Exploring Individuals and Society: Sociological Perspectives

This sociology assignment explores a range of topics related to individuals and society, including terrorism, mental health, gender roles, the impact of religion and science, criminal behavior, changing family structures, physical health, and the effects of globalization and multiculturalism. The assignment requires the application of sociological perspectives to analyze these issues, identify key thinkers, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different viewpoints. Specific questions address the influence of media on gender perceptions, the role of ethnicity in health disparities, and the positive and negative impacts of globalization. The student provides definitions, examples, and comparisons of various sociological concepts and perspectives, demonstrating an understanding of the complexities of social phenomena. The document is a comprehensive analysis of sociological concepts and their application to contemporary social issues.

Understanding Individuals
In Society

Table of Contents
Question 1: Terrorism......................................................................................................................1
1. Identify a recent newspaper article which discusses the issue of terrorism............................1
2. Identify the sociological perspective being used to discuss the issue of terrorism.................1
3. In which way does this perspective explain terrorism?..........................................................1
Question 2: Mental Health and contemporary society.....................................................................1
1. Identify a sociology perspective on mental health..................................................................1
2. Who is the key thinker of your chosen perspective?...............................................................1
3. What are the two key points used to explain mental health?..................................................1
4. What are the disadvantages of these perspectives?.................................................................2
Question 3: Gender..........................................................................................................................2
1. Which 2 sociological perspectives explain the issue of gender?............................................2
2. Give one example where women are oppressed by their gender............................................2
3. What are the similarities between the two sociological perspectives you have identified?....2
Question 4: The role of religion and science on society..................................................................2
1. Which two sociological perspective are critical of the role of religion in society?................2
2. What are the differences between the sociological perspectives identified?..........................3
3. Discuss the different definitions of religion and the weaknesses of the definitions...............3
4. Give an example of the way in which religions influences human behaviour........................3
Question 5: Sociological perspectives on criminal behaviour.........................................................3
1. In what way is Charles Murray's explanation of crime similar to Emile Durkheim's
explanation..................................................................................................................................3
2. In which ways are these two perspectives different?..............................................................3
Question 6: The changing nature of families and childhood in society...........................................4
1. What is a child?.......................................................................................................................4
2. How would you define family?...............................................................................................4
3. In which ways has the concept of family changed since the 1960's?......................................4
Question 7: The physical health of the nation.................................................................................4
1. How would you define the term 'health'?................................................................................4
2. Which ethnicity is understood to be most at risk of obesity?.................................................4
3. Why?.......................................................................................................................................4

4. What is the role of sociology in understanding health?..........................................................4
Question 8: Effects of globalisation and multiculturalism..............................................................5
1. What are some of the positive effects of globalisation?.........................................................5
2. What are some of the issues with 'outsourcing' jobs?.............................................................5
3. What is you definition of “culture”?.......................................................................................5
4. Why is cultural diversity important?.......................................................................................5
References........................................................................................................................................6

Question 1: Terrorism
1. Identify a recent newspaper article which discusses the issue of terrorism.
Name of newspaper: Daily mail
Name of author of the article: David Wilcock
2. Identify the sociological perspective being used to discuss the issue of terrorism.
In context of sociological perspective, terrorism can be described as a phenomena of
having several specific elements such as counter hegemony, resource mobilisation, counter-
institutionalisation, ritualization, social solidarity and power-prestige dynamics.
3. In which way does this perspective explain terrorism?
This perspective explain the terrorism in terms of three emerging trends including
criminalisation, fragmentation and spectacularisation. It explains about the counter hegemonic
terrorism as well as organisational dynamics which is responsible for participating in political
violence. Meanwhile, terrorism is an attempt of negative activities which develop violence in
society and harm people as well as property (Stapley, 2018).
Question 2: Mental Health and contemporary society
1. Identify a sociology perspective on mental health
The sociological perspectives provides the statement of social influences which are
responsible for creating several mental health problem sin people. It consist the issue of society
including inequality, rejection in community, discrimination, social injustice etc. However, the
negative behaviours of people in society impact negatively on mental state of individuals causing
different psychological issues like stress, depression, anxiety and so on.
2. Who is the key thinker of your chosen perspective?
The key thinker of the selected perspective of mental health is Krysia N. Mossakowski.
3. What are the two key points used to explain mental health?
The two key points of explaining mental health consist emotional, social and
psychologically well-being. Another key point includes response and reactions of an individual
which is an outcome of how an individual think, feel and act (White and Gelinas, 2016).
Moreover, there are several components which put contribution to occurrence of mental illness
such as life experiences, family history and biological factors.
1

4. What are the disadvantages of these perspectives?
The given perspectives about negative social influences in regards to occur mental health
problems in people which has a disadvantage that inappropriate perceptions and thoughts exist in
society. These attempt of citizens not only develop psychological issues but also generate
complications for mental patients.
Question 3: Gender
1. Which 2 sociological perspectives explain the issue of gender?
The perceptions and discriminating thoughts of society are responsible for creating issue
of gender. It is observed that gender roles are still addressed in today's media for marketing
which promote gender issue among people (Gitlin and Hodgson, 2018).
For example, commercial utilises the insecurity about masculinity to market their beer.
For instance, advertisements displays women in 'traditional' (antiquated) females roles of
a housekeeper.
2. Give one example where women are oppressed by their gender.
For example, although the advertisements of bike targets men, its objectifies women as
sex objects, altering the public's perception of how women should look.
3. What are the similarities between the two sociological perspectives you have identified?
The thoughts and opinion of discrimination and addressing gender roles have a similarity
of promoting the sex inequality in society which develop problem of discriminated gender. It is
responsible for creating issue in daily life of individuals which is a major threat of society.
Question 4: The role of religion and science on society
1. Which two sociological perspective are critical of the role of religion in society?
In terms of sociological perspective, religion can be considered as a factor helpful
regarding socio-unity and repairing relationships in society. It is known as a product of society
which is responsible for fulfilling respective functions of the society (Williams and Graham,
2016). Meanwhile, religion is favourable in respect of strengthening social cohesion as well as
supports the social regulation.
2

2. What are the differences between the sociological perspectives identified?
Initially, the perspective of socio unity is necessary to be developed in order to establish
an peaceful and strong society. On the other hand, other perspective of repairing is different
which states that religions are important to overcome with relation conflicts or issues for creating
unity among population.
3. Discuss the different definitions of religion and the weaknesses of the definitions.
Religion can be described as the recognition of overall out duties as divine commands. It
has weakness that it did not talk about unity of society and relationship improvements.
Religion can be considered as a dream in which own conceptions and emotions appear to
people in terms of separate existences, being out of ourselves. It has a weakness of not describing
frictionless thinking and socio-unity.
4. Give an example of the way in which religions influences human behaviour.
Religious thoughts and behaviours are responsible for influencing the actions and way of
thinking of an individual (Savoie Roskos and et. al., 2017). For example, if a person is
performing at work place to deal with a patient then their religious values of remaining honest
influence the way of working.
Question 5: Sociological perspectives on criminal behaviour
1. In what way is Charles Murray's explanation of crime similar to Emile Durkheim's explanation
As per Charles Murray, he provides underclass theory of crime which states about the
group population who were long term unemployed and effectively welfare dependent.
Emile Durkheim's explain that crime has two reasons including the fact that everyone is
socialised differently bus few of individuals may not be socialised effectively.
Both of these thinkers has similar statement about crime in terms of societal factors
regarding occurrence of crime.
2. In which ways are these two perspectives different?
These two of perspectives are different in terms of using differentiated factors which are
responsible for crime.
3

Question 6: The changing nature of families and childhood in society
1. What is a child?
A child can be described as a human being having an age between stages of birth and
puberty.
2. How would you define family?
The family can be considered as a group including two parents and their children living
together as a unit.
3. In which ways has the concept of family changed since the 1960's?
The concept of family changed due to urbanisation which is responsible for changing
family structure and way of living. Nuclear family was prefer previously but after 1960's people
use to live in small families.
Question 7: The physical health of the nation
1. How would you define the term 'health'?
Health refers to a state of an individual of remaining physically, mentally, emotionally
and socially well-being.
2. Which ethnicity is understood to be most at risk of obesity?
The ethnicity can be considered as a most at risk of obesity because this factor develop
major of of discrimination due to which citizens do not get proper employment education and
other social services (Murray and Christison, 2019). This is responsible for creating problems for
people in terms of completing regular basic needs which develop risk of occurring obesity in
specific communities with individuals like Hispanics, non Hispanic blacks or whites etc.
3. Why?
Ethnicity creates factor of inequality among society which create problems for
discriminated communities due to which they cannot eat and live healthy. It will facilitate to
generate issue of obesity and make obese condition more complicated.
4. What is the role of sociology in understanding health?
The roles of sociology can be defined from the state of medical sociology which consist
several impact of cultural and social factors on medicine as well as health. It consist various
4

theorise like conflict theory which provides explanation about competition among people for
gaining best care services.
Question 8: Effects of globalisation and multiculturalism
1. What are some of the positive effects of globalisation?
It provides the great possibility to enter in the new and different market across the world.
It also help in the approach to capital flows, human capital and import & exports of markets.
This also allows to supply the chain and become a part of global industry networks.
2. What are some of the issues with 'outsourcing' jobs?
The issues includes the loss of business which are depend on the delivery of employee.
This take long time to work as the inaccuracy in implementing the business and
miscommunication can be developed between the employers. The main issue is that some
businesses can take benefit by providing work at minimum rate.
3. What is you definition of “culture”?
The culture can be define as the way of life living by people. It is the knowledge and
characteristics of the people which they adapt and do according to these things. It is also the
extended of language, social habits, religion, etc.
4. Why is cultural diversity important?
In the country, workplace, schools and communities consist of various cultural groups so
the culture diversity is important to develop the understanding between the people. It helps to
remove the negative biases from different groups and promote them to engage with others. It is
important as it helps in interacting with others by building trust, and respect between the people.
5

References
Books and journals
Gitlin, L.N. and Hodgson, N.A., 2018. Better living with dementia: Implications for individuals,
families, communities, and societies. Academic Press.\
Murray, D.E. and Christison, M., 2019. What English language teachers need to know volume I:
Understanding learning. Routledge.
Savoie Roskos, M.R. and et. al., 2017. Understanding the experiences of low-income individuals
receiving farmers’ market incentives in the United States: a qualitative study. Health
promotion practice. 18(6). pp.869-878.
Stapley, L.F., 2018. Individuals, groups and organizations beneath the surface: An introduction.
Routledge.
White, B.D. and Gelinas, L.C., 2016. Balancing the surgeon’s responsibility to individuals and
society. In The SAGES manual ethics of surgical innovation (pp. 191-211). Springer,
Cham.
Williams, C. and Graham, M.J. Eds., 2016. Social work in a diverse society: Transformative
practice with black and minority ethnic individuals and communities. Policy Press.
6