4.2 Flashcards
social values
principles guiding individuals on what’s right or wrong, good or bad. varied across societies, shaping cultural norms and behaviours.
social values example
Modern society = place a high value on pursuing individual wealth.
Tribal societies placed more value on the group than on the individual. Individuals may have a duty to share their wealth with others.
norms
rules or accepted standards guiding behaviour in different situations.
They can be informal (unwritten) or formal (written as laws).
norms example
Informal norms: etiquette like not jumping queues.
Formal norms: laws= driving under the influence.
often reflect underlying societal values (equality) = laws against discrimination based on race, sex, or sexual orientation.
mores
fundamental norms crucial for upholding decency and civilized conduct.
They represent society’s essential moral rules.
mores example
Taboo against incest and prohibition against taking human life, except in exceptional cases.
Violating mores = severe punishment due to their significance in societal values and norms.
public perception of drink driving
it was not a serious offence, reflecting societal attitudes. 1925 - laws against it were introduced, but lacked clear definitions and legal limits.
Over time, public perception shifted = tighter laws+increased seriousness attributed to drink driving offences.
changing perceptions of drink driving
Increased car ownership = higher death rates
Public concern for road safety grew = legislative action.
1966, seat belt laws were enacted.
The 1967 Road Safety Act introduced a blood alcohol limit of 80mg per 100ml of blood for drivers.
the Windrush generation
White individuals held racist stereotypes (black people as dirty, diseased, or criminal)
Immigrants faced discrimination in housing, employment, and access to services.
A 1956 Birmingham survey = 1.5% of whites willing to rent to black tenants.
Churches reportedly denied black families to avoid upsetting white congregants, -BBC documentation.
race relations act
1965 Act banned racial discrimination in public places and promotion of hatred based on color or ethnicity.
1968 Act extended to employment, housing, and public services.
Replaced by 1976 Act, which strengthened laws to cover both direct + indirect discrimination
cultural changes
changing attitudes= change in the public perception of discrimination + race hate as crime. People are now more likely to accept that these should be criminal offences.
factors that decline cultural prejudice
Legal changes; laws may influence attitudes to align with required behaviour.
increased contact between diverse groups, especially between children+workplaces.
British Future Survey = contact with people from different ethnicities is more impactful than race relation laws in improving race relations.
LGBT rights before 1960s
immoral: 1533 Buggery Act= sodomy between men punishable by death.
Death penalty for sodomy abolished in 1861, but laws against same-sex activity persisted.
In 20th century, laws enforced against gay men; over 1000 imprisoned by 1954.
Notable figure: Alan Turing faced persecution; shortened WW2 by over 2 years + saved 14 million lives.
decriminalisation- 1967 Act
Public outcry over persecution of prominent figures.
Sir John Wolfenden’s committee recommended change.
Law passed in 1967, legalising private activity between men aged 21+.
Campaign for Homosexual Equality (CHE) advocated for reform.
changing beliefs and attitudes
2/3 now view same-sex relationships as acceptable.
Contrast: In the 1980s, only a fifth or less held this view.
Growing belief in individual rights; consenting adults’ private actions deemed their own affair.
Reflection of broader cultural shifts: increasing individualism, emphasis on equal rights, and secularization.
