01
Front
What is a social institution?
Back
A durable, organized pattern of social life that coordinates people’s activity around recurring needs and concerns.
Free Online Flashcard Deck
1 Institutions and Social Order Free Online FlashCards
Study 1 Institutions and Social Order with 12 free online flashcards. Review key terms, definitions, and concepts with this interactive flashcard deck.
12 cards
02
Front
How does a school differ from the institution of education?
Back
A school is an organization; education is a broader institution of shared rules, roles, practices, and meanings shaping teaching and learning across society.
03
Front
What does social order mean?
Back
Social order is the patterned coordination of everyday behavior that institutions help create.
04
Front
Does social order mean institutions are fair or everyone agrees?
Back
No. Institutions can make behavior predictable while also distributing authority and resources unequally.
05
Front
What do institutional rules specify?
Back
Rules specify expected or permitted conduct. Formal examples include laws and school policies; informal norms include taking turns or showing respect.
06
Front
What role do sanctions play in supporting rules?
Back
Sanctions are rewards or penalties that encourage conformity or respond to violations of rules.
07
Front
What are institutional roles?
Back
Roles are expectations attached to social positions; they assign responsibilities and may involve different levels of authority.
08
Front
How do routines help institutions coordinate activity?
Back
Routines are repeated practices that put rules and roles into action, making coordination possible without renegotiating every step.
09
Front
What do shared meanings contribute to institutions?
Back
Shared meanings help people understand why practices matter and what they represent; a certificate can signify achievement and qualification.
10
Front
How do rules, roles, routines, and shared meanings reinforce one another?
Back
Rules shape how roles are performed, routines make expectations familiar, and shared meanings can make practices seem legitimate or natural.
11
Front
How can authority differ among institutional roles?
Back
Some roles have greater power to set rules, interpret them, or decide how they are applied.
12
Front
How are norms reproduced through institutions?
Back
Institutions reproduce norms as people learn expectations, follow them in everyday routines, and pass them on to others.
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