Introduction To Sociology

Question 1

What is the definition of Primary Socialisation?

Answer 1

Primary socialisation is defined as when we learn basic skills, norms and behaviours through experiences and interactions in our family. Takes place in early years and within the family. Eg, speech, walking, attitudes, beliefs.

Question 2

What is definition of Secondary Socialisation?

Answer 2

Secondary socialisation is defied as when we learn basic skills, norms and behaviours outside of the family. Eg, at school (wider society). Occurs later on than Primary socialisation.

Question 3

What is the definition of ‘culture’?

Answer 3

Culture is defined as the things that we learn and share in a society or a group of people, that is transmitted from generation to generation.

Question 4

What is the definition of ‘values’?

Answer 4

Values are defined as general principles or goals.

Question 5

What is the definition of ‘norms’?

Answer 5

Norms is defined as a specific set of rules/expectations that govern behaviour in particular situations. Eg, in a society.

Question 6

What is the definition of ‘custom’?

Answer 6

The definition of custom is a tradition.

Question 7

What is the definition of a ‘ascribed status’?

Answer 7

An ascribed status is defined as a position in society that is based on fixed characteristics that someone is born with and cannot normally change. Eg, sex or ethnicity.

Question 8

What is the definition of an ‘achieved status’?

Answer 8

An achieved status is defined as a position in society that is based on something that is achieved through someones own efforts. Eg, getting into University or being promoted at work.

Question 9

What is the definition of a ‘role’?

Answer 9

A role is defined as someone who occupies a given status and is expected to follow particular norms of behaviour. Eg, a teacher is expected to mark students work, treat them fairly etc. (These set of norms together makes up the role of a teacher).

Question 10

What is the definition of ‘social differentiation’?

Answer 10

Social differentiation is defined as putting people into categories in society.

Question 11

What is the definition of ‘stratification’?

Answer 11

Stratification is defined as the layers of society. Eg, the division of society into hierarchy of unequal groups.

Question 12

What is the definition of ‘differentiation’?

Answer 12

Differentiation is defined as distinguishing or creating differences between individuals or groups. Eg, higher class, middle class, working class, lower class etc.

Question 13

What is nature is the nature/nurture debate?

Answer 13

Nature is the things/behaviours you are born with, genetics and biology. Eg, eye colour, hair colour, height, weight.

Question 14

What is nurture in the nature/nurture debate?

Answer 14

Nurture is the things/behaviours you learn that influences your social life. Eg, friends/peers, media, family relationships, your environment, secondary socialisation, norms and values.

Question 15

What is Marxism?

Answer 15

-Founded by Karl Marx.
- It is a conflict theory between the poor and rich.
- The bourgeoisie (middle class) get richer and the proletariats (working class) get poorer - the middle class oppress the working class.
- Capitalist ran society
- Says we need a revolution for Communism and to get rid of Capitalism (w/c overthrow the m/c / the ruling class.
- Says that Marxism/Communism is the creation of society were all are equal and that all things are owned in common (by everyone).

Question 16

What are the criticisms of Marxism?

Answer 16

1) Karl Marx reviewed class but had ignored other divisions within society. Eg, the division between genders (feminism) and the divisions between different ethnicities.

2) Marx believed that social class was based on economic divisions (how much money you have). However, some may argue that it can also be based on status (your position in society) between each group.

Question 17

What is Functionalism?

Answer 17

• Functionalism is a consensus theory (agreements) - explores it on a macro-scale.
• It explains social institutions as in terms of the functions they perform for society.
• These institutions include: education, families, religion, government + policy, and the criminal justice system.
• It believes in shared public values. Eg, protests, voting, NHS welfare systems.
• It believes in social order of rules, norms and values.
• It compares society to the human body. Eg, the organs are the functions of society. This is called ‘organic analogy’.

Question 18

What are criticisms of Functionalism?

Answer 18

In terms of:
- religion = may cause conflict (within or between religions) - this is dysfunctional.
- education = ignores the negative sides. Eg, bullying.
- family = focuses too much on positives and ignores the conflicts.
- government = not all of society may follow their rules and their enforced norms.

Extras:
1) It ignores gender inequality (feminism).
2) It ignores class inequality.
3) It looks at society through ‘rose tinted’ glasses. This means functionalists only view the positives in society/the world.

Question 19

Who is Max Weber?

Answer 19

• Max Weber is the ‘founding father’ of sociology.
• His contributions have left a lasting mark on how we think, approach and understand the social world around us.
• He builds upon and challenges the work of Karl Marx.
• His theory is that every ‘rational organisation’ must have a set of rules and regulations, they must be followed in uniformity and without any fault.

Question 20

What is Feminism?

Answer 20

• Feminism is the discrimination on the basis of sex and gender, objectification, economic inequality, power, gender role + stereotypes.
• It is a key conflict theory.
• Believes that society is based on the inequalities between men and women.
• It aims to highlight the social problems and issues that are experienced by women.
• Eg, the gender pay gap.
• There are different types of feminism: liberal, radical, marxist and difference/cultural feminism.

Question 21

What is Liberal Feminism?

Answer 21

Liberal feminists are concerned with campaigning against sex discrimination and for equal rights and opportunities for women.
Eg, equal pay + an end to discrimination in employment.

Question 22

What is Radical Feminism?

Answer 22

Radical feminists argue that all societies have been founded on patriarchy (by the rule of men). For radical feminists, they key division in society is between men and women. - men are the enemy and are the source of women’s oppression and exploitation.

Question 23

What is Marxist Feminism?

Answer 23

Marxist Feminists argue that the main cause of women’s oppression in the family is not men, but capitalism. Women’s oppression performs several functions of capitalism.

Question 24

What is Cultural/Difference Feminism?

Answer 24

Difference Feminists argue that we cannot generalise about women’s experiences. They argue that lesbian and heterosexual women, white and black woman, middle class and working class women, have different experiences of the family from one another.

Question 25

What is The Social Action Theory?

Answer 25

The Social Action Theory provides us with an alternative view point due to its focus on the small scale interactions (people’s different reactions to things, this is because of their genes and characteristics) that occur in our society.
- This is known as Interactionism as they believe that individuals can shape their society through their day to day interactions.

The main areas of Social Action Theory are:
- symbolic interactionism
- the dramaturgical approach
- the process of labelling

Question 26

What is Interactionism?

Answer 26

Interactionism is a social action/micro theory based around the idea that individuals create meaning based on their interactions with others.
- It focuses on humans as social actors rather than just focusing on the role of society.
- It is concerned with how we interpret behaviours and the social context in which our social interactions take place.
- Interactionists reject structural ideas - they believe people have a positive, active role in shaping social life.

Question 27

What is the Labelling Theory?

Answer 27

The Labelling Theory is the process of attaching a definition or meaning to an individual or group.

Eg, teachers may label a pupil as a ‘trouble-maker’. Often the label is a stereotype that defines all members of a group in the same way.
- The concept is widely used in the study of deviance, mental illness and education.
- Introduced by Becker.

Question 28

What is deviant behaviour?

Answer 28

Deviant behaviour is behaviour that does not conform to the norms of a society or group.
- It is a social construction (defined or creating social groups).
- Deviance is relative: what counts as deviant varies between groups and cultures and over time.
- Anti-school subcultures.

Question 29

What is Postmodernism?

Answer 29

Postmodernism claim that individuals main focus used to be work + production, whereas, now they say individuals are much more occupied by consumerism and leisure.

Postmodernism is a perspective that rejects the modernists’ belief (Marxism, functionalism and positivism) in progress and their view that we can have certain, true knowledge of society that will enable us to improve it.
- Society has become so unstable and diverse that it is now impossible to produce any absolute explanations.
- No one theory is ‘truer’ than any other; theories such as Marxism and Functionalism are merely viewpoints.
- Instead, sociology should concentrate on reflecting and celebrating social diversity.
- Focuses on the relative truths of each person.

Question 30

What is Globalisation?

Answer 30

Globalisation is the connection of different parts org the world.
Eg, trades and international organisations.

Question 31

What is The New Right?

Answer 31

The New Right was introduced by Margret Thatcher 1997-2007.
It was introduced as they valued the marketisation of education and wanted to increase competition between schools.

It introduced league tables so schools could see who was the best and worst.
- It is an emphasis on the individual rather than the group.
- Strong support of Capitalism and free enterprise (business).
- It is an emphasis on competition and choice (formula funding).
- It reduced state provision of welfare benefits.

• marketisation
• culture of dependancy
• underclass
• marketisation if education