AC4.2 Explain How Social Changes Affect Policy Development Flashcards
What are some examples of social changes that affect policy development?
Change in norms, values, attitudes, public perception and demographic changes
What causes social changes?
Media coverage
Scientific evidence
Religion
Demographics
Events
How did social change affect policy development against smoking?
1930: smoking was acceptable behaviour. It was glamourised and encouraged as a stress relief
1950s: there was a big spike in lung disease and heart disease that was linked to smoking (event)
2000s: increased public awareness of the dangers of smoking led to a change in opinions. This resulted in multiple policies being developed
What policies to discourage smoking were developed in the 2000s?
What did these policies do?
The tobacco advertising and promotion act 2002:
— banned advertising and promotion of tobacco
The health act 2006:
— prohibits smoking in enclosed and public spaces
Children and families act 2014:
— enable the government to implement change to people smoking in vehicles with children inside
How did social change affect policy development about gay rights?
Stonewall campaigns and gay rights protests drew attention to the cause.
This raised awareness of equality for homosexuality and helped to change people’s opinions
Over time it became the acceptance of homosexuality became a norm
This led to a progression of policy changes over the years as people became more accepting of homosexuality
What are some examples of policy changes on homosexuality?
What did these policies do?
The sexual offences act 1967:
— decriminalised sex between two men over 21 and ‘in private’
Civil partnership 2004:
— gives same sex couples the same rights and responsibilities as married straight couples
Marriage (same sex couples) act 2013:
— allowed 2 people of the same sex to marry
Explain how social changes effects policy
Factors such as events, media coverage, scientific evidence, religion, campaigns and demographics can cause social changes.
Social changes may include change in values, norms and mores.
This results in a change in public perception of crime and causes people to think differently about the laws surrounding it
Due to the shift of how people feel about a certain law, the government will develop policies to make amendments to it to reflect the publics current opinions
What is a norm?
A socially acceptable way of behaving
What are values?
The principles shared by most in society, they are more general guidelines than norms
What is a more?
A good way to behave
