AS Sociology G671

 Recap from Taster.

The study of human beings in social groups * 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.

 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.

   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?

 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 on the basis of instinct.

can be organised 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...

 Also known as biological determinism versus social determinism.

 What does this mean?

 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 ever seen.

‘Bad Boys 2’ is the greatest actor the world has His son Jaden Smith, star of the remake of ever seen.

‘The Karate Kid’ is increasingly considered to be the second best actor the world has 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.

     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 dangerous one. It has – and still sometimes is – used to justify inequality, discrimination and ill-treatment...

can be a ...In extreme cases, it has been used to justify slavery and genocide.

 This view is preferred by sociologists.

 Genes have little or no effect on behaviour.  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.

 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.

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

 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

 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)  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.

Symbols Forms of Behaviour (‘Norms’) Language /accent Features of a Culture Attitudes to life Beliefs (‘Values’)

 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.

High Culture Popular Culture Consumer Culture Global Culture Subculture Cultural Diversity Multiculturalism

   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?

  Some sociologists argue that high culture no longer exists.

It has traditionally been associated with the rich, but in the 21 st Century, do all rich British people take part in high culture?

    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.

 The key feature of popular culture is that it is accessible to everyone.

 With this in mind, in pairs, identify three ‘pop culture’ examples for each of the following:     Newspapers TV Programmes Holiday Destinations Sports

   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...

   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.

 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) 1.

Are there a wide range of consumer goods available (beyond the ‘necessities’)?

2.

3.

Is shopping considered a leisure pursuit?

Are there lots of different ‘types’ of shopping available?

4.

5.

Is being in debt accepted as normal?

Is the promotion and packaging of goods a large-scale business?

   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.

    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):  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’.

   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.

 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

  1.

2.

3.

Parekh (2006) sees cultural diversity as similar to multiculturalism...

...However, cultural diversity is not just about ethnicity. There are three forms: Groups with distinct ways of life who still serve the dominant culture (e.g. Gay people) Groups who rebel against society (e.g. ‘Reclaim the Streets’) Ethnic groups with long established communities.

 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)