THE FIVE BASIC SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

1. Families Helps societys members replace themselves Provide protection for the next generation; socialize/nurture children Groups within it: relatives Members roles: daughter, son, father, mother, aunt, uncle, grandparents, cousin Values and norms upheld: Ensure sexual fidelity Develop skills Provide for family; emotional support; respect parents 2. Economic Institutions Helps societys members meet their physical needs Range from the basic hunting/gathering groups to multinational corporations Produce and distribute goods and services Groups within it: banks, corporations, small businesses, farms Members roles: employee, worker, manager, owner Values and norms upheld: Ensure efficiency and hard work Provide profit motive 3. Political Institutions Assist members in group decision-making; make major decisions for society Empower individuals Require that all members agree to the decisions made Groups within it: parliament, cabinet, political parties Members roles: prime minister, MP, cabinet members Values and norms upheld: Ensure voting rights, democratic rule Respect minorities 4. Educational Institutions Organize the way society passes on its culture, knowledge and values from one generation to another socialize students Groups within it: schools, colleges, universities Members roles: student, teacher, principal, professor Values and norms upheld: Expect students to do work/assignments, get good grades, and respect the teacher 5. Religious Institutions Help people find an ultimate purpose in their lives Help meet universal spiritual needs; aid in developing the spiritual side of society Provide guidelines for personal behaviour and social interaction Groups within it: churches, temples, synagogues, congregations Members roles: religious leaders, worshippers Values and norms upheld: Read holy scriptures Attend services Contribute money

The Healthcare System

What is a health system? An institution where all activities have a primary purpose of promoting, restoring or maintaining health A health system includes: Professional delivery of medical attention Traditional healers Home care Disease prevention

What do health systems do? They treat a variety of areas and have recently expanded. These areas include: o Relief of pain and treatment of physical limitations o Emotional disorders o Advice on diet, childs rearing and sexual behaviour o Prescribe medicine or treatment

What roles exist within this institution? Within this institution the most basic classification of roles is patient versus healthcare provider. The patient has a right to expect that the health care system will treat them with individual dignity, their needs should be promptly attended to without delay in diagnosis. Health care providers must ensure patient confidentiality and must strive to improve the health of the population

Health, Illness and Disease Medicine is viewed in society as a science, and doctors are trained medical scientists. The development of Western medicine has allowed societies to conquer most of the epidemics that previously caused many deaths like smallpox, cholera, typhoid, polio, and influenza (flu).

Culture-bound Syndromes Some illnesses are specific to particular cultures and appear to be immune to Western-style treatment. These illnesses are called culture-bound syndromes Examples: Susto an illness common among Latin Americans in the southwestern United States and throughout South America. Those who suffer from this illness experience lack of sleep, disinterest in dress and personal hygiene, depression, diarrhea and chills; Yuppie Flu found in North America, causes severe fatigue, dizziness and muscle weakness