Social policy is the actions, plans and programmes of government bodies and agencies aim to deal with a problem or achieve a goal, for example, preventing crime or reducing poverty. Social policies are sometimes influenced by the findings of sociologists, however this usually depends on the government in power and their political ideologies. There are different types of social problems that cause public concern such as crime and poverty; these usually need some sort of solution. And there are also areas of sociological interest that may have an impact on policy such as why some people are poor, commit crime, or fail in school. Sociologists carry out their research from a number of theoretical perspectives, and depending on the views they adopt they will have different ideas about the nature of social problems and know how to solve them.
Peter L. Berger argues that informal social control is more powerful than formal controls like law, police, and prisons. What makes informal social control like ridicule and gossip so powerful? Social control discusses as a set of limited values and norms that are considered acceptable within society. There are two types of social control; informal and formal. Formal social control is that which is practiced by specific social agencies which have the role of maintaining order in society such as the police force.
For instance; we are able to learn how stereotypes are formed, why there is racism, and also how a person’s behavior changes in different types of situations. Social psychology differs from other forms of psychology because it uses a scientific method and the empirical study of social phenomenon. General and clinical psychologies both rely on anecdotal observations and subjective interpretations. Psychologists focus on different situations and the different variables that may affect social behavior. Sociology differs from social psychology because sociology specifically looks at the different social behaviors and the surrounding influences at more of a broader view.
There are three distinct differences between political culture and political opinion which will be discussed throughout this essay. These include individualistic versus shared values, what influences political culture and political opinion, and what creates such difference in both. Political Culture Political culture is described as certain attitudes and practices by persons who shape political behavior. Political culture includes the beliefs, myths, ideas, our moral judgments and political myths about what makes a society ‘good’ or ‘successful.’ Political Culture is the subset of values and practices that relates to government and politics. Political culture is a reflection of the government, but also incorporates elements of history and tradition that may anticipate the current system.
Relativism and Morality Class: SOC120 Introduction to Ethics and Social Responsibility Relativism and Morality Morality, in many societies has been an ongoing, global contended issue. At its simplicity, it describes a code of acceptable behaviors in a given society. However, a Moral Minima is morality-based word that by definition means “minimum morality’. It sets the standards by which the members of a society have to adhere to be operating within the limits of proper moral conduct. With the advent of civilization, morality has become an issue that is interpreted in different ways depending on the angle at which one looks or evaluates from.
Consider, for example, the controversial issue of abortion. Individuals with particular religious beliefs tend to view laws allowing mothers an abortion choice as unjust, while individuals with other value systems might view such laws as just. Similarly, some people might find some laws unjust because of their personal interests. For example, law that limits the emission of harmful substances from the factories protects people from the harmful hazards of these things. However, a factory might find this law unjust, as he has to install expensive filters to dispose of the harmful gases and chemicals from its waste.
Relativism relies on personal and cultural norms to determine what is right and wrong. This is not a valid source of morality because what is socially acceptable is not always what is right. There was a point in time when slavery was socially acceptable but that does not make it right. Furthermore, the secular humanist is a consequentialist, which means ethical choices are judged by their results (http://www.secularhumanism.org). The result of this moral compass is an unstable platform for truth; as a result secular humanism supports gay marriage, abortion, and euthanasia.
When speaking from the personal level, the answer tends to be negative. As to one certain person, his appearance and behavior would probably derive from many factors, such economic situation, religious faith, living circumstances and even a transient frame of mind. If someone tries to judge a society's ideas and values according to a mere handful of people, then the conclusion may turn out to be meaningless or absurd. As the viewpoint fails to stand true while considering isolated issues, it evolves into a valid claim when we promote our discussion from the personal level up to the social level. Karl Marx, the founder of
Many people believe it is a perfectly ethical way to assist in infertility and to help women who desire to get pregnant. Others would say, for example, that it is wrong to take God’s work into your own hands and conceive a child through different means than He intended. There are also numerous things that could sway someone either way. For example, someone who has a friend that is infertile might be more biased to approving of artificial insemination, as opposed to someone who does not. Though there are faults with both sides, everybody has their own reasons for supporting or not supporting artificial insemination.
According to the teachings of Christianity sexual desire was only useful within the sanctity of marriage. If sexuality activity is practiced for other reasons than reproduction, then it would be considered a sin. Homosexuality, masturbation, and the use of birth control would be considered the opposition of God's plan and morally wrong. This view is often classified as conservative and very strict. However it is the foundation of debates regarding the moral status of a large number of sexual acts – the latent stigma still attached to homosexuality is a prime example of the influence of the theological standpoint on sexual desires.