“Habitualization” and “Institutionalization” are key concepts in the sociological theory of knowledge, particularly as outlined by Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann in their influential work “The Social Construction of Reality.” Habitualization refers to the process by which social actions and interactions become routine and ingrained in everyday life. Institutionalization builds upon habitualization and refers to the process by which these habitualized actions and patterns become institutionalized within society.
The question in this paper would be whether habitualization and institutionalization started from hunting and gathering society. The answer is assertive. In hunting and gathering societies, daily routines and practices become habitualized through repeated actions and experiences. For example, the methods of hunting, gathering, food preparation, and social interactions within the group follow established patterns that are learned and repeated over time. These habitualized behaviors contribute to the stability and predictability of life within the society.
Similarly, hunting and gathering societies have institutions that formalize and perpetuate social norms, values, and practices. These institutions may include kinship systems, oral traditions, rituals, and communal decision-making processes. For instance, kinship structures define familial roles and relationships, while oral traditions preserve cultural knowledge and beliefs. Rituals and ceremonies may institutionalize important social events, such as initiations, rites of passage, or religious ceremonies.
Habitualization and institutionalization evolved over time but it it is an underlying condition for social integration in all types of societies. Homogenous and heterogeneous societies dealt with these two processes in different ways. Individuals within a particular cultural group may have habitualized ways of greeting, eating, dressing, and communicating that reflect their shared cultural background. In heterogeneous societies, various institutions emerge to formalize and regulate social norms, values, and practices across diverse groups.
Resources-
Berger, P., & Luckmann, T. (2016). The social construction of reality. In J. A. Hannigan (Ed.), Social theory re-wired (pp. 110-122). Routledge.
samha's table 