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P1- Explain the principal sociological perspectives
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P1- Explain the principal sociological perspectives
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Unit 6P1- Explain the principal sociological perspectives
In the task, I will be explaining the key concepts of the sociological perspectives in health care. I will
start this task by explaining what sociology is. Sociology is the study of society’s development,
different social structures and how it functions. Sociology helps to examine the roles of individuals in
society. There are many sociological perspectives in sociology, I will now explain the sociological
perspectives in health and social care.
Society and social institutions
A society is defined as a large group of people who live together in an organized way, making
decisions about how to do things and sharing the work that needs to be done. All the people in the
country can be referred to as a society. Societies construct patterns of behaviour by deeming certain
actions or speech as acceptable or unacceptable. These patterns of behaviour within a society are
known as societal norms. The expected way of behaving of the society or group to which you belong
to. Societies are made up of social institutions. I will now explain what social institutions are and
their functions.
The term social institution refers to a set of norms or structure that is necessary for society and its
members to be able to follow and function. These institutions are a part of society and they govern
the behaviour and expectations of individuals. Social Institutions are established sets of norms and
subsystems that each support societies survival which includes the education system, the political
system, the economy, the family and religious groups. Each sector completes particular tasks and
has a variety of roles and responsibilities that have a major contribution to the overall operation and
solidity of a society. This helps to decrease chaos and increase structure. Institutions have the
following functions: Institutions simplify social behaviour for individuals, institutions provide social
roles for an individual, and institutions control behaviour.
Social institutions make society function. They work as the backbone of a society. Without social
institutions, a society cannot achieve fulfilment in terms of economy, academy or relationships.
When there are no rules or regulations in a society, people are more likely to indulge in crime and
other harmful activities. Social institutions help in taming such activities. They contribute in
organizing society and its people. There are different types of social institutions which come with a
set of rules and norms and ask people to follow them.
An example of a social institution is the family, which is a primary institution. The family is a basic
and standard institution as individuals will develop values, behaviours and have their first social
interactions with the family. This is a small institution which rears the young certain behaviours and
ideas. Children can grow up with parents who are married or single-parent families which can
influence behaviour. Some families can also be male dominant or female dominant which can
present ideas on the social roles of specific genders. Social institutions exist in all societies and have
basic and standard procedures for people to follow. The ideas in institutions are important as they
control and influence human behaviour.
, Key institutions in our society
In the previous paragraphs, I explained what social institutions are. I will now explain the key
institutions that make up our society including the family, the education system, the economy, the
political system and religion.
The education system
A society consists of the education system including preschool, primary school, secondary school,
college and university. The main purpose of the education system is to educate individuals within
society, to prepare and qualify them to work in economy as well as to integrate people into society
and teach them values and morals of society. Education is a key institution within society and
without the education system and the education of people, society cannot develop or modernise
because it does not have the intellect to construct and maintain society.
The education system in the United Kingdom is divided into four parts. Primary education, secondary
education, further education and higher education. Children in the UK have to legally attend primary
and secondary education which runs from the age of 5 until 16.
The purpose of these educational institutions is to teach individuals morals and values and develop
stimulated intellect which can allow individuals to contribute to society when they grow up.
Intellectual purposes of schools include teaching basic essential cognitive skills such as reading,
writing and mathematics; to transmit and develop specific knowledge. Political purposes include
teaching children the basic laws of society. Social purposes include socializing children into various
roles, behaviour, and values of society. Lastly, economic purposes include preparing students for
their later occupation.
The family
When we hear the word family, a house with a mother, father, brother and sister comes into mind
as it is the most general description of a family. But family is a unity of two or more people through
blood relation, marriage or adoption. Family in a society works as social support for an individual.
When a child is raised in a family with doting parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters he or she
gets to experience a positive upbringing which continues when he or she grows up.
A society also consists of the family. The family is the smallest social institution there is with a
distinctive function of producing, bringing up and developing the young. The family is the start of
socialization because it is here where individuals get their first glimpse. The family develops values,
behaviours, and ways of life through interaction with members of the family. The basic functions of
the family are to, regulate sexual access and activity, reproduction and rearing of the young, nurture
children, socialize children, ensure economic stability and provide social status.
A typical British family used to consist of a mother, father and two children, however, in recent years
there have been many changes in family life. Some of these have been caused by news laws and
others are the result of changes in society. For example, since the law made it easier to get a
divorce, the number of divorces has increased. This now means it is a lot common to see one-parent
families, homosexual families, extended families, childless families and stepfamilies. As society is
now more tolerant than it used to be of unmarried couples, homosexuals and single parents.
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