DESCRIPTION OF INTERACTIVE
Family
Generally speaking, families, which come in all shapes and forms, provide a nurturing environment for us to learn many of the important behaviours that we will need in life. Reach back and remember the concept of socialization from Unit 2. Families also help keep society going – without families raising younger generations, society wouldn’t exist!
Education
The education system teaches students knowledge and develops the skills that students will need to make (hopefully!) successful transitions in their lives (e.g., the workforce, a different educational institution, post-secondary education, etc.). Educational institutions also reinforce the values and beliefs that are considered important in society and culture, often through operant conditioning (e.g., honesty, trustworthiness, integrity).
Politics
The political system creates the rules by which people in society, for example, in a province or a country, must live. Together, politicians make big decisions; for example, they decide which laws to pass (you likely remember learning about this in your Civics class).
Economics
Economics is the social institution that takes care of producing or manufacturing, distributing, and consuming goods and services. The economy affects us in different ways. For example, where we live and what we have access to greatly depends on where our jobs are, but this might also depend on how much income (money) we make. Have you heard of the term socio-economic status? Socio-economic status (S-ES) refers to someone’s social position; it is a measure or reflection of someone’s work experience, and it includes factors such as income, education, and type of occupation. Someone’s S-ES may mean that she/he has access to (or doesn’t have access to) some resources in society (e.g., new cars, big houses, etc.). Interestingly, Maslow might say that some people who are preoccupied with S-ES (or think about it a lot) may not become self-actualized because they are ‘stuck’ at the self-esteem level. Remember, ‘money doesn’t always buy happiness.’ Some people might actually say that money can’t buy happiness!
Religion
Religion is another social institution in our society. It is a set of organized beliefs and practices that relate to the supernatural or spiritual worlds. Religions are responsible for helping guide people’s morals and behaviour.