SOCI 223 Traditional Ghanaian Social Institutions

Transcription

1 SOCI 223 Traditional Ghanaian Social Institutions Session 2 The concept of social structure and social institutions Lecturer: Dr. Rosemond Hiadzi, Sociology Contact Information: rhiadzi@ug.edu.gh College of Education School of Continuing and Distance Education 2014/ /2017

2 Session Overview At the end of the session, the student will Understand that as humans we have basic needs for survival in society Identify some of the basic needs of humans Know that the social institutions came up in response to the basic needs of humans Identify some of the social institutions and the particular needs they fulfil in society Understand the concept of social structure Show the ways in which the social institutions are interrelated and interdependent Slide 2

3 Session Outline The key topics to be covered in the session are as follows: Topic One The concept of social structure Topic Two The basic needs Topic Three - The social institutions Slide 3

4 Reading List Abotchie, C. (2011) Structure of Traditional Ghanaian Societies. Hans Publications Ltd. Accra Assimeng, J. M. (1981) Social Structure of Ghana. Chapter one Nukunya, G. K. (2002) Tradition and Change. An Introduction to Sociology. Chapters one and two Slide 4

5 Topic One THE CONCEPT OF SOCIAL STRUCTURE Slide 5

6 The nature of human society Humans are born with different temperaments. While some are calm, others are hot tempered. We are also born with different desires and passions These have to be regulated to ensure order and progress in society According to Thomas Hobbes, such order could be best achieved when society creates a Leviathan Who is a Leviathan? He is a King or ruler or one who has been given authority by the members of the society to rule over them Thus he ensures the achievement of their desires in an orderly manner Slide 6

7 Topic Two THE BASIC NEEDS Slide 7

8 The Basic Needs These desires of man can grouped under the basic needs. There are 6 basic needs that can be said to be universal to all human societies viz The need to express our freedom The need to allay our fears of the mystical The need to satisfy our hunger The need to satisfy our sex drive and procreate The need to achieve our aspirations/dreams The need to sustain our health Slide 8

9 Topic Three THE SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS Slide 9

10 The social institutions To ensure social order, there are rules of behavior governing the achievement of our basic needs. These are referred to as the social institutions The social institutions which have developed in response to the basic needs of the society are: The political institution the need to express our freedom The religious institution the need to allay our fears of the mystical The economic institution the need to satisfy our hunger The marriage and family institution the need to satisfy our sex drive and procreate The educational institution to need to achieve our aspirations/dreams The health institution the need to sustain our health Slide 10

11 What is meant by social structure? According to Morris Ginsberg (1963), social structure consists of those human relations that have achieved a certain definiteness of outline or form and a relative permanence. Definiteness of outline or form means that social structures undergo a period of experimentation and evolution before achieving their current form Relative permanence means that social structures are subject to change Wright Mills (1970) defines social structure as the combination of institutions classified according to the functions each performs Slide 11

12 What is meant by social structure? These institutions are mutually dependent they function together/depend on one another For example, the marriage and family institution is the mother of all the institutions and provides the human resource for the other institutions. The economy feeds the other institutions. The health institutions ensures the health and well being of the members of the other institutions etc Slide 12

13 Sample Question What is the relationship between human needs and the social institutions? Slide 13