Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the functionalist approach to society. Functionalism is a macro, structuralist theory. This means they see human behaviour being shaped as an influence of social forces. It is also seen consensus theory, as functionalists’ argue that, individuals are socialised into a shared value to ensure conformity and social order. However, this functionalists approach is criticised by action theorists, as they argue that individuals create society through their interactions.
2. Identify professional disciplines that influence human services. Professional disciplines that influence Human Services are sociology, psychology, and anthropology (Woodside & McClam, 2012, p. 11). Sociology is the assessment of an individual and the broader culture and tries to account for while understanding the differences within human culture. It also helps the professionals understand what affects the living, such as family structure and roles.
Social Influences on Behavior By: Sara Tinker PSY-300 November 28, 2011 Dan Erickson Social psychology, a combination of psychology and sociology, is the study of the influence on individual behavior brought by the actual, imaginary, or implied presence of others (Gergen & Gergen, 2011). Such influence can alter or enhance one’s own beliefs and actions. Humans are inheritably social creatures often seeking others to fill the need to be loved or praised and in some cases to be different or seek motivation. The need and existence of these emotions and feelings can create positive or negative behavioral changes. Such behaviors can be seen every day in athletic events or in political topics such as homo-sexuality.
M3. Explain why conformity and obedience are important in the public services, with reference to research studies. Conformity and obedience are forms of social influence which strongly affect our behaviour is social situations, from following fashions and unwritten social norms which organise our behaviour, to committing immoral acts because we are commanded to by someone who appears to be in a position of authority. This essay looks at the similarities and differences between the three, looking specifically at the factors that influence each two. Conformity within a group entails members changing their attitudes and beliefs in order to match those of others within the group.
The idea of social norms and common beliefs have become part our life, which are causing people to think similarly in making a decision. “Fit into the society” is the term that runs deeply in my minds because acting differently seems unacceptable in my country. Therefore, majority of people’s beliefs and identities are scripted and shaped by norms relate to peers, community, and culture. When taking a moment to reflect on this society, we would realize that our biggest desire is to be recognized by our peers. In fact, it is true that human behavioral norms are established in groups and can influence more people over a time.
LEADERSHIP AND MANGEMENT IN SOCIAL CARE Identify factors that influence policy drivers One factor is cost, businesses around the globe are looking and always will be looking for cost effective ways of doing things to get either the same out come or an improved outcome, one way health and social care has changed and will continue to change is because of cost implications, the economic (recession) has impacted on cost and one thing that this has had a impact on is the level of 1:1 support needed by service users, this is not to say they do not receive good quality care and support it means assessments are done by local social services who see where they can cut funding for the individual’s, this also has financial implications for staff as
In Dumit’s A Digital Image of the Category of the Person, he explains that the body is a cultural lived tense and the point of reference for an individual. A persons lived experience changes by social and cultural experiences in life, which becomes conditioned to their lived body experience. Being influenced by cultural and social experiences can lead to objective-self fashioning, influencing a person to bargain with their own identity. In objective self fashioning we take facts about ourselves through society and media and incorporate them into our lives while being an active participant of those facts; shaping a persons mind or perspective as well as an individuals behavior. Therefore, this is why the lived (active) body or social body is cultural, because it is influenced by lived experiences in society.
Norms, another importance in sociology are parts of behaviour. Norms tend to reflect the values of the group and specify those actions that are proper and those that are inappropriate, as well as rewards for sticking to something and punishments for following rules and laws. Socialisation means the process by which we learn the culture of our society. For example, looking at different behaviours. Socialisation describes a process which may lead to desirable or moral outcomes.
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.
As societal patterns change and influence everyone and everything around them, they may not affect many as badly as they affect others. We therefore need the ability to see things through other people’s perspectives, to understand their point of view and how society affects it. This is done by using ones “Sociological Imagination” otherwise known as your sociological perspective. It enables us to see life through the eyes of others and understand where they are coming from. C. Wright Mills wrote that the task of sociology is to understand the relationship between an individual and the society they live in.