A basic model for social institutions

Abstract

A precise model of social institutions is described comprising four dimensions: first, a macro‐level of groups, types of actions, and related notions, second, a micro‐level of underlying individuals and actions, together with suitable relations of intention, causal belief and power. Power is characterized in a new way emending proposals discussed recently. Third, the model contains intellectual representations of items on the macro‐ and micro‐level. Fourth, it contains a dimension including the origin and development of what we call “social practices” (smallest units of socially relevant behaviour) which gives the model some historical depth. By putting all these items together, a powerful model with a wide range of applications is created. The claim associated with this model is that it applies to all social institutions which are similar to systems listed up in the introduction. The way of applying the model is discussed in detail on the basis of an abstract example.