Institutions
Institutions comprise the norms, regulations and laws that establish the 'rules of the game’ – that is, that they condition and modify the behaviour of individuals and groups so that their actions become more predictable to others. They do so through both formal rules that include laws and contracts and, as well as through informal means such as social norms and conventions that evolve over time. This use of ‘institution’ is quite different to that where it is taken as synonymous with ‘organization’.
Educational – schools (preschool, primary/elementary, secondary, and post-secondary/higher –see sociology of education)
Economic
Family
Government
Health Care
Industry
Religion
Legal – laws, criminal justice, jurisprudence
Mass Media
Military
NGOs - Non-Governmental Organizations - International
Political
Religion
Research – academia and universities; research institutes
Institutions are realities that can impact people and other realities.
