1.1. Summarise the sociological approach to the study of human behaviour.
Social cohesiveness is the extent to which different parts of a society are interconnected and supportive of one another. The cohesive forces of any organisation are its norms and values, which are its established patterns of conduct and beliefs. Values are what individuals or communities hold to be most significant, such as honesty and devotion to group members, whereas norms are behaviours or attitudes that are expected of members of that community.
Because “culture” can be a society’s attitude or behaviour, notion, thought, or idea, studying culture and subculture is an aspect of the sociological approach to human behaviour. Some individuals think that British culture revolves with sunbathing at random in any public place, while others think that it revolves around rounding up the tab for drinks or apologising frequently. However, a subculture is a smaller culture or social group within a larger culture that has its own unique set of norms and customs. For instance, in the United Kingdom, there exists a subculture known as gang culture that emphasises physical intimidation, peer pressure, and group allegiance among young people. Leaving their designated territory is fatal, thus, they must stick to that area at all times.
The family is the first social institution a child encounters, and it is there that they learn basic life skills like communication, nutrition, and personal hygiene. They make sure their children are familiar with the restroom before sending them to school. They instil in youngsters the values and customs of the society so that they can one day enjoy complete liberty of movement. Education is another type of social institution that helps people learn how to behave in social situations and acquire all the information necessary to function effectively as members of society; it also helps children learn the skills they’ll need to become productive adults, such as learning to read, write, and communicate effectively.
Religion is another type of social institution through which norms and values are transmitted to members of a group for the purpose of shaping their interactions with others.
By lending a hand to those in need, for example, one can demonstrate values such as generosity, altruism, and selflessness. Norms and values can be seen in the way a Muslim gives zakat to the poor or how a church collects offerings to help the needy.
Last but not least, the institution of the justice system must collaborate with lawyers, judges, police, probation officers, and others
Other answers in the full document:
- 1.2. Describe sociological perspectives.
- 1.3. Describe in relation to health and social care:
– Social realism
– Social constructionism
– Labelling theory - 1.4. Describe the biomedical, social and ecological models of health and well-being.
- 2.1. Explain the social classes recognised in own Home Nation.
- 2.2. Explain patterns of health across social classes.
- 2.3. Explain how demographic data is used in planning health and social care services.
- 2.4. Explain sociological explanations for the patterning of mortality and morbidity rates in the demographic groups:
– Gender
– Age
– Ethnicity
– Area of residence