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Summary AS Level Sociology, ISBN: 9780954007959 What is Sociology?
Notes on the introduction to sociology.
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WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?• Study of society/people/their behaviours
• Sociologists form theories to explain behaviours and how society works
• Evidence MUST be collected to create a theory
• Evidence is collected via research
• Social policies can be made using the information from the evidence
NATURE OR NURTURE
Nature = inborn behaviour Nurture = result of upbringing
• Some biologists say behaviour is affected by natural instincts (Behaviour patterns
shared by any given species)
• Therefore instincts do not have to be learned and are automatic reactions
• Biologists claim humans have the instincts for reproduction
• Sociologists argue human behaviour is not fixed by biology
• Everybody acts differently on drives/urges
• E.g. everyone has a sex drive but acts on it in various ways
• E.g. humans have a self-preservation instinct yet some commit suicide/go to war
• E.g. women have a maternal instinct but don't have children/abandon or abuse
their children
• Thus so many variations indicate behaviour is not determined by instinct
• Behaviour is learned, mostly at young ages during contact with other people
• Practical skills/language/right and wrong are taught by other members of society
• Behaviours vary between societies
CULTURE, NORMS, VALUES
Culture = things learned and shared by society that get passed down through generations
• Includes norms, morals, values, language, tradition, skills, belief, customs,
knowledge
Values = principles and goals
• E.g. modern American society values individual wealth, whereas Native American
societies value sharing wealth amongst the group
Norms = rules for specific situations
• E.g. some societies have rules on how to address elders
• There are formal norms (written laws) and informal norms (table manners)
• Failing to keep to a norm can result in punishment, but upholding a norm may be
rewarded
Sanctions = things that encourage following norms, a societal control method
• Cultural norms vary between societies
• E.g. polygamy is accepted in some societies but frowned upon in others
• Cultural variations can also occur within societies, in subcultures
• Norms can change over time
• E.g. attitudes towards certain things like homosexuality or women working
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