Maisie Mines
Unit 10 Sociological perspectives
Learning Aim A: Understand how sociological concepts and perspectives are applied to the
study of health and social care.
Learning Aim B: Examine how sociological approaches support understanding of models and
concepts of health.
202- Maisie Mines – Miss Hassan – Unit 10 – LAA and LAB
Within this report I will be discussing sociological concepts and perspectives and how they
contribute to the understanding of society, I will also be analysing the contribution of sociological
perspectives to the understanding of health and social care and society.
Socialisation is based on the behaviour which we learn from the culture within society, this is
language, values, and beliefs. Primary socialisation tends to occur within families, this can be birth
family or adopted family. Secondary socialisation tends to come from school, friendships,
employment, and religious groups. Socialisation can affect the care which vulnerable individuals may
receive, such as Hindu cultures tend to receive care from older children or family members
compared to the British culture where elderly individuals receive care from residential care homes.
Some say that the norms which are rules or guidelines given to make people aware how they should
act within society are learnt by the individual taking in information from others within their social
group, the individuals which do not agree with the norms of society are the ones who tend to be
deviant and not follow the social rules (Thompson, 2017).
Within society, there are social roles and expectations for individuals. For example, parents have an
expectation to take care of their children and family members and ensure they protect them at all
costs. Their role also requires them to have to supply a home, teach them how to behave and to
always attend school to ensure they get the correct skills and knowledge. Furthermore, social class
also plays a major part within society. Social class is a pyramid based off economic factors, there is:
upper class, upper middle class, lower middle class and working class and even those who are not a
part of the working class. Ethnic groups also play a part within society, this is because even though
there are changes made to the legislation when it comes to hierarchies' differences still exist. This is
things such as excluding individuals because of their ethnicity, there tends to be a slow process of
moving social levels which affects the social mobility within society. Gender also plays a part within
society, gender tends to mean expectations and behaviours expected from both men and women
within society, sexual differences tend to be identified by the internal and external genitalia of the
individuals. Age tends to allow different age groups to increase in age and social class, elderly people
or adults tend to have a higher status within society. Region comes in a variation of various levels of
poverty, this then allows different patterns of poor health and illnesses. Sexual orientation tends to
have different opinions from different individuals within society, this then has an impact on the
individual's health and younger individuals tend to commit suicide more than older people because
they have a fear or coming out within the society, they live in. Religion and beliefs tend to mean
people live up to their expectations given by their God and this then means that individuals promote
their views, and this then allows people to be able to understand different expectations from
different religions. Within society, disability also plays a major part, and this is because the
individuals require more support and help from more health care supports more than others.
Functionalism
1
, Maisie Mines
Unit 10 Sociological perspectives
Learning Aim A: Understand how sociological concepts and perspectives are applied to the
study of health and social care.
Learning Aim B: Examine how sociological approaches support understanding of models and
concepts of health.
Society is built upon various institutions, the main institutions within society consist of family
networks. This is a primary socialisation, regardless of distinct roles and responsibilities within a
family and the diversity there is a protection of younger individuals and other family members too
which is the key function of a family within society (Setia, 2008). Within society, people seem to
believe that a nuclear family is considered as ‘normal’ because there is a mum, dad, and other
children as well as the individual themselves. There are also larger families which are known as
‘extended family,’ this is when a family consist of three to four members and have generations of
the same gene which consist of cousins and aunts. Another main institution within society is
education, this is a formal environment which Individuals can learn and develop in. Children require
knowledge and to be able to develop skills which are needed for everyday life. Within the United
Kingdom the education system has developed over time, this now consist of pre-school, nurseries,
schools, colleges, and universities. Not only is it for education and for perusing their futures, but
these institutions allow individuals to be able to make friends and to be able to develop relationships
with peers, teachers, and other adults within the institution. Furthermore, the last important
institution is health and social care services. Within society it is important to have an organisation
which helps support individuals who are vulnerable and who need support with their health and
well-being, this includes young people, elderly people and those who have disabilities or are
suffering from mental health issues. There are a few organisations which are linked to the health and
social care sector such as, statutory sector this is when organisations are funded and are also
controlled by the government. Another sector is a private sector, this sector consists of a various
range of organisations such as private hospitals and private care homes. Furthermore, the last sector
is the not-for-profit sector. This sector is made up of a range of non-profit making organisations,
their money tends to come from donations or the movement themselves. These charities are
sometimes, NSPCC, young minds, and housing associations.
Functionalism is sometimes compared to the body; this is because the body functions in an efficient
way and have a relationship with the major organs of the body such as the heart, lungs, and the liver
and work together to fight against the diseases the individual is suffering from. Just like the body,
institutions within society have contributions to make by working together and uses methods to be
able to deal with those who pick not to behave correctly within society to ensure that society runs
smoothly without any complications. Talcott Parsons (1902-1979) had a major part when it came to
the development of functionalism, Parsons saw society as a system made up of connected
institutions which contributes to a smooth and steady society. Parson believed that the key role of
an institution was that individuals must socialise with other individuals to ensure they understand
their values of their society which then allowed the individual to behave in a particular manner.
Parson also said that there was value consensus, this means that there is a collective agreement
about the beliefs and value within society with many individuals.
Marxism
Marxism is a structuralist model; Marxism was developed by Karl Marx (1818-1883). Karl Marx
assumed that the individual's behaviour was shaped by society, but alongside this Karm Marx also
assumed that the economic system was what defined society and the social classes which people sat
upon (Brock, 2021). At the time Karm Marx thought that there were only two social classes, these
2
Unit 10 Sociological perspectives
Learning Aim A: Understand how sociological concepts and perspectives are applied to the
study of health and social care.
Learning Aim B: Examine how sociological approaches support understanding of models and
concepts of health.
202- Maisie Mines – Miss Hassan – Unit 10 – LAA and LAB
Within this report I will be discussing sociological concepts and perspectives and how they
contribute to the understanding of society, I will also be analysing the contribution of sociological
perspectives to the understanding of health and social care and society.
Socialisation is based on the behaviour which we learn from the culture within society, this is
language, values, and beliefs. Primary socialisation tends to occur within families, this can be birth
family or adopted family. Secondary socialisation tends to come from school, friendships,
employment, and religious groups. Socialisation can affect the care which vulnerable individuals may
receive, such as Hindu cultures tend to receive care from older children or family members
compared to the British culture where elderly individuals receive care from residential care homes.
Some say that the norms which are rules or guidelines given to make people aware how they should
act within society are learnt by the individual taking in information from others within their social
group, the individuals which do not agree with the norms of society are the ones who tend to be
deviant and not follow the social rules (Thompson, 2017).
Within society, there are social roles and expectations for individuals. For example, parents have an
expectation to take care of their children and family members and ensure they protect them at all
costs. Their role also requires them to have to supply a home, teach them how to behave and to
always attend school to ensure they get the correct skills and knowledge. Furthermore, social class
also plays a major part within society. Social class is a pyramid based off economic factors, there is:
upper class, upper middle class, lower middle class and working class and even those who are not a
part of the working class. Ethnic groups also play a part within society, this is because even though
there are changes made to the legislation when it comes to hierarchies' differences still exist. This is
things such as excluding individuals because of their ethnicity, there tends to be a slow process of
moving social levels which affects the social mobility within society. Gender also plays a part within
society, gender tends to mean expectations and behaviours expected from both men and women
within society, sexual differences tend to be identified by the internal and external genitalia of the
individuals. Age tends to allow different age groups to increase in age and social class, elderly people
or adults tend to have a higher status within society. Region comes in a variation of various levels of
poverty, this then allows different patterns of poor health and illnesses. Sexual orientation tends to
have different opinions from different individuals within society, this then has an impact on the
individual's health and younger individuals tend to commit suicide more than older people because
they have a fear or coming out within the society, they live in. Religion and beliefs tend to mean
people live up to their expectations given by their God and this then means that individuals promote
their views, and this then allows people to be able to understand different expectations from
different religions. Within society, disability also plays a major part, and this is because the
individuals require more support and help from more health care supports more than others.
Functionalism
1
, Maisie Mines
Unit 10 Sociological perspectives
Learning Aim A: Understand how sociological concepts and perspectives are applied to the
study of health and social care.
Learning Aim B: Examine how sociological approaches support understanding of models and
concepts of health.
Society is built upon various institutions, the main institutions within society consist of family
networks. This is a primary socialisation, regardless of distinct roles and responsibilities within a
family and the diversity there is a protection of younger individuals and other family members too
which is the key function of a family within society (Setia, 2008). Within society, people seem to
believe that a nuclear family is considered as ‘normal’ because there is a mum, dad, and other
children as well as the individual themselves. There are also larger families which are known as
‘extended family,’ this is when a family consist of three to four members and have generations of
the same gene which consist of cousins and aunts. Another main institution within society is
education, this is a formal environment which Individuals can learn and develop in. Children require
knowledge and to be able to develop skills which are needed for everyday life. Within the United
Kingdom the education system has developed over time, this now consist of pre-school, nurseries,
schools, colleges, and universities. Not only is it for education and for perusing their futures, but
these institutions allow individuals to be able to make friends and to be able to develop relationships
with peers, teachers, and other adults within the institution. Furthermore, the last important
institution is health and social care services. Within society it is important to have an organisation
which helps support individuals who are vulnerable and who need support with their health and
well-being, this includes young people, elderly people and those who have disabilities or are
suffering from mental health issues. There are a few organisations which are linked to the health and
social care sector such as, statutory sector this is when organisations are funded and are also
controlled by the government. Another sector is a private sector, this sector consists of a various
range of organisations such as private hospitals and private care homes. Furthermore, the last sector
is the not-for-profit sector. This sector is made up of a range of non-profit making organisations,
their money tends to come from donations or the movement themselves. These charities are
sometimes, NSPCC, young minds, and housing associations.
Functionalism is sometimes compared to the body; this is because the body functions in an efficient
way and have a relationship with the major organs of the body such as the heart, lungs, and the liver
and work together to fight against the diseases the individual is suffering from. Just like the body,
institutions within society have contributions to make by working together and uses methods to be
able to deal with those who pick not to behave correctly within society to ensure that society runs
smoothly without any complications. Talcott Parsons (1902-1979) had a major part when it came to
the development of functionalism, Parsons saw society as a system made up of connected
institutions which contributes to a smooth and steady society. Parson believed that the key role of
an institution was that individuals must socialise with other individuals to ensure they understand
their values of their society which then allowed the individual to behave in a particular manner.
Parson also said that there was value consensus, this means that there is a collective agreement
about the beliefs and value within society with many individuals.
Marxism
Marxism is a structuralist model; Marxism was developed by Karl Marx (1818-1883). Karl Marx
assumed that the individual's behaviour was shaped by society, but alongside this Karm Marx also
assumed that the economic system was what defined society and the social classes which people sat
upon (Brock, 2021). At the time Karm Marx thought that there were only two social classes, these
2
