Value Consensus in Modern Industrial Societies
TITLE
To what extent does value consensus exist in modern industrial societies?
ESSAY
**Introduction**
The concept of value consensus in sociology refers to the extent to which members of a society share common values and beliefs. In this essay, we will explore the presence of value consensus in modern industrial societies by examining arguments both for and against its existence.
**Arguments for Value Consensus in Modern Industrial Societies**
1. **Functionalist Perspective**: Functionalist theory posits that institutions in society work together harmoniously to instil shared values and maintain social order. This suggests that there is a level of agreement on fundamental values within modern industrial societies.
2. **Marxist Theory of Ideological Apparatus**: Despite Marxist critiques of capitalist values perpetuated by media, the argument can be made that there still exists a common understanding and acceptance of certain capitalist principles within society.
3. **Geographical Commonality**: Regardless of residing in urban or rural areas, individuals within a country often share core values that contribute to a sense of national identity and unity.
4. **Secondary Socialisation**: Through processes of secondary socialisation, individuals learn common norms and values that are essential for societal cohesion.
5. **Hidden Curriculum in Education**: Schools play a role in teaching universal values such as hierarchy and respect for authority through their hidden curriculum, contributing to the shared understanding of values among students.
6. **Media Influence**: Media reinforces shared values and norms of behavior by portraying societal expectations and standards, contributing to the formation of a value consensus.
7. **Globalization**: The process of globalization has led to a shared global culture that disseminates western values, further contributing to the existence of common values across different societies.
8. **Formal Agencies of Social Control**: Law enforcement and other agencies of social control ensure that individuals abide by the law, demonstrating a level of value consensus in upholding societal norms.
9. **Religion**: Religious institutions continue to play a significant role in society, promoting moral values that are shared among community members.
**Arguments against Value Consensus in Modern Industrial Societies**
1. **Family Socialisation**: Values learned through primary socialisation in families can vary significantly, leading to differences in individual belief systems within society.
2. **Conflict Theories**: Marxist and feminist theories challenge the idea of value consensus by highlighting underlying power struggles and conflicts in society.
3. **Crime Statistics**: High rates of crime and deviance indicated in official statistics suggest a lack of agreement on societal values among certain segments of the population.
4. **Subcultures**: The emergence of subcultures with distinct values and beliefs demonstrates the diversity of perspectives within modern industrial societies.
5. **Multiculturalism**: Societies today are increasingly multicultural, leading to a coexistence of diverse cultural values that may not necessarily align with a common value consensus.
6. **Evolving Values**: Values are dynamic and subject to change over time, resulting in differing opinions on societal issues such as same-sex marriage among members of society.
**Conclusion**
In conclusion, while there are compelling arguments both for and against the existence of value consensus in modern industrial societies, it is evident that the concept remains complex and multifaceted. The extent to which individuals within a society share common values is influenced by a variety of factors, including socialization processes, institutional influences, cultural diversity, and evolving societal norms. Ultimately, achieving a comprehensive understanding of value consensus necessitates a nuanced examination of the diverse perspectives and experiences present within contemporary societies.
SUBJECT
SOCIOLOGY
LEVEL
O level and GCSE
NOTES
To what extent does value consensus exist in modern industrial societies?
Possible responses:
Arguments for:
- Functionalist theory argues that the institutions in society work together to instil shared values and social harmony.
- Marxist theories of ideological apparatus argue that the media create a false class consciousness, contributing to shared capitalist values in society.
- Different parts of a country share the same values, whether you live in an urban or rural setting, there are some shared values.
- Processes of secondary socialisation see individuals learning common norms and values.
- The hidden curriculum in schools teaches all children the values of hierarchy and respect for authority.
- A key role of the media is to reinforce shared values and norms of behavior.
- Globalization has led to a shared global culture that disseminates western values throughout the world.
- The formal agencies of social control ensure people observe the law and thus demonstrate value consensus.
- Equal opportunities and meritocracy in the workplace ensure that people accept the values of achieved status.
- Religion remains a powerful agency in society, and religious morality is seen in shared values in society.
- Any other reasonable response.
Arguments against:
- Particularistic values learned via primary socialisation are likely to be different between families.
- Marxist and feminist theories argue that society is based on conflict, suggesting there isn’t value consensus.
- Official crime statistics demonstrate that many people break the law and thus don’t have value consensus.
- Subcultures emerge, often with different values than the mainstream society.
- Societies are now multicultural, and cultural diversity brings a diversity of values.
- Values are constantly changing; things that weren’t acceptable in the past (e.g., same-sex marriage) are now viewed differently by different members of society.
- Any other reasonable response.