Culture & Beliefs is broken into four main areas:
1. There are common and contrasting aspects of culture.
• Culture in the UK today. The similarities to and differences from at least one other European country
• A case study of culture in two contrasting societies: the UK today and one other (a primitive/less developed/historical example)
• Customs, traditions, norms, attitudes, values, religious beliefs and practices, rites of passage, identity, gender roles, communication, technology, social organisation
2. There is a wide variety of factors that influence an individual’s culture and identity.
• The influence of primary and secondary agents of socialisation on the individual and their identity in the UK and in a contrasting culture (historical/primitive/international)
• The contrasting evidence in the nature and nurture debate
• Education, family, peer group, mass media, religion, ethnicity, work, role models
• Genetic and environmental influence
3. Interaction between cultures can bring benefits and can cause conflict and change.
• An international/historical case study examining the causes and effects of migration
• An outline of immigration into the UK, including its causes and effects
• The impact and challenges of living in the UK’s multicultural, democratic society today
• Push and pull factors, immigration, emigration, multiculturalism, nationality, human rights, freedoms, refugees, cost/benefits, rights and responsibilities, ethnic minority groups, citizenship, shared values
4. Individuals and groups have different beliefs, attitudes and values.
A case study evaluating at least one cultural, moral, political, religious or social issue. The case study should include:
• an exploration of what the issue is
• groups with different perspectives
• reasons why the groups hold their views
• the student’s own evaluation of the issue
Centres may choose issues listed below or others which allow a range of perspectives to be explored:
• abortion • euthanasia• animal rights• crime and punishment• censorship• life after death• is there a God?• genetic engineering• monarchy• medical ethics