The Sociological Approach

Question 1

Culture

Answer 1

The whole way of life of a particular society.

Includes society’s values, norms, customs, beliefs, knowledge, skills and language.

Question 2

Values

Answer 2

Ideas and beliefs about what is desirable and worth striving for.

Question 3

Norms

Answer 3

Appropriate and expected behaviour in specific social settings such as classrooms or the cinema.

Norms are enforced by sanctions.

Question 4

Positive Sanctions

Answer 4

Rewards people for conforming to the norms.

Example: promotion at work.

Question 5

Negative Sanctions

Answer 5

Punishes people who deviate from the norms.

Example: verbal warning or prison.

Question 6

Socialisation

Answer 6

The process by which people learn the culture, values and norms of society.

Question 7

Primary Socialisation

Answer 7

Early childhood learning. Basic behavioural patterns, language and skills are learnt here.

Agencies of primary socialisation are families and parents.

Question 8

Secondary Socialisation

Answer 8

Begins in early teens throughout adulthood. Society’s values and norms are learnt here.

Agencies of secondary socialisation include peer groups, schools, workplaces, religions and the mass media.

Question 9

Social Structures

Answer 9

Families, the education system, the criminal justice system and the social stratification system.

Question 10

Social Processes

Answer 10

Socialisation, group dynamics, conformity and social change.

Social processes are the ways in which individuals interact and influence each other within society.

Question 11

Social Issues

Answer 11

Quality of parenting, care for the elderly, poverty and violent crime.

Question 12

Roles

Answer 12

Sets of behaviours and expectations associated with a particular position within a society.

Question 13

Labelling

Answer 13

The process through which individuals or groups are identified according to certain characteristics or attributes.

Question 14

Social Cohesion

Answer 14

Social cohesion refers to the degree of unity within a society.

It reflects the extent to which members of a community feel connected to each other, share common values and goals, and cooperate for the collective good.

Question 15

Consensus

Answer 15

Agreement and harmony

Question 16

Conflict

Answer 16

Disagreement and lack of harmony

Question 17

Value Consensus

Answer 17

Value consensus is a specific type of consensus. It’s when people in a society agree on what’s important or valuable.

For example, in a society where education is highly valued, there’s a value consensus that education is important for personal and societal development.

Question 18

Value Conflict

Answer 18

Situations where you face a clash between your personal or professional values and those of your employer, colleagues or clients.

Question 19

Social Stratification

Answer 19

Social stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of individuals or groups within a society based on various dimensions of inequality, such as wealth, power, social status, and access to resources.

In other words, it’s the division of people into different layers with some groups having more privilege, prestige, and opportunities than others.

Question 20

Social Stigma

Answer 20

Social stigma refers to negative attitudes, beliefs, or stereotypes that society holds about certain characteristics, behaviours, or identities.

These stigmas can lead to the marginalisation, discrimination, or devaluation of individuals or groups who possess or are associated with these characteristics.

Question 21

Social Mobility

Answer 21

It is a change in social status relative to one’s current social location within a given society.

Social mobility is the movement of individuals, families, households or other categories of people within or between social strata in a society.

Question 22

False consciousness

Answer 22

False consciousness is a concept in Marxist theory that refers to a misunderstanding or misperception of one’s own position within society.

It occurs when individuals adopt beliefs, attitudes, or ideologies that are contrary to their own class interests or that support the interests of the ruling class.

Question 23

Stratified Diffusion

Answer 23

Norms and values of the wealthier classes, when changing, are then passed on all the way down to the lower classes.

Question 24

Interactionists

Answer 24

Interactionism is a sociological perspective that focuses on how individuals interact with each other and how these interactions shape society.

It emphasises the importance of everyday social interactions, symbols, and meanings in understanding human behaviour and social phenomena.

Interactionists believe that society is created and maintained through ongoing interactions between individuals, and they study how people interpret and respond to symbols, gestures, and social cues in their interactions with others.

Question 25

Marxists

Answer 25

Marxists are people who follow the ideas of Karl Marx, a famous philosopher and economist. They believe that society is divided into two main groups: the wealthy owners of businesses, called capitalists, and the workers who do the labour, called the proletariat.

Marxists think that the capitalists exploit the workers to make profits, and they want to change society to create a more equal system where everyone benefits.

Question 26

Functionalists

Answer 26

Functionalists are sociologists who believe that society is like a living organism, where different parts work together to keep everything running smoothly.

They think that each part of society, like education, family, and government, has a specific function or purpose that contributes to the stability and well-being of the whole.

Functionalists study how these parts work together and how they help maintain social order and cohesion.

Question 27

Feminists

Answer 27

Feminists are people who believe in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes.

They advocate for the rights and interests of women and work to challenge and change systems of oppression and discrimination based on gender.

Feminism encompasses a range of ideologies and approaches, but at its core, it seeks to dismantle gender-based inequalities and create a more just and equitable society for all genders.