Final answer:
The question addresses the negative impacts on American culture from institutions like the media, government-run boarding schools, and McDonaldization of society. All three have been seen as contributors to certain detrimental social changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question about the detrimental effect of certain social institutions on American culture suggests a focus on how societal structures have influenced American life, politics, and values.
It is a complex issue with various interpretations depending on the institution being discussed and the perspective being considered, whether it be the influence of media on American society, governmental interventions like boarding schools for native youth, or the impact of consumerism as described by the concept of McDonaldization of society. The media, including television and film, has been critiqued for its strong socializing effects and the possibility of promoting violence and sex.
Boarding schools historically harmed native cultures by trying to assimilate children into white society against their will.
Lastly, the McDonaldization concept critiques the spread of the fast food business model into all facets of life, potentially reducing quality and homogenizing culture.