Key Sociological Concepts (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Sociology): Revision Note

Culture & norms

• Some key concepts or ideas that sociologists draw upon include

  • culture

  • norms

  • values

  • roles

  • status

  • socialisation

• These ideas help us understand how we acquire our identities and how society shapes our behaviour

Identity

• 'Identity' refers to how we see ourselves and how others see us

• It is shaped by the culture we live in and the social groups we belong to, such as our family, gender, ethnicity, class, religion, and age

• Our norms, values, roles, and status all influence our identity, helping us understand who we are and where we fit in society

• Identity is not fixed — it can change over time as we experience new relationships, environments, and stages of life

  • E.g., a person’s identity at school as a student may later change to a worker, parent, or carer in adulthood

Culture

• Culture refers to the shared way of life of a particular society and includes the values, norms, customs, beliefs, roles, status and language of the society

• Culture varies around the world according to the place and time period

  • One way in which culture varies is in terms of clothing

    • E.g. brides in India and China wear red, while in the US and the UK, brides wear white

• People continue to learn new aspects of their culture throughout life as they encounter new situations

  • E.g., when children start school, they learn how to follow classroom rules and behave appropriately in places like assemblies or on school trips

Norms

• Every culture has norms — unwritten rules that guide how people are expected to behave in different situations

• Norms tell us what is considered appropriate and acceptable behaviour in specific settings such as classrooms, libraries, shops, or cinemas

  • E.g., people are expected to be quiet in a library, queue politely in a shop, and switch off their phones in a cinema

• These behaviours are learned through socialisation and become so ingrained that most people follow them without even thinking

Variation in norms

• Norms vary across cultures

  • E.g., in some cultures it’s polite to remove your shoes before entering someone’s home, while in others it’s not expected

  Norms can also vary within the same culture

  • E.g., the way people speak and dress in a formal workplace is often very different from how they behave at home or with friends

  Norms change over time

  • E.g., attitudes towards gender roles, clothing styles, and technology use have shifted significantly in recent decades

Norms, sanctions and social order

• Norms help maintain social order because people learn what behaviour is acceptable and what is not

• Sanctions are rewards or punishments used to encourage conformity to norms

  • Positive sanctions (such as praise or awards) reward people for following norms

  • Negative sanctions (such as disapproval or fines) punish those who break them

• Like culture and values, norms and sanctions change over time and from place to place, reflecting how society evolves

Values

• Values are ideas and beliefs about what is desirable and worthwhile pursuing in society

• Like norms, values are learned and shared through socialisation and influence the way people behave

• They provide general guidelines for how we should live and what goals we should aim for

Examples of common values

• Respect for human life

• Working hard to achieve success and wealth

• Honesty and loyalty

• Compassion and empathy towards others

Values in UK society

• In the UK, an important value is the idea that acquiring wealth and success is something worth striving for

  • This value is reinforced through parents, schools, and the media, which encourage people to work hard to earn money and achieve financial stability

  • Someone who values wealth might study hard, go to university, or even buy lottery tickets to reach that goal

• Other widely shared values include good health, education, freedom, and respect for others

  • E.g., the value of good health is supported by norms such as

    • visiting the doctor when ill

    • following health and safety rules at work

    • exercising and eating well

    • practising good hygiene

• Sometimes, people are socialised into values they cannot easily achieve

• This can lead them to break norms to reach those goals

  • E.g., someone who values wealth might turn to theft if they see no legitimate way to achieve financial success

Cross-cultural differences in values

• Not all societies share the same values

• What one culture sees as important may be viewed very differently elsewhere

  • In Western societies, wealth and material possessions are often seen as signs of success

  • However, among the Apache people of North America, it was traditional to give away the possessions of deceased relatives rather than inherit them

• Even within the UK, some people reject materialism in favour of spiritual or caring values

  • Monks and nuns devote their lives to serving God rather than pursuing wealth

  • Others give up paid work to care for children or elderly relatives, showing that compassion and family can be valued more highly than money

Status & roles

Status

• Status refers to the social position a person holds within society and the respect or prestige attached to it

• It shows how individuals or groups are ranked in relation to others

• Some jobs, such as doctors or lawyers, are seen as having a higher status because they require qualifications and are respected by society

• Status can also come from other areas, such as sporting achievement or public service

Types of status

• Ascribed status – This is given at birth and cannot easily be changed

  • Examples include your gender, ethnicity, or the social class of the family you were born into

• Achieved status – This is earned through effort or achievement

  • Examples include gaining a qualification, getting a job promotion, or excelling in sport

• In many societies, people gain status by achieving the goals valued by that culture, such as success, wealth, or education

Examples of status

• Members of the royal family have ascribed status, inherited from birth

• Alan Sugar is an example of achieved status.

  • He built his own business empire and was later given a seat in the House of Lords, increasing his status even further

• In Britain, wealth often brings status — those who are rich or successful in business are widely respected and admired

Roles

• Roles are the parts we play in everyday life

• They reflect the positions we hold and come with expected behaviours and responsibilities

  • E.g., someone might have roles such as student, friend, employee, or sibling, each with its own set of norms that guide behaviour

• Roles help maintain social order by defining how people in different positions should act towards others

Example of a role

• The role of a doctor includes expectations such as treating patients with care and respect, keeping information confidential, and dressing professionally

• These expectations are part of the norms linked to that role

Role conflict

• Role conflict happens when the expectations of two roles clash

  • E.g., a solicitor who is also a parent might find it difficult to balance time between helping their clients and caring for their own child

• Role conflict shows that our different social positions can overlap and create tension in daily life