the whole way of life of a society. It is learned and shared.

shaking hands when you meet someone. It is a rule of behaviour for a situation.

the behaviour expected of someone in a position. A teacher, a parent and a student each have one.

Which is an achieved status?

university graduate. It is earned by effort.

A police officer finds that the thief he must arrest is his brother. What is he experiencing?

role conflict. The roles of officer and brother pull in opposite directions.

Culture, norms, values, roles and status · Cambridge IGCSE Sociology

In plain words

Nobody told you to face the door in a lift, yet you do. Society runs on thousands of rules like that, which nobody wrote down and everybody knows. Sociology starts by giving those rules names.

8 things to know

Sociologists see society as a social construction. It is made by people, and so it differs from place to place and changes over time.
Culture is the whole way of life of a society: its language, beliefs, values, norms, customs, dress and food. It is learned and shared.
Values are general beliefs about what is right and important, such as honesty or respect for elders. Norms are the unwritten rules for how to behave in a particular situation, such as queuing. Norms are based on values.
Customs are the traditional practices of a society, such as the way a wedding or a festival is celebrated.
A role is the pattern of behaviour expected of someone in a particular position, such as a teacher, a parent or a student. Role conflict happens when the demands of two roles clash.
Status is a person's position or standing in society. Ascribed status is given at birth and cannot easily be changed, such as being born a prince. Achieved status is earned through effort, such as becoming a doctor.
A stereotype is a fixed, over-simple image of a group of people, such as "all teenagers are lazy".
These ideas shape behaviour and identity. People follow norms to fit in, they act out the roles they hold, and stereotypes affect how others treat them and how they see themselves.

Worked example

A woman is a nurse and the mother of a sick child. Her hospital asks her to work an extra shift tonight. Use sociological terms to describe her situation.

She holds two roles: nurse and mother.
Each role carries norms. A nurse is expected to care for patients, and a mother for her child.
Tonight the two sets of expectations cannot both be met. This is role conflict.
Her status as a nurse is achieved, because she earned it through training.

Tips and tricks

Values are general, and norms are specific. "Respect for others" is a value. "Do not talk while the teacher is talking" is a norm that comes from it.
Ascribed: assigned at birth. Achieved: earned. A prince and a president show the difference.

5 questions, about 2 minutes.

It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.

Culture, norms, values, roles and status: 5 questions and answers

These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.

What is culture?
- the laws of a country
- the whole way of life of a society (the answer)
- the wealth of a society
- a person's inborn abilities
It is learned and shared.
Which is a norm?
- a belief that honesty matters
- being born into wealth
- shaking hands when you meet someone (the answer)
- the job of a teacher
It is a rule of behaviour for a situation.
What is a role?
- a general belief about what is important
- a fixed image of a group
- a position given at birth
- the behaviour expected of someone in a position (the answer)
A teacher, a parent and a student each have one.
Which is an achieved status?
- university graduate (the answer)
- eldest child
- being born into a caste
- being female
It is earned by effort.
A police officer finds that the thief he must arrest is his brother. What is he experiencing?Stretch
- a stereotype
- role conflict (the answer)
- ascribed status
- a custom
The roles of officer and brother pull in opposite directions.

5 questions

Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.

Worksheet

3 questions, 10 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.

Culture, norms, values, roles and status

Cambridge IGCSE Sociology 0495 · 10 marks · papermunch.org

Name ______________________________ Date ______________

What is meant by the term "norms"?[2]
Show answerHide answer
The unwritten rules of expected behaviour in a particular situation or society.
I got this one
Describe the difference between ascribed status and achieved status, with an example of each.[4]
Show answerHide answer
Ascribed status is a position given at birth that the person did not earn, for example being born into a royal family. Achieved status is a position earned through a person's own effort and ability, for example becoming a doctor.
I got this one
Explain how stereotypes can influence a person's identity.[4]
Show answerHide answer
A stereotype is a fixed, over-simple image of a group. Others treat the person according to the stereotype, not as an individual. The person may come to see themselves in that way and act accordingly, or may be limited in the opportunities they are given.
I got this one

Answers: Culture, norms, values, roles and status

1. The unwritten rules of expected behaviour in a particular situation or society.
2. Ascribed status is a position given at birth that the person did not earn, for example being born into a royal family. Achieved status is a position earned through a person's own effort and ability, for example becoming a doctor.
3. A stereotype is a fixed, over-simple image of a group. Others treat the person according to the stereotype, not as an individual. The person may come to see themselves in that way and act accordingly, or may be limited in the opportunities they are given.