Final answer:
Functionalist theorists believe that social institutions were originally designed to meet basic survival needs, maintaining the stability and function of society, while conflict theorists argue that these institutions perpetuate inequalities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Who believes that social institutions were originally designed to meet basic survival needs? The answer is b. functionalist theorists. Functionalist theorists, such as Émile Durkheim, argue that social institutions were created to serve the needs of society, contributing to its stability and functioning. These theorists view each part of society as having a necessary role and believe that institutions exist to fulfill key social requirements. For example, they would argue that the education system serves the function of teaching necessary skills and norms to members of society (socialization), the economy provides a means of distributing goods and services, and religion contributes to social cohesion and establishes moral norms.
On the other hand, conflict theorists believe that social institutions do not function for the collective well-being but rather serve the interests of the powerful groups in society. They argue that these institutions maintain class differences and reinforce inequality. A conflict theorist would point out that social institutions reflect and perpetuate the inequalities present in society based on class, gender, race, and ethnicity, rather than exist solely to meet basic needs.