Institutions are foundational components of human societies, shaping individual behavior, social interactions, and collective actions. They are enduring systems of established norms, values, and structures that guide social life. In the field of sociology, institutions are examined to understand how…
Institutionalism, as a sociological concept, refers to the study of institutions—defined as enduring social structures that regulate human behavior. This theoretical approach seeks to understand how institutions are created, how they persist, and how they shape the behaviors of individuals…
The concept of a “total institution” is central to understanding various forms of social control and institutional dynamics within sociology. Coined by sociologist Erving Goffman in his seminal work Asylums (1961), the term refers to an organization or establishment in…
The concepts of free will and agency are central to the understanding of human behavior and social interaction in sociology. Free will refers to the ability of individuals to make choices that are not determined by prior causes or by…
