---
type: "Chapter"
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entity_type: "chapter"
id: "66dfe7b63f8b4e9e69bf8871"
title: "Social Institutions: Continuity and Change"
board: "CBSE"
curriculum: "CBSE"
class: "Class 12"
subject: "Sociology"
book: "Indian Society"
chapter: "Social Institutions: Continuity and Change"
chapter_slug: "social-institutions-continuity-and-change"
canonical_url: "https://www.edzy.ai/cbse-class-12-sociology-indian-society-social-institutions-continuity-and-change"
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source_id: "66dfe7b63f8b4e9e69bf8871"
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source: "Edzy"
version: 1
last_updated: "2026-06-20"
---

# Social Institutions: Continuity and Change
This chapter discusses the interaction between the individual and society, focusing on how social institutions shape individual roles and statuses. It introduces various social institutions and their implications, illustrating how they constrain and provide opportunities to individuals.

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## Knowledge Snapshot

| Field | Details |
| :--- | :--- |
| Class | Class 12 |
| Subject | Sociology |
| Book | Indian Society |
| Chapter | Social Institutions: Continuity and Change |
| Pages | 35-52 |

---

## Chapter Summary

### Short Summary
This chapter examines social institutions that influence individuals, including family, politics, economics, religion, and education, highlighting their roles in society.

### Detailed Summary
The chapter elaborates on the concept of social institutions and their roles in shaping individual identities and societal norms. It differentiates between macro institutions like the state and micro institutions like the family. These institutions are described as operating within established rules acknowledged by law or custom, affecting individual behavior and opportunities. The functionalist perspective views institutions as necessary for fulfilling societal needs, whereas the conflict perspective critiques the unequal benefit of these institutions to different societal groups. The chapter prompts readers to consider examples of how institutions may simultaneously constrain and empower different segments of society.

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## Topic-Wise Explanation

### INTRODUCTION
The introduction covers the individual’s place in society and the roles prescribed by social institutions.

### FAMILY, MARRIAGE AND KINSHIP
Family as a social institution is examined, emphasizing its informal role in shaping individual identities and providing support.

### WORK AND ECONOMIC LIFE
Discusses economic institutions, highlighting their formal structures and impact on social roles and opportunities.

### POLITICS
Political institutions are analyzed, particularly their influence on societal power dynamics and individual agency.

### RELIGION
Religious institutions are viewed as informal structures that can provide both support and constraint to individuals.

### EDUCATION
Education as a formal institution is explored, focusing on its role in shaping societal norms and access to opportunities.

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## Core Ideas

| Idea | Explanation |
| :--- | :--- |
| Interaction of Individual and Society | Each individual has roles defined by social institutions, impacting their opportunities.
| Macro vs. Micro Institutions | Differentiation between larger societal structures (state) and smaller ones (family).
| Functionalist vs. Conflict Views | Contrasting perspectives on how institutions function to satisfy societal needs or perpetuate inequality.

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## Important Points for Revision

* Social institutions define individual roles within society.
* Institutions can constrain but also provide opportunities.
* The chapter discusses both macro and micro institutions.
* Functionalist and conflict perspectives offer different understandings of institutions.
* Family, politics, economics, religion, and education are key institutions explored.
* The role of institutions in reinforcing societal norms is emphasized.
* Examples are encouraged to illustrate the impact of institutions.
* Conflict perspectives highlight the unequal positions of groups within institutions.

---

## Vocabulary and Glossary

| Word / Phrase | Meaning |
| :--- | :--- |
| Social Institutions | Structures that dictate norms, values, and roles within society. |
| Functionalism | A theoretical perspective that views society as a complex system whose parts work together. |
| Conflict Perspective | A theoretical view that focuses on the inherent inequalities in social structures.

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## Practice Questions

### Short Answer Questions
1. What roles do social institutions play in the lives of individuals?
2. How do formal institutions differ from informal institutions?
3. Describe a functionalist perspective on social institutions.
4. How does the conflict perspective critique social institutions?
5. Give an example of how a social institution can constrain an individual.

### Long Answer Questions
1. Discuss the differences between macro and micro social institutions and their impact on individual roles in society.
2. Analyze how education as a social institution can reinforce or challenge existing inequalities in society.
3. Explore the implications of the conflict perspective on the understanding of political institutions in society.

---

## Related Concepts
N/A

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## Source Attribution

| Field | Value |
| :--- | :--- |
| Source | Edzy |
| Reference Type | examSubjectBookChapter |
| Reference ID | 66dfe7b63f8b4e9e69bf8871 |
| Canonical URL | https://www.edzy.ai/cbse-class-12-sociology-indian-society-social-institutions-continuity-and-change |
| Markdown URL | https://www.edzy.ai/okf/chapter/cbse-class-12-sociology-indian-society-social-institutions-continuity-and-change.md |