Chapter 2: American Society and Its Values Social Science

Participating in a Group Many people participate in a group to satisfy certain needs they have Physical, social, emotional, etc. The process of learning how to participate in a group is called socialization Also means accepting the values and rules, or specific expectations about what our behavior should be, of the group

Social Institutions Groups can not always fulfill individual needs The needs that can not be met by groups or met by social institutions, or systems of values and rules that determine how our society is organized Consist of five major institutions: family, religion, education, the economy, and government Not only satisfy needs, but also teach values and provide a framework within which groups and organizations can exist

The Family The family is the most basic social institution in our society Give you basic needs and teaches you values from birth Many families are structured in different ways Most have a father, mother, and children, but some parents are deceased, divorced, or are single parents by choice, or some families can be blended families, or families made up of adults and children from previous marriages, or made up of foster or adopted children Families are where you learn many of the rules that govern daily life through learning basic life skills and values Those rules travel outside the home in the form of laws

Religion Not everyone belongs in a religion, but those who do gain spiritual guidance, a sense of belonging, and moral standards Each religion has its own moral code, punishments that may occur during life or after death, and rewards that include acceptance by the group or eternal happiness Some religious morals are written into law, but other morals are done for the betterment of the community, and are not written into law Not all religions share the same values, and when one religion tries to impose its values on society, conflicts can arise We must remember that they have the right to speak freely and the right to believe what they want to

Education Education exists in to teach individuals basic skills needed to survive in society and also to help people achieve their goals and follow the paths to their dream careers Schools are one of the first places you meet people from different backgrounds and families, and the first place you learn respect and acceptance Schools also teach individuals how to think critically, form opinions, make judgments, and solve problems, while also teaching American values and ideals School also provides you with good memories, long friendships, and a sense of who you are as a person

The Economy Every society has an economy, or a system of producing and distributing goods and services to fulfill people’s want In our economy, each of us is a consumer, or a person who uses goods and services to satisfy his or her wants People exchange goods through a market, and exchange goods in either stores or the stock exchange The amount you must pay for a good or service in a market is its price, which is normally paid using money, which can be anything that is generally accepted as payment for a good or service

Economic Freedoms Built into our economy are five important freedoms Freedom to buy and sell goods or services to anyone we wish Freedom to compete with others who are selling goods and services Freedom to earn a profit Freedom of ownership over your goods until you sell them Freedom to pursue any career you wish

Government The government exists in order to deter chaos, to protect its citizens and their rights, to ensure the safety of the country, to provide necessary services to its citizens, and to give structure to society There are three main forms of government: Monarchy-all or most of the power is in the hands of one individual, a monarch Monarch’s authority is hereditary (passes down a bloodline) Dictatorship-government is controlled by one person, a dictator Dictator takes power by force and are usually military leaders Democracy-power is shared by all the people People vote in representatives who will meet the needs and freedoms of the people

Laws and Politics Laws are the formal rules that govern our behavior in society Ours are written down in the Constitution Laws exist to ensure that rights are protected and order is maintained Breaking laws can lead to punishment, and the more severe the crime is, the more severe the punishment will be Citizens in a democracy have the right to try and work with others to change laws they don’t like A combination of patriotism, or demonstration of love and devotion to one’s country, and political socialization, or the process of learning how to behave politically, makes for an ideal citizen