Sociology

Question 1

What is sociology?

Answer 1

The study of society

Question 2

What are the common features in society?

Answer 2

Language
Values
Social norms

Question 3

What is social imagination?

Answer 3

Thinking beyond our own experiences
Not making assumptions
Not taking things for granted
Question with a critical eye

Question 4

What is socialisation?

Answer 4

Patterns of behaviour that exist outside of the individual - what is expected in that situation?

Example - Waiting for people to get off the train before you get on.

Question 5

How does society influence individuals actions and experiences?

Answer 5

Speaking the same language - allowing us to communicate shared meanings.

Question 6

Individuals can shape/change society through agency. What does this mean?

Answer 6

Agency is the potential for individuals to determine their lives, change their environment and ultimately influence the wider structure

Question 7

What is Functionalism?

Answer 7

How each person has a role or function in society and there is an expectation of how to behave to fulfil that role or function.

Example- Being sick can excuse someone from work, so it disrupts the system.

Question 8

What is Conflict theory?

Answer 8

A theory based on two or more groups with competing and incompatible interests.

Includes: Marxism and Feminism.

Question 9

What is social constructivism?

Answer 9

We construct the world around us and things only have value because we give them value - money.

Question 10

What is symbolic interactionism?

Answer 10

The way people respond to their environment through communication.

Example - Marginalised young people who smoke - shared identity and experience of discrimination. Wider social issues that need to be addressed because perceived deviant behaviour will differ across cultures.

Question 11

What is feminist theory?

Answer 11

The understanding and challenging of the social structure inequalities between women and men.

Question 12

What is rational choice exchange theory?

Answer 12

Individuals make rationale decisions based on their personal evaluation on reward and punishment. Guided by self interest.

Question 13

What is the relevance to health from a sociological point of view?

Answer 13

A disease may be present biologically, but social factors will result in the state of our health.

Individuals experiencing similar social factors may have different experiences but enough similarities to see patterns in health status across different social class.

Question 14

What is the link between sociology and food/nutrition?

Answer 14

Food choice is not just based on what people like. It relates to the social structure we live in. This includes: Food production, distribution, cooking practices, where and when we eat.

Question 15

What is social policy?

Answer 15

The government/agency plan to improve aspects of society. It looks to address issues of social need.

Examples:

1. Social housing
2. Family/child benefits
3. NHS
4. Poverty

Question 16

How is social imagination applied to a social occasion and the food served?

Answer 16

1. Historical - When did you first eat that way? What past events have influenced the social occasion?
2. Cultural - What customs or values are involved? Who prepares and serves the food, and with whom is it consumed?
3. Structural - In what setting does the food event occur? What role do wider social institutions and organisations play?
4. Critical - Has the particular event changed over time or not?