1.1. Summarise the sociological approach to the study of human behaviour.
The sociological approach to the study of human behaviour is to look at how individuals interact with each other and how this affects their behaviour. They also use theory to explain how different factors, such as social class, gender, and race, can affect behaviour.
Social cohesion is the degree to which members of a society are mutually attracted to each other and willing to cooperate. It is typically measured by the level of trust, reciprocity, and solidarity within a society. High levels of social cohesion are associated with greater levels of cooperation, social capital, and civic engagement.
Values are beliefs that a person considers to be important in their life. They guide the way we behave and make the choices we make. They are usually based on our upbringing, our culture, and our personal experiences.
Norms are the rules and expectations that society has for our behaviour. They are usually unspoken and unwritten, but they help to maintain order and keep people safe. For instance, we have a norm that we should drive on the right side of the road. If everyone followed their own rules, it would be chaos.
Culture is the behaviours and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group. Subcultures are cultures within a larger culture that have their own distinct values, behaviours, and beliefs. In the United Kingdom, for example, there are subcultures of music lovers, football fans, and veganism.
A social institution is an organisation that has a specific social purpose, such as education, religion, or government. Institutions can be found at all levels of society, from the family to the international level. Institutions play a significant role in shaping the behaviour of individuals and groups. For example, the educational system socialises children into the values and norms of their culture. Religion provides a set of beliefs and practices that give meaning to the lives of individuals and groups. Government institutions such as the police and the judiciary help to maintain social order.
A social role refers to the behaviours that are expected of individuals within a particular social group. For example, the role of a mother includes caring for her children, cooking meals and cleaning the house. Individuals often have multiple social roles, such as being a parent, an employee, and friend.
Social roles are determined by the culture within a society and can change over time. For example, in many Western cultures, women are now expected to work outside the home as well as perform domestic duties.
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