. Family acts as the foundation stone of our lives. Advantages of family : Joint or extended families have many advantages. The young children, the aged, the weak and sick were all taken care of . It gave security to them all. For various reasons the trend today is of smaller families. They are called nuclear families. A family consists of parents and there children. It has been found that the children brought up in joint families have more balanced personality because joint families provide a more wholesome environment for the right development of the children. Family environment plays a very important role in the childs growth. It shapes their physical, mental and emotional faculties. There is a great emotional bonding which takes place during childhood. It gives them security and confidence which is important in dealing with difficult life situations, later in life. Whether brought up in joint family or nuclear family a lot depends on the amount of time devoted to children by family members, be it father, mother, grandparents, uncles, aunts or elder brothers and sisters. It gives them the feeling of security and will being. If the parents listen alternatively to them and reply to their questions, children feel important, it encourages them to develop their own thinking. This is the first

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step in the development of analytical and scientific mind. Do you know that Jawahar Lal Nehrus dream was to see the children of our country to have a scientific viewpoint, to follow scientific processes and techniques in every field of life. Aristotle, one of the greatest philosopher has written the family is a natural institution created to fulfill our daily needs. Actually the institution of family was created, when people recognized the interdependence of men and women, and other fellow beings. The institution of family grew stronger with the growth of civilization and culture. Its form and structure has been changing. Today the change is more rapid, but the essential role of the family remains the same. With the advent of T.V. and internet the world has become smaller or rather our own inner world has become bigger. But even so the importance of family and family ties can not be undermined. Children must remember that it parents teach them something or impose discipline it is for their, own good. If children do not realise this, it may give rise to a feeling of rebellion which can play havoc in their life later on.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 15.1

Fill in the blanks in each of the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Family environment shapes a childs physical, mental and ___________ faculties. _______ type of family provided greater security. Family is the basic social unit where we learn to _______ with others. Our first teachers are our ___________. The ____________ is a natural institution created to fulfill our daily needs.

15.4 Community
As the child grows he/she comes in contact with neighborhood children and people. This extended group forms the community or social environment. The childs thinking and behavioural patterns are influenced by them too. Our community does not consist of our neighbors alone. Our friends, people who follow the same religion and religious practices; people belonging to same caste, all are part of the community we belong. In fact all the people we come in close contact are part of our community. All these people play an important role in the childs development. When the child starts going to school he/she meets many children coming from different background. All this forms the part of the childs social environment. After family the childs teachers and peer group is the second largest influence in a childs life. By peer group it is meant the fellow students, neighbourhood children and people of the some age-group. As you have read in the lesson on adolescence that at this age peer group

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becomes even more important them parents, simply because at this age children spend longer time with them than their parents.

15.5 The Impact of School

These are the most formative years of a childs life. As the child grows he/she go to school. In the childs development school plays the second most important role. Its role is almost as important as family. A school and a college is called Alma Mater. It is derived from a latin word meaning nourishing (dear) mother. In this period of life teachers are like parents to him/her. He/she listens to them, loves them, fears them, respects them. Children are taught many things at school. They not only learn to read and write, but learn to work in a group, in a team. One can say that the family sows a seed which blossoms into a flower in the school. A childs skill development takes place at schools. He discovers his/her own talent and capacities. He/she learns to make friends, to get along with others, to socialize to be disciplined and to be a responsible citizen. School is the place where the child receives most of his education. Education includes imparting knowledge, training and guidance. Although education is a life long process, the main role at school is to develop the childs in born capacities and talents in such a way that a child can use them lifelong. During this period character building also takes place. One learns about culture and religion. Education is important from both individual and societys point of view. At the individual level a childs physical, mental, spiritual, cultural capacity, personality and character building have to be taken care of. From societys point of view one has to develop into a responsible citizen, serve the society and country in a selfless manner try to remove the social evils, help building a better society, develop leadership qualities, and learn to live and serve in a democratic manner. At social level too there has to be an emotional bonding. One learns to take pride in ones culture, religion, community and country. School education also takes into account the progress taking place in the world in different fields. Everyday new scientific discoveries and inventions are taking place. Science and Technology is developing in leaps and bounds. A child should know and learn about them in such a way that they are useful for future career and life. To sum up the education should be such that it helps in the overall development of the child. Children are also influenced by the kind of books they read. Here parental and teachers guidance play an important role. Reading is a good habit. Here the context is the books outside school syllabus. Reading not only improves knowledge it gives greater command over language. It increases the childs vocabulary. Books are store houses of knowledge, and knowledge is power. Knowledge gives self confidence and maturity and helps to develop a person fully.

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INTEXT QUESTION 15.2

Each statement has 4 alternatives. Choose the correct one. 1. A school is also called: (a) 2. Second Home (c) (d) Correction Home Learning centre (b) Alma Mater Education includes: (a) knowledge (b) training (c) guidance (d) all of the above 3. The main role of school is : (a) to teach good things 4. School is concerned with: (a) Character building (b) Mental development (c) physical development (d) all of the above. (c) to develop the childs inborn capacities. (b) to develop the personality (d) none of the above

15.6 Culture and its influence

Our culture also influences us deeply. Every society has a distinct culture of its own. Culture is a particular part of a civilization. It generally includes arts, literature, manners, and scholarly pursuits. It is a sum total of ways of living built by a group of people. Its important characteristic is that it is passed from one generation to other. A culture of a country, and community is formed over ages. Culture is not something static. It is like the current of river which is constantly flowing. Each successive generation carries it forward according to their beliefs and ideas. It has to be adopted according to the needs of time. In a way it can be compared to the river Ganges. It originates from Gangotri glacier. The river takes different forms at different places according to the geographical conditions. In partly hilly region of Rishikesh and Haridwar it flows very fast. As it reaches the plain area of Prayag (Allahabad), it spreads a great deal and flows slowly. Similarly our culture takes different forms at different times and at different places but essentially it is the same. We have a rich cultural heritage in all the fields. We have religions books like Vedas, Upanishads, Purans and great epics like Ramayan and Mahabharata. We have a rich heritage of beautifully built temples, Gurudwaras and Mosques, and unique historical monuments. We all have a duty to preserve them for future generations. Our music and dance forms are also unique and varied. We have paintings dating back to 14th and 15th century. The famous Ajanta and Ellora caves are even older. We have a rich store of

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miniature Rajasthani paintings. We have a rich heritage of handicrafts, e.g. sculpting of our deities, pottery and ceramics, leather goods, handloom.

15.7 Religious groups

We learn a lot from our cultural heritage. Our religion also gives us an identify as our family and community. We are influenced by our religious teachings and practices. One feels solidarity and brotherhood with the people following the same religion. It also gives a feeling of security. Usually our religion is determined by birth. The important thing to remember is that whatever religious practices we follow, there are certain basic truths and values which are common to all. Religion teaches us to be truthful, not to steal, not to cheat any one, love the fellow beings, be tolerant, be good to others and so on. Our religion or Dharma is a way of life. If we follow above tenets we will play a positive role in every share of life. We have to learn to use religion in a positive way. While following ones own religious practices one should be respectful to people following other religions. Religion and faith gives us inner strength, the strength to face difficult situation in life. Religion also teaches us to lead a disciplined life. Though religion influences us a great deal, a lot depends on the kind of interpretations that is passed on to us. We are all familiar with the famous lines of the poet Iqbal Mazahab nahni Sikhata aapas mai bair rekhna No religion teachers us to fight with each other. But we see different religions groups fighting. We should try to understand the process behind it. If people follow the true spirit and teachings of their religion it can have a very good influence in building their outlook and personalities. Our religions books are stores of knowledge. It is a pity, that very few read them While we are discussing various elements that influence a childs thinking and behavioural factors we have to mention the influence of the media, especially Television. Todays child spends a lot of time watching T.V. This audio-visual medium has emerged as having a very strong impact especially on young and growing children. T.V. provides us with so much information and knowledge which was unimaginable hundred years ago. Todays child knows so much more than children of their previous generation. But there is lot which is being broadcasted that is not good. Some channels are very informative and educational. But some T.V. serials and advertisements can convey very wrong messages at times.The programme children watch need a lot of monitoring from parents. As it is rightly said that a picture is powerful than a thousand words. T.V. is full of advertisement which come in very attractive packages. In the name of freedom to choose, they confuse us. Every advertisements gives so much choice but how can we know, which is good until we use it for certain time. Most of them are misleading.

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Not only they give wrong information they try to create needs which are not our basic needs. These artificially created needs create the desire to have lots of money. Running after money is not good. There is much more to life then having lots of money and acquiring lots of goods. Along with family, teachers and peer group T.V. has emerged as having a strong socialization effect on children. Children learn a lot from T.V. They may try to copy wrong life-style and wrong things : without questioning, thinking they try to copy the western life-style. Many believe that all that is western is good. There is a lot a conflict arising in their minds regarding the right values. T.V. is influencing our social, moral and ethical values; our culture and traditions. Most of broadcasting channels are owned by multi-national company and they are not answerable to any government. One should develop a scientific mind and always question the obvious. The saying Seeing is believing is not true in the case of T.V. Most of it is fantasy or twisted version of reality. One should know how to pick and choose the right programme.

INTEXT QUESTION 15.3

1. What all does culture include? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ 2. Give any two example of religious teachings. _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

15.8 What you have learnt

No doubt many factors discussed above influence a childs development, but we should not forget that a child is an entity of his/her own. Their personality and identify is formed through the constant interaction with above mentioned factors. We find children of one family very different from each other. A child is never a sum total of what he/she is being taught, sees, hears and experiences. It is his/her perception of the environmental reality around. Todays child is so much more intelligent and knowledgeably. They know what is right, and what is good for them. They will go for ahead in life than the people of earlier generations.

15.9 Terminal Exercise

1. 2. What is the impact of school on a childs behaviour? What is culture? Explain its influence.

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3.

Write short note on following : (i) (ii) the family the community

4. 5.

What is meant by peer group? Why is it important? Given the choice, what kind of family would you like to live in joint family system or Nuclear family system and why?

Key to Intext Questions

15.1 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 15.2 1. 2. 3. 4. 15.3 1. 2. Art, literature, manners and scholarly pursuits. Truthful, not stealing, no cheating, love the fellow beings, be tolerant, be good (Any two examples or any other relevant example) b d c d emotional joint live parents family