sociology paper 1 booklet 1 norms and values

What is a norm?

A norm is a common behaviour which most people in society follow.
These norms can be seen by others.

What are some examples of norms?

holding the door open for others, manners, inside and outside voices etc.

What is a value

A principle or belief which most of society agrees upon.
These CANNOT be seen by others

What are some examples of values?

kindness, loyalty, telling the truth

What is relative and give examples?

It depends on the time, place/location and context e.g. wearing a wedding dress to work

What is status and ascribed status?

a persons rank in a context
what statuses you are given at birth e.g gender and race

Study 1: Bourdieu

This study believes that people who are raised in higher class families have more understanding of higher class activities and culture. this gives them cultural capital on these studies and education favours this sort of capital, seen with the studying of Shakespeare
He believes in Marxism.

Study 2: Adorno

This study believes that popular culture is distrction of the more important matters. The culture is unsophisticated and easy to consume and allows people to continue the cycle of coming into work and watching media, then doing it again the next day.
He also believes in Marxism

Study 3: Strinati

The media is resposnible for the creation and spread of popular culture
popular culture encourages materialism
popular culture borrows culture from high culture such as the Burberry check

Study 4: Lury

5 idetities of consumer culture are:

1. the availability of a wide range of goods
2. shopping is seen as a leisure pursuit
3. different forms of shopping is available.
4. being in debt is a social norm
5. packaging and promotion of goods is a wide scale market

what is consumer culture?

A culture that views the consumption of goods as the norm

Study 5: Ritzer

this study believes that globalisation has lead to 'global homenisation' meaning cultures are becoming more similar around the world.
We see this with the processes of Americanisation and McDonaldization , both large scale cultures which have spread across the globe.

cultural diversity

where many people from varying cultures are in a society

Multiculturalism

The political belief that gives the same status and equal rights to all people to preserve their cultural heritage e.g. Sikh men being able to wear a turban instead of a helmet on a motorcycle,

assimilation

the counter of multiculturalism

Subculture

A culture within a wider culture, has same practices as the main culture but with distinct norms and values

Primary socialisation

teaching the norms and values at an early age

Wilson

Belief in social biology and believed norms and values are the product of biology
height, weight and chances of illnesses are due to our genetically related individuals, therefore are personalities and traits are 'wired in' before birth.

Study 2: Parsons

belief in functionalism, where the key role of the family is primary socialisation
people's traits are 'made not born' and the family act as a 'family facory'

Formal social control

carried out by authorized agents with formal punishmesnt e.g. jail and courts

Informal social control

unofficial forms of social control, like gossip, humiliation and being sent to your room

formal and informal social control in schools

Teachers and students have set rules which may must follow such as contracts and 'ready respectful safe'
some are not written rules like putting your hand up

formal and informal social control in the workplace

contracts are put into place such as the hours you will work with formal punishments like being sacked
having formal etiquette is not a rule forced

formal and informal social control in Religion

formal rules are put into place e.g. 10 commandments
there is no formal punishment by religion, rather peers or law, which are different to religion

Study 1: Althusser

the upper class controls the lower class
this is done through informal social control such as family and religion, but of people do not follow, they will follow through 'hard power' on force e.g. arresting

study 2: Wilson

people will break the law if they believe they will not get caught, even if the sentence for being caught is high.

secondary socialisation
examples:

norms and values which are taught after the age of 4
piers, work, school, religion, media