AS Sociology G671
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Recap from Taster.
The study of human beings in social groups
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Understanding the problems that face
individuals by exploring the ways in which the
structure of society – and its institutions –
create and reinforce those the problems.
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This unit focuses on some of the most
important sociological concepts.
We will look at how human beings are raised
to become part of their society...
...We will also look at some of the biggest
social influences that create and reinforce the
identities of people and that make individuals
and groups behave in particular ways.
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A form of organisation...
...And also, the ways in which the behaviours
of members of the organisation are
regulated.
This involves co-operation between
individuals in order to produce the things
they need to survive.
Individually:
List a minimum of five animals, other than
human beings, that live in ‘organised’
societies.
Ext: - What is the benefit of living in a social group
for these animals?
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How do social animals ‘know’ what part to
play in their society?
Is there any difference between the behaviour
of the species below in different geographical
locations?
We can develop an understanding of human
behaviour by examining non-human societies.
These can show how a society can be organised
on the basis of instinct.
However, human societies are not organised
purely by instinct. We can see this, as the
behaviour of human beings is very different in
different societies...
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Also known as biological determinism versus
social determinism.
What does this mean?
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Discuss in Pairs:
Identify five aspects of a person that are
genetically determined, and five aspects that
are socially determined.
Ext: - To what extent can some of these things
be both?
Will and Jaden Smith
Will Smith, star of ‘Bad Boys 2’ is the greatest actor the world has
ever seen.
His son Jaden Smith, star of the remake of ‘The Karate Kid’ is
increasingly considered to be the second best actor the world has
ever seen.
To what extent is
Jaden’s acting ability the result
of nature or nurture?
Jaden and Will both have similar personalities and
behavioural traits that have enabled them to
become incredible actors. They are both
confident, eloquent, intelligent, charismatic etc.
Since genetic factors determine abilities and
personalities, Jaden must have inherited these
traits from his father.
By this logic, even if Jaden had been adopted by
someone else as a baby and never known Will, he
would still have had a good chance of becoming
a successful actor.
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Jaden was raised in a household where acting was
valued and his father’s job and status was considered
‘the norm’. The behavioural/personality traits
associated with acting would have been actively
encouraged by his parents.
It is often socially expected that boys follow in their
father’s footsteps.
Jaden had access to money and contacts through his
family that enabled him to launch an acting career.
Jaden got media attention that boosted his celebrity
status because of who his father is.
By this logic, if Jaden had been adopted as a baby (by
someone who wasn’t a celebrity) and never known
Will, it is unlikely he would have become an actor, let
alone a successful one.
1.
Cesare Lombroso
The potential to be criminal is innate. You
are either born with the potential to do evil
or you are not. Criminals can in fact be
identified by certain physical features (e.g.
“fleshy lips, bald heads, long arms...”).
Why might this be a
dangerous view?
2. Simon Baron-Cohen
“Males and females have different brains; this
difference means men are more likely to be
good at working with computers and women
more likely to be good at working with
people.”
Why might this be a
dangerous view?
The biological determinist view can be a
dangerous one. It has – and still sometimes is
– used to justify inequality, discrimination
and ill-treatment...
...In extreme cases, it has been used to justify
slavery and genocide.
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This view is preferred by sociologists.
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Genes have little or no effect on behaviour.
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Institutions such as family, friends, religion,
education and mass media etc. make you who
you are, through the processes of
socialisation.
Most – if not all – sociologists are therefore
social determinists.
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In groups, read through the case studies.
Decide which elements of the individuals in
the studies are biologically determined and
which are socially determined. Which can be
attributed to both?
Explain why.
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1.
2.
3.
It is impossible to say for certain; various
experiments may be able to shed some light
on the truth:
Twin Studies
Adoption Studies
The Forbidden Experiment
But there are too many variables to come to a
solid conclusion and so any answer is usually
a compromise.
Feral children can also give an insight into the
importance of culture and socialisation.
Feral children studied lacked things like:
A sense of humour/ability to laugh; toilet training; table
manners; sense of decorum; sense of music/ability to
sing; ability to show affection and empathy.
These things are not instinctive; they are cultural
products, learned through socialisation.
(We know they are cultural products because all of the
above are done very differently by different cultures).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STn3bpTTU6c
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Write a short essay or blog (500-1000 words)
describing how you think your life might be
different if you had been raised outside of
society...
Incorporate as many of the concepts used so
far as you can!
Due: Next Lesson
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Complete the activity comparing an ‘alien’
culture to that of our own.
A vital tool in sociology is the ability to
compare cultures; to understand that what is
familiar in one culture can be completely
bizarre to another – and why this is!
[In 1952, Kroeber and Kluckholm uncovered 200 definitions of
the word ‘culture’!!!]
“Culture is a way of life.” (Raymond Williams; 1983)
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Culture is the learned, shared behaviour of members of a
society.
Culture included the beliefs of a society and the creative
activities engaged in by social groups.
Language
/accent
Symbols
Features of
a Culture
Forms of
Behaviour
(‘Norms’)
Beliefs
(‘Values’)
Attitudes to
life
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What symbols, languages, accents, beliefs,
attitudes and behaviours would you associate
with British culture?
5 mins : Then Feedback...
There may or may not be an overriding
‘British culture’ that unites British society..
...Within British society, there are
innumerable smaller cultures, which could be:
National cultures (e.g. English, Welsh, Chinese)
Religious groups (e.g. Buddhists, Hindus,
Quakers)
Local/regional cultures (e.g. Geordies,
travellers, Cornish)
In addition, there are seven key ‘types of
culture’ – found within the UK – that you need
to be familiar with for this course.
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High Culture
Popular Culture
Consumer Culture
Global Culture
Subculture
Cultural Diversity
Multiculturalism
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Studied by Leavis in the 1930s.
The elite, upper-class in society; those who
have an ascribed status.
Some argue high culture operates a system of
social closure: Not permitting access to
‘outsiders’ in order to maintain its exclusive
position.
What things do you
associated with high culture?
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Some sociologists argue that high culture no
longer exists.
It has traditionally been associated with the
rich, but in the 21st Century, do all rich British
people take part in high culture?
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Popular culture is the ‘opposite’ of high
culture, because it is for everyone.
Shallow activities enjoyed by the masses
“The media have created popular culture in
the contemporary UK” (Strinati; 1995)
Popular culture unites people from all
backgrounds into one common culture.
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The key feature of popular culture is that it is
accessible to everyone.
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With this in mind, in pairs, identify three ‘pop
culture’ examples for each of the following:
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Newspapers
TV Programmes
Holiday Destinations
Sports
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Increasingly, popular culture ‘borrows’ ideas
from high culture and popularises it e.g.
Golf
Burberry check
Il Divo
Can you think of any further examples?
Popular culture also increasingly borrows
from subcultures (e.g. Leona Lewis covering
Nine Inch Nails).
Many sociologists believe it is good, as it
brings together people from a wide range of
backgrounds.
Others, like Theodor Adorno believe(d) that
popular culture is a ‘trick’, that keeps the
masses focused on trivial matters,
diverting their attention from the
things that really matter...
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A ‘culture within a culture’.
Subcultures have their own norms and values
(ways of behaving and thinking) that may be
different from those of wider society...
...Although usually, subcultures still ‘fit in’ to
wider society.
In pairs, identify a minimum of FIVE
subcultures found in the contemporary UK...
Ext: - Identify TWO OR MORE ‘historic’ subcultures.
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Subcultures can include youth movements,
some religious groups and any other groups
that think/behave/look different.
The vast majority are linked to young people.
Prior to the 1950s, there were no real
subcultures. Since then, there have been
many and they have changed over time,
reflecting changes in society.
Pairs: Discuss (5 mins)
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5.
Are there a wide range of consumer goods
available (beyond the ‘necessities’)?
Is shopping considered a leisure pursuit?
Are there lots of different ‘types’ of
shopping available?
Is being in debt accepted as normal?
Is the promotion and packaging of goods a
large-scale business?
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Celia Lury (1996) believed that
a society in which these things were
true could be considered to have a
consumer culture.
This basically means that the society’s
identity (and the identities of its people) are
partly portrayed through the goods that are
bought and sold.
Generally, a consumer culture can only fully
arise in an economically strong society.
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This means the world has become a smaller
place; a global village (McLury; 1989).
Globalisation means that nations are no
longer isolated countries. What happens in
one society can impact another thousands of
miles away...
A global culture has formed through the
media as well as through travel/migration,
education etc.
Some argue that ‘globalisation’ basically
means Americanisation.
https://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=IUJbCcopv-E
Pairs (5 mins):
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Identify a minimum of five global companies
(companies/corporations that operate all over
the world).
Ext:- Can you guess what the ten biggest
companies in the world are?
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/glo
bal500/2013/full_list/index.html?iid=G500_l
p_toprr
Discuss (small groups):
Think of three positive things and three
negative things about having a ‘global
culture’.
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Different ethnic groups living side by side in a
society.
In the UK, around 11% of people are of BME
(black and ethnic minority) background.
(ONS). This means the UK is probably a
multicultural society...
...However, multiculturalism is also about
celebrating the differences between groups
and every group sharing the same status.
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There is debate about whether or not
multiculturalism has been a good thing or a
bad thing for UK society.
David Cameron fuelled this debate further in
2011 when he claimed multiculturalism had
failed in the UK.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9s5zmO
uVmc
Parekh (2006) sees cultural diversity as
similar to multiculturalism...
 ...However, cultural diversity is not just about
ethnicity. There are three forms:
1. Groups with distinct ways of life who still
serve the dominant culture (e.g. Gay people)
2. Groups who rebel against society (e.g.
‘Reclaim the Streets’)
3. Ethnic groups with long
established communities.
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Outline and explain the concept of popular
culture [8]
Outline and explain two ways in which the UK
can be said to have a consumer culture [16]
(30 mins)