P1 Explain the principal sociological perspecties
Key concepts
The term social instttton refers to a set of norms or structure that is necessary for society and its
members to be able to follow and functonn nsttutons will enable the cooperaton of behaviour
from its members as they will follow social structures and behavioursn nsttutons are established
due to the behaviour and actons of multple peoplen These are basic and shared values and beliefs
within a society or within the insttutonn .aterns of behaviour are formed in insttutons which
become a norm that defne social behaviourn Within an insttuton there will be a variety of diferent
social positons which can follow diferent social rulesn oocial insttutons exist in all societes and
have basic and standard procedures for people to follown The ideals in insttutons are important as
they can control and infuence human behaviourn (sociologyguide 2018)n
An example of a social insttuton is the family; this is a primary insttutonn The family is a basic and
standard insttuton as individuals will develop values, behaviours and have their frst social
interactons within the familyn This is a small insttuton which rears the young with certain
behaviours and ideasn Children can grow up with parents who are married or single parent families
which can infuence behaviourn oome families can be patriarchal (male dominant) or matriarchal
(female dominant) which could present ideas on the social roles of specifc gendersn (digitalglober
2017)n
Another example of a social insttuton would be schools and educatonn These would be classed as a
secondary insttuton and they are purposefully plannedn ndividuals would learn through teaching,
knowledge transfer, the development of skills and from a group of peoplen There would be a set of
permanent functons to guide social order and behaviourn This can show children social roles, social
integraton and some social attudesn t will help children to be able to functon in society and
prepare them for future lifen Other secondary examples include the workplace and health and social
care servicesn The workplace can identfy social roles and provide a new set of norms to someone
work lifen Health and social care services have less of an impact but if someone is regularly using this
service then it can contribute to new social rules and skills being developedn For example, someone
social role may changes from being a main provider into a family to becoming dependant on another
personn (digitalglober 2017)n
Social grotpings are another key concept in sociological perspectvesn A social group refers to two or
more people who communicate and interact with each othern This is usually on a regular basisn oocial
groups can be smaller as well as include societes as a wholen .eople in these social groups can
display similar characteristcs, interests, values as well as a similar social backgroundn ndividuals may
have similar behaviour and these groups form relatonships around common goals, motves and
objectvesn ndividuals may also have similar interests such as shared actvites like hobbies and
culturen Within these groups there is a sense of unity which can contribute to loyalty and sympathyn
There are group norms and regulatons that individuals will follown There is cooperaton between
individuals and sanctons (such as punishment) can be established if norms are disrespectedn n
social groups there will be a level of social cohesion and can contribute to the formaton of a
person’s identtyn (Farooq U 2014)n
Key concepts
The term social instttton refers to a set of norms or structure that is necessary for society and its
members to be able to follow and functonn nsttutons will enable the cooperaton of behaviour
from its members as they will follow social structures and behavioursn nsttutons are established
due to the behaviour and actons of multple peoplen These are basic and shared values and beliefs
within a society or within the insttutonn .aterns of behaviour are formed in insttutons which
become a norm that defne social behaviourn Within an insttuton there will be a variety of diferent
social positons which can follow diferent social rulesn oocial insttutons exist in all societes and
have basic and standard procedures for people to follown The ideals in insttutons are important as
they can control and infuence human behaviourn (sociologyguide 2018)n
An example of a social insttuton is the family; this is a primary insttutonn The family is a basic and
standard insttuton as individuals will develop values, behaviours and have their frst social
interactons within the familyn This is a small insttuton which rears the young with certain
behaviours and ideasn Children can grow up with parents who are married or single parent families
which can infuence behaviourn oome families can be patriarchal (male dominant) or matriarchal
(female dominant) which could present ideas on the social roles of specifc gendersn (digitalglober
2017)n
Another example of a social insttuton would be schools and educatonn These would be classed as a
secondary insttuton and they are purposefully plannedn ndividuals would learn through teaching,
knowledge transfer, the development of skills and from a group of peoplen There would be a set of
permanent functons to guide social order and behaviourn This can show children social roles, social
integraton and some social attudesn t will help children to be able to functon in society and
prepare them for future lifen Other secondary examples include the workplace and health and social
care servicesn The workplace can identfy social roles and provide a new set of norms to someone
work lifen Health and social care services have less of an impact but if someone is regularly using this
service then it can contribute to new social rules and skills being developedn For example, someone
social role may changes from being a main provider into a family to becoming dependant on another
personn (digitalglober 2017)n
Social grotpings are another key concept in sociological perspectvesn A social group refers to two or
more people who communicate and interact with each othern This is usually on a regular basisn oocial
groups can be smaller as well as include societes as a wholen .eople in these social groups can
display similar characteristcs, interests, values as well as a similar social backgroundn ndividuals may
have similar behaviour and these groups form relatonships around common goals, motves and
objectvesn ndividuals may also have similar interests such as shared actvites like hobbies and
culturen Within these groups there is a sense of unity which can contribute to loyalty and sympathyn
There are group norms and regulatons that individuals will follown There is cooperaton between
individuals and sanctons (such as punishment) can be established if norms are disrespectedn n
social groups there will be a level of social cohesion and can contribute to the formaton of a
person’s identtyn (Farooq U 2014)n
