Intro: Simplistic perspectives|Socialisation|Culture

Question 1

Define what sociologists mean by the term ‘Value Consensus’ (3)

Answer 1

The term value consesus refers to societies collective values which are things that are seen as desirable and worth striving for and mantaining. For example, an individual will be primary socialised into seeing higher education as a key value of their life since it is seen as something that is respectable and worth striving for. These values are socially constructed and can differ from society to society.

Question 2

Define what sociologists mean by the term ‘Culture’ (3)

Answer 2

The term culture refers to the way of life of a society which can include a society’s values, norms, religion, ethnicity - etc. It can also refers to a society’s traditions, beliefs and practices. For example, the british culture involves eating food with a knife and fork whilst japanese culture invloves eating with chopsticks.

Question 3

Define what sociologists mean by the term ‘Norms’ (3)

Answer 3

The term norms refers to the unwritten rules of a society. These basic expectations can differ from society to society since they are socially constructed. For example, individuals would be expected to maintain their hygiene, from brushing your teeth to taking showers before going into public places.

Question 4

Define what sociologists mean by the term ‘Socialisation’ (3)

Answer 4

The term socialisation refers to the process of learning ones culture, norms and values. This includes primary socialisation which is learning the basic culture and norms and secondary socialisatio which involves learning the intricacies of that culture and its norms throught agents like school. For example, primary socialisation can teach you the norm of brushing your teeth or asking for help when needed.

Question 5

Define: (2)

Primary socialisation
Secondary socialisation

Answer 5

Primary socialisation is the process of learning ones basic culture and norms of the society they were born into e.g. brushing teeth

Secondary socialisation is the process of learning the intricate details of the society’s culture & norms e.g. political beliefs

Question 6

Define what sociologists mean by the term ‘social construct’ (3)

Answer 6

The term social construct refers to something that is created by society via socialisation and it is not based on biological or scientific evidence. For example, the idea of a certain race affects how you act and how others should treat you. Social constructs differ in each society and are partially universal.

Question 7

Define what sociologists mean by the term ‘stereotype’ (3)

Answer 7

A stereotype is a characteristic attributed to something or someone that is assumed. Stereotypes are used to pre-define someones qualities and assume things about them. For example, a stereotype of women is that they are seen as overly emotional and that they like pink.

Question 8

Outline the process in which we are gender socialised:

Manipulation
Canalisation
Verbal Appelations
Different Activites

Answer 8

Manipulation - moulding your thought process by praising and condemning specific things

Canalisation - When the older generation direct you to certain toys and activities

Verbal Appelations - Talking to you in a certain way based on gender e.g. ‘well done princess!’/’Get up soldier, you’re a fighter’

Different activites - directing you to gender based activities e.g. baking with mum/football with dad

Question 9

Define what sociologists mean by the term ‘primary socialisation’ (3)

Answer 9

Primary socialisation refers to the process of learning ones basic culture and norms through agents such as parents. Primary socialisation teaches you basic behaviour to be ready for secondary socialisation which typically begins in school. For example, your parents will teach you that a norm is to brush your teeth daily.

Question 10

Define what sociologists mean by the term ‘secondary socialisation’

Answer 10

Secondary socialisation refers to learning more advanced things about ones culture and norms of the society they were born into. This process comes after primary and is taught by secondary agents such as friends or school. For example, learning advanced religious values in religious institutions like mosque or church.

Question 11

Describe the differences between gender and sex (2)

Answer 11

Sex = biological assignment based on genitals and DNA
Gender = attributes asscociated w/ sex e.g. femininty

Question 12

State 4 agents of socialisation (2)

Answer 12

Parents, School, Friends, Media

Question 13

Explain, in depth, the feral children cases and how they prove the necessity for socialisation (6)

• Oxana (dog)
• Genie (isolation)

Answer 13

• Oxana: was abandoned at 3, had to fend for herself in a dog kennel, she learnt the culture of the dogs and their norms and behaviours, she was found to adopt the behaviours&diet of the dogs
• Without human primary socialisation, she adopted the socialisation from the dogs and so it shows how crucial inital education is
• Genie: was isolated for 12 years with no communication strapped to a chair, her neural connections could not form properly, unable to communicate/unable to walk or eat -etc
• lack of stimulation, had brain of 18month old, shows how nurture is EXTREMELY important

Question 14

Explain the core beliefs of functionalism, including the organic analogy as evidence (2)

Answer 14

Belief that all of society’s institutions work to benefit everyone.

Organic analogy = human body and its organs represent all of society’s institutions. If one fails, the whole body i.e society collapses

Question 15

Explain the critiques of functionalism (1)

Answer 15

• Too positive, fails to take into account domestic abuse and corruption within institutions

Question 16

Explain the core beliefs of marxism, including capitalism as evidence (6)

Answer 16

Belief that not all institutions work to benefit all of society.

Capitalism is split into:

Bourgeoisie: Rich, owns means of production, aim is to exploit proletariat and gain max. profit

Proletariat: means of production, working class, materialistic and consumerist nature

Question 17

Explain how materialism and consumerism increase the hierarchy (3)

Answer 17

Materialism = placing high value on material goods
Consumerism = the need to constantly buy said material goods which most proletariat can’t afford

This keeps proletariat working from paycheck to paycheck and decreases their wealth, hence, increasing class divide

Question 18

Explains the critiques of Marxism (3)

Answer 18

• over generalised society split into 2 groups
• heavily economic focused, disregards every other factor
• emphasises that social class is source of inequality, disregards race, religion, gender -etc

Question 19

Explain how mechanical solidarity and traditional solidarity prove functionalist theory (3)

Answer 19

Mechanical solidarity - workers are independant, hence, too simple of jobs (farmwork). everyone did everything for themselves

Traditional solidarity - workers are interdependant, hence, progression of society (specialised institutions) so all institutions DID work to benefit all

Question 20

Explain the functionalist term ‘Anomie’ (4)

Answer 20

Anomie refers to a society without social cohesion and interdependance which would result in a sense of normalessness and crime. For example, if the family institution became dysfuntional, the whole society would collapse and individuals would be socialised to learn deviance like taking drugs. This derives from the functionalist perspective believing that all insititutions worked to benfit everyone.

Question 21

Explain what sociologists mean by the term ‘means of production’ (3)

Answer 21

Means of production refers to

Question 22

Define what sociologists mean by the term ‘feminism’ (3)

Question 23

Explain the core beliefs of feminism (3)

Question 24

Define what sociologists mean by the term ‘patriarchy’ (3)

Question 25

Define what sociologists mean by the term ‘malestream’ (3)

Question 26

Explain the core beliefs of liberal feminism, using Ann Oakley as evidence (3)

Question 27

Explain the core beliefs of radical feminism, using Firestone and Ortna as evidence (3)

Question 28

Explain the core beliefs of marxist feminsim, using ‘slaves of the wage slaves’ as evidence (3)

Question 29

Explain the core beliefs of social action theories (4)

Question 30

Discuss symbolic interactionism (3)

Question 31

Discuss labelling theory (3)

Question 32

Discuss the ‘looking glass self’ perspective (3)

Question 33

Identify and explain one characteristic of the underclass outlined by Charles Murray (3)

Question 34

Identify and explain one aspect of the culture of poverty outlined by New Right ideas (3)

Question 35

Explain why marxism, feminism and functionalism are conflict theories (3)

Question 36

Explain why functionalism is a conflict AND consensus theory (6)