Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-4-3-social-constructionist-approach

[Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [A Level](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level.md) › [Sociology](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology.md) › [AQA](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa.md) › Social Constructionist Approach

# Social Constructionist Approach

Sociology: AQA A Level, topic 5.4.3

## Social Constructionist Approaches to Mental Illness

Broadly, social constructionist approaches to mental health view mental illness as a social, rather than biological, construction.

### Social approach

![Social approach](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/581e1b0b-8b1f-43be-b287-5ebb627dcd6c/shutterstock_175547297.jpg)

- Mental illness varies between cultures and is dependent on cultural interpretations of symptoms.
- In addition, many theorists (e.g. __Szasz, Foucault__) insist that mental illness is a form of social control.

### Arguments for the social approach

![Arguments for the social approach](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/9109e47c-9fb5-4f10-b640-dede40fec12a/family-11883_1920.jpg)

- Diagnoses of mental illness aren’t made on the basis of scientific methods but are simply a label applied to others who fail to behave in a ‘normal’ socially accepted manner.
- Diagnoses vary over time, for example, homosexuality was once seen as a mental illness that could be cured.

### Cultural support

![Cultural support](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/physics/4.4.1%20Electromagnetic%20Induction/alternating-head-shake-min-min.jpg)

- Diagnoses vary between societies, for example, some cultures view hearing voices as an acceptable behaviour, while some suggest that Western ideas of mental illness label normal human behaviour (e.g. sadness) as a abnormal.

### Political contention

![Political contention](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/14c02c6f-1dae-49f9-a6ac-f05305e1aea5/psychology-psychologist-therapy-doctor.jpg)

- Psychiatric disorders are a political tool to help control those who deviate from socially acceptable modes of behaviour; those who act differently are see as being afflicted by some malady.

## The Unreliability of Diagnoses

Broadly, social constructionist approaches to mental health view mental illness as a social, rather than biological, construction.

### The myth of mental illness

![The myth of mental illness](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/5512cbce-d873-4b38-a0de-5a57c8712c31/psychologist-therapy-psychology-depression.jpg)

- __Thomas Szasz__ argues that mental illness is a label applied by powerful or influential people to control those seen as socially disruptive or who challenge the dominant ideology.
- What we define as madness or mental illness cannot be cured because the problem is not within the individual but in the attitudes of other people.
- Mental illness does not, therefore, exist.

### Experiment

![Experiment](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/ddb7400c-3ab0-4765-8727-46da7bcb4c33/schizophrenia-voices-hearing.jpg)

- __David Rosenhan__ conducted an experiment in the 1970’s to investigate how well health professional could diagnose mental illness.
- He arranged for healthy volunteers (including himself) to visit different psychiatric hospitals in the United States and lie to staff about hearing voices.

### Findings

![Findings](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/c7b2bb77-284b-4afa-a02f-0bb3dcc59397/schizophrenia-duality-good-bad-evil-.jpg)

- All were diagnosed with schizophrenia and admitted to hospital where they spent between 7 and 52 days.

### Experiment 2

![Experiment 2](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/bb1e504a-272b-4f32-8bfb-f24806135d47/mentally-ill-patient.jpg)

- When the hospitals discovered that they had been tricked, they challenged __Rosenhan__ to repeat the experiment and assured him that they would identify all of his ‘pseudo-patients’.

### Findings 2

![Findings 2](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/157f9068-8a67-46c1-8f33-03ddb27e9d7d/mental-health.jpg)

- When the hospitals declared that they had found forty-one fake patients, __Rosenhan__ admitted that he hadn’t actually sent any.

## Criticism of Social Constructionist Approaches

Broadly, social constructionist approaches to mental health view mental illness as a social, rather than biological, construction. This view is not free from criticism.

### Representation

![Representation](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/f2230371-c42e-4f0b-b1d9-457c6ec6c1af/chains-433543_1920.jpg)

- Studies such as __Rosenhan’s__ were conducted on a small scale and are unlikely to be representative.

### Real experience

![Real experience](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/2f9cc985-b1a2-4342-bb0d-979bd6100170/mental-health-2313428_1920.png)

- The view that mental illness doesn’t exist ignores that how it affects many people, causing them and those around them a great deal of distress.

### Material factors

![Material factors](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/6d7d6171-c5e0-4dd4-bb98-aea93cd232f2/gender-312411_1280.png)

- It ignores material factors that affect people’s mental health, such as poverty, ethnicity and gender.

## Test yourself on Social Constructionist Approach

- Which of the following is NOT a social constructionist theorist?
- Who conducted an experiment in the 1970’s to investigate how well health professional could diagnose mental illness?
- __Rosenhan's__ Investigation into Diagnosis of Mental Illness

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/73653830-65a6-11e8-9923-5d9eaf994fae/section/1cfacdca-6abd-46e1-8e42-f8a843666609/session)

- Previous topic: [5.4.2 Social Patterns](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-4-2-social-patterns.md)
- Next topic: [5.5.1 The Functionalist Approach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-5-1-the-functionalist-approach.md)

## Sociology: AQA A Level contents

### 1 Theory & Methods
- 1.1 Sociological Theories
  - [1.1.1 Marxism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-1-1-marxism.md)
  - [1.1.2 Feminism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-1-2-feminism.md)
  - [1.1.3 Social Action Theories](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-1-3-social-action-theories.md)
- 1.2 Sociological Methods
  - [1.2.1 Types of Data](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-2-1-types-of-data.md)
  - [1.2.2 Positivism & Interpretivism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-2-2-positivism-and-interpretivism.md)
  - [1.2.3 Research Design](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-2-3-research-design.md)
  - [1.2.4 Research Considerations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-2-4-research-considerations.md)
  - [1.2.5 Values in Research](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-2-5-values-in-research.md)
  - [1.2.6 Modernity & Post-Modernity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-2-6-modernity-and-post-modernity.md)
  - [1.2.7 Sociology as a Science](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-2-7-sociology-as-a-science.md)
  - [1.2.8 Sociology & Social Policy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-2-8-sociology-and-social-policy.md)
  - [1.2.9 End of Topic Test - Sociology Methods & Theories](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-2-9-end-of-topic-test-sociology-methods-and-theories.md)
- 1.3 Sources of Data
  - [1.3.1 Introduction](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-3-1-introduction.md)
  - [1.3.2 Experiments](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-3-2-experiments.md)
  - [1.3.3 Surveys](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-3-3-surveys.md)
  - [1.3.4 Longitudinal Studies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-3-4-longitudinal-studies.md)
  - [1.3.5 Questionnaires](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-3-5-questionnaires.md)
  - [1.3.6 Types of Questionnaires](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-3-6-types-of-questionnaires.md)
  - [1.3.7 Interviews](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-3-7-interviews.md)
  - [1.3.8 Observation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-3-8-observation.md)
  - [1.3.9 Case Studies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-3-9-case-studies.md)
  - [1.3.10 Documents](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-3-10-documents.md)
  - [1.3.11 Official Statistics](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-3-11-official-statistics.md)
  - [1.3.12 End of Topic Test - Sources of Data](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/1-3-12-end-of-topic-test-sources-of-data.md)

### 2 Education with Methods in Context
- 2.1 Role & Function of the Education System
  - [2.1.1 Introduction](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-1-1-introduction.md)
  - [2.1.2 Functionalist Theories](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-1-2-functionalist-theories.md)
  - [2.1.3 Marxist & Feminist Theories](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-1-3-marxist-and-feminist-theories.md)
  - [2.1.4 The New Right](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-1-4-the-new-right.md)
- 2.2 Educational Achievement
  - [2.2.1 Social Class: Internal Factors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-2-1-social-class-internal-factors.md)
  - [2.2.2 Social Class: External Factors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-2-2-social-class-external-factors.md)
  - [2.2.3 Social Class: Attitudes to Education](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-2-3-social-class-attitudes-to-education.md)
  - [2.2.4 Social Class: Difference in Achievement](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-2-4-social-class-difference-in-achievement.md)
  - [2.2.5 Gender](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-2-5-gender.md)
  - [2.2.6 Ethnicity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-2-6-ethnicity.md)
- 2.3 Relationships & Processes Within Schools
  - [2.3.1 Processes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-3-1-processes.md)
  - [2.3.2 Labelling](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-3-2-labelling.md)
  - [2.3.3 Categorisations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-3-3-categorisations.md)
  - [2.3.4 Student Experience](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-3-4-student-experience.md)
  - [2.3.5 End of Topic Test -Education with Methods](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-3-5-end-of-topic-test-education-with-methods.md)
- 2.4 Educational Policies
  - [2.4.1 Equality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-4-1-equality.md)
  - [2.4.2 Privatisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-4-2-privatisation.md)
  - [2.4.3 Marketisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-4-3-marketisation.md)
  - [2.4.4 Government Policies by Party](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-4-4-government-policies-by-party.md)
  - [2.4.5 Globalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-4-5-globalisation.md)
  - [2.4.6 End of Topic Test- Educational Policies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-4-6-end-of-topic-test-educational-policies.md)
  - [2.4.7 Practice Exam Question - Social Policies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/2-4-7-practice-exam-question-social-policies.md)

### 3 Option 1: Culture & Identity
- 3.1 Conceptions of Culture
  - [3.1.1 Culture](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-1-1-culture.md)
  - [3.1.2 Dominant vs Subculture](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-1-2-dominant-vs-subculture.md)
  - [3.1.3 Subcultures](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-1-3-subcultures.md)
  - [3.1.4 Mass Culture](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-1-4-mass-culture.md)
  - [3.1.5 Popular Culture](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-1-5-popular-culture.md)
  - [3.1.6 Global Culture](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-1-6-global-culture.md)
  - [3.1.7 End of Topic Test - Culture and Identity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-1-7-end-of-topic-test-culture-and-identity.md)
- 3.2 Identity & Socialisation
  - [3.2.1 Identities](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-2-1-identities.md)
  - [3.2.2 Socialisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-2-2-socialisation.md)
  - [3.2.3 Secondary Socialisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-2-3-secondary-socialisation.md)
  - [3.2.4 Theories of Socialisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-2-4-theories-of-socialisation.md)
  - [3.2.5 End of Topic Test - Identity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-2-5-end-of-topic-test-identity.md)
  - [3.2.6 Practice Exam Question - Socialisation & Equality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-2-6-practice-exam-question-socialisation-and-equality.md)
- 3.3 Social Identity
  - [3.3.1 Social Class](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-3-1-social-class.md)
  - [3.3.2 Upper & Middle Class](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-3-2-upper-and-middle-class.md)
  - [3.3.3 Working & Underclass](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-3-3-working-and-underclass.md)
  - [3.3.4 Social Class Evaluation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-3-4-social-class-evaluation.md)
  - [3.3.5 Gender](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-3-5-gender.md)
  - [3.3.6 Changing Gender Identities](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-3-6-changing-gender-identities.md)
  - [3.3.7 Ethnicity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-3-7-ethnicity.md)
  - [3.3.8 Age](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-3-8-age.md)
  - [3.3.9 Disability](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-3-9-disability.md)
  - [3.3.10 Nationality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-3-10-nationality.md)
  - [3.3.11 End of Topic Test - Social Identity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-3-11-end-of-topic-test-social-identity.md)
- 3.4 Production, Consumption & Globalisation
  - [3.4.1 Production & Consumption](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-4-1-production-and-consumption.md)
  - [3.4.2 Globalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-4-2-globalisation.md)
  - [3.4.3 Evaluation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-4-3-evaluation.md)
  - [3.4.4 End of Topic Test - Production](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/3-4-4-end-of-topic-test-production.md)

### 4 Option 1: Families & Households
- 4.1 Families & Households
  - [4.1.1 Definitions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-1-1-definitions.md)
  - [4.1.2 Functionalist & New Right Perspectives](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-1-2-functionalist-and-new-right-perspectives.md)
  - [4.1.3 Marxist & Feminist Perspectives](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-1-3-marxist-and-feminist-perspectives.md)
  - [4.1.4 Postmodernist Perspective](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-1-4-postmodernist-perspective.md)
  - [4.1.5 End of Topic Test - Families & Households](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-1-5-end-of-topic-test-families-and-households.md)
  - [4.1.6 Practice Exam Question - Function of Family](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-1-6-practice-exam-question-function-of-family.md)
- 4.2 Changing Patterns
  - [4.2.1 Marriage](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-2-1-marriage.md)
  - [4.2.2 Divorce](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-2-2-divorce.md)
  - [4.2.3 LAT Relationships](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-2-3-lat-relationships.md)
  - [4.2.4 Child-Bearing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-2-4-child-bearing.md)
  - [4.2.5 Lone Parenthood](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-2-5-lone-parenthood.md)
  - [4.2.6 Diversity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-2-6-diversity.md)
  - [4.2.7 The Sociology of Personal Life](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-2-7-the-sociology-of-personal-life.md)
  - [4.2.8 Government Policies Post-WW2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-2-8-government-policies-post-ww2.md)
  - [4.2.9 End of Topic Test - Changing Patterns](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-2-9-end-of-topic-test-changing-patterns.md)
- 4.3 The Symmetrical Family
  - [4.3.1 The Symmetrical Family](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-3-1-the-symmetrical-family.md)
  - [4.3.2 Evaluation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-3-2-evaluation.md)
- 4.4 Children & Childhood
  - [4.4.1 Childhood](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-4-1-childhood.md)
  - [4.4.2 Childhood in the UK](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-4-2-childhood-in-the-uk.md)
  - [4.4.3 Childhood as a Social Construct](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-4-3-childhood-as-a-social-construct.md)
  - [4.4.4 The Disappearance of Childhood](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-4-4-the-disappearance-of-childhood.md)
  - [4.4.5 Child Abuse](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-4-5-child-abuse.md)
  - [4.4.6 Domestic Violence](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-4-6-domestic-violence.md)
  - [4.4.7 End of Topic Test - Family & Childhood](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-4-7-end-of-topic-test-family-and-childhood.md)
- 4.5 Demographic Trends UK
  - [4.5.1 Introduction](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-5-1-introduction.md)
  - [4.5.2 Birth Rates](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-5-2-birth-rates.md)
  - [4.5.3 Death Rates](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-5-3-death-rates.md)
  - [4.5.4 The Ageing Population](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-5-4-the-ageing-population.md)
  - [4.5.5 Studies on the Ageing Population](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-5-5-studies-on-the-ageing-population.md)
  - [4.5.6 Migration](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-5-6-migration.md)
  - [4.5.7 Globalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-5-7-globalisation.md)
  - [4.5.8 End of Topic Test - Demographics UK](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/4-5-8-end-of-topic-test-demographics-uk.md)

### 5 Option 1: Health
- 5.1 Social Constructions
  - [5.1.1 The Body](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-1-1-the-body.md)
  - [5.1.2 Health, Illness & Disease](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-1-2-health-illness-and-disease.md)
  - [5.1.3 Disability](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-1-3-disability.md)
  - [5.1.4 Models of Health & Illness](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-1-4-models-of-health-and-illness.md)
  - [5.1.5 End of Topic Test - Social Constructions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-1-5-end-of-topic-test-social-constructions.md)
- 5.2 Social Distribution of Healthcare
  - [5.2.1 Social Class](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-2-1-social-class.md)
  - [5.2.2 Gender](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-2-2-gender.md)
  - [5.2.3 Ethnicity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-2-3-ethnicity.md)
  - [5.2.4 Regional](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-2-4-regional.md)
- 5.3 Provision & Access to Healthcare
  - [5.3.1 The NHS](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-3-1-the-nhs.md)
  - [5.3.2 Inequalities in Provision](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-3-2-inequalities-in-provision.md)
  - [5.3.3 Sociological Explanations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-3-3-sociological-explanations.md)
  - [5.3.4 Inequalities in Access](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-3-4-inequalities-in-access.md)
  - [5.3.5 Inequalities in Access 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-3-5-inequalities-in-access-2.md)
  - [5.3.6 End of Topic Test - Distribution Health](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-3-6-end-of-topic-test-distribution-health.md)
- 5.4 Mental Health
  - [5.4.1 The Biomedical Approach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-4-1-the-biomedical-approach.md)
  - [5.4.2 Social Patterns](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-4-2-social-patterns.md)
  - [5.4.3 Social Constructionist Approach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-4-3-social-constructionist-approach.md)
- 5.5 The Globalised Health Industry
  - [5.5.1 The Functionalist Approach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-5-1-the-functionalist-approach.md)
  - [5.5.2 The Postmodernist Approach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-5-2-the-postmodernist-approach.md)
  - [5.5.3 The Globalised Health Industry](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-5-3-the-globalised-health-industry.md)
  - [5.5.4 End of Topic Test - Mental Health & Globalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/5-5-4-end-of-topic-test-mental-health-and-globalisation.md)

### 6 Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare
- 6.1 Poverty & Wealth
  - [6.1.1 Types of Poverty](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/6-1-1-types-of-poverty.md)
  - [6.1.2 Types of Poverty 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/6-1-2-types-of-poverty-2.md)
  - [6.1.3 Distribution of Wealth UK](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/6-1-3-distribution-of-wealth-uk.md)
  - [6.1.4 Sociological Theories](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/6-1-4-sociological-theories.md)
  - [6.1.5 Sociological Theories 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/6-1-5-sociological-theories-2.md)
  - [6.1.6 Distribution of Poverty UK](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/6-1-6-distribution-of-poverty-uk.md)
  - [6.1.7 End of Topic Test - Poverty & Wealth](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/6-1-7-end-of-topic-test-poverty-and-wealth.md)
- 6.2 Welfare
  - [6.2.1 The Welfare State](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/6-2-1-the-welfare-state.md)
  - [6.2.2 Theoretical Approaches to Welfare](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/6-2-2-theoretical-approaches-to-welfare.md)
- 6.3 Labour Process
  - [6.3.1 Nature of Work](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/6-3-1-nature-of-work.md)
  - [6.3.2 Technology & Control](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/6-3-2-technology-and-control.md)
  - [6.3.3 Work & Life](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/6-3-3-work-and-life.md)
  - [6.3.4 The Effects of Globalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/6-3-4-the-effects-of-globalisation.md)
  - [6.3.5 Globalisation & Worklessness](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/6-3-5-globalisation-and-worklessness.md)
  - [6.3.6 End of Topic Test - Welfare & Labour](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/6-3-6-end-of-topic-test-welfare-and-labour.md)

### 7 Option 2: Beliefs in Society
- 7.1 Ideology, Science & Religion
  - [7.1.1 Types of Religion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/7-1-1-types-of-religion.md)
  - [7.1.2 Ideology & Belief Systems](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/7-1-2-ideology-and-belief-systems.md)
  - [7.1.3 Social Stability & Religion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/7-1-3-social-stability-and-religion.md)
  - [7.1.4 Social Change & Religion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/7-1-4-social-change-and-religion.md)
  - [7.1.5 End of Topic Test - Ideology, Science & Religion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/7-1-5-end-of-topic-test-ideology-science-and-religion.md)
- 7.2 Religious Movements
  - [7.2.1 Religious Organisations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/7-2-1-religious-organisations.md)
  - [7.2.2 New Religious Movements](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/7-2-2-new-religious-movements.md)
  - [7.2.3 New Age Movements](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/7-2-3-new-age-movements.md)
  - [7.2.4 Practice Exam Question - Growth of NRMs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/7-2-4-practice-exam-question-growth-of-nrms.md)
- 7.3 Society & Religion
  - [7.3.1 Social Groups & Religion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/7-3-1-social-groups-and-religion.md)
  - [7.3.2 Gender & Religion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/7-3-2-gender-and-religion.md)
  - [7.3.3 End of Topic Test- Religious Movements & Society](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/7-3-3-end-of-topic-test-religious-movements-and-society.md)
- 7.4 Contemporary Religion
  - [7.4.1 Secularisation UK](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/7-4-1-secularisation-uk.md)
  - [7.4.2 Against Secularisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/7-4-2-against-secularisation.md)
  - [7.4.3 Secularisation US](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/7-4-3-secularisation-us.md)
  - [7.4.4 Fundamentalism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/7-4-4-fundamentalism.md)
  - [7.4.5 Economic Development & Religion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/7-4-5-economic-development-and-religion.md)
  - [7.4.6 End of Topic - Contemporary Religion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/7-4-6-end-of-topic-contemporary-religion.md)

### 8 Option 2: Global Development
- 8.1 Development, Underdevelopment & Global Inequality
  - [8.1.1 Development](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/8-1-1-development.md)
  - [8.1.2 Underdevelopment & Global Inequality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/8-1-2-underdevelopment-and-global-inequality.md)
- 8.2 Globalisation & Global Organisations
  - [8.2.1 Globalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/8-2-1-globalisation.md)
  - [8.2.2 Transnational Corporations & International Agency](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/8-2-2-transnational-corporations-and-international-agency.md)
  - [8.2.3 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/8-2-3-non-governmental-organisations-ngos.md)
- 8.3 Aid, Trade, Industrialisation, Urbanisation
  - [8.3.1 Development: Aid & Trade](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/8-3-1-development-aid-and-trade.md)
  - [8.3.2 Development: Industrialisation & Urbanisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/8-3-2-development-industrialisation-and-urbanisation.md)
  - [8.3.3 Development: Environment & War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/8-3-3-development-environment-and-war.md)

### 9 Option 2: The Media
- 9.1 Contemporary Media
  - [9.1.1 New Media](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/9-1-1-new-media.md)
  - [9.1.2 Control of the Media](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/9-1-2-control-of-the-media.md)
  - [9.1.3 Sociological Approaches: New Media](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/9-1-3-sociological-approaches-new-media.md)
  - [9.1.4 Globalisation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/9-1-4-globalisation.md)
  - [9.1.5 News Selection](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/9-1-5-news-selection.md)
  - [9.1.6 Moral Panics](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/9-1-6-moral-panics.md)
  - [9.1.7 End of Topic Test - Contemporary Media](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/9-1-7-end-of-topic-test-contemporary-media.md)
- 9.2 Media Representations
  - [9.2.1 Age](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/9-2-1-age.md)
  - [9.2.2 Social Class & Ethnicity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/9-2-2-social-class-and-ethnicity.md)
  - [9.2.3 Gender](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/9-2-3-gender.md)
  - [9.2.4 Sexuality & Disability](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/9-2-4-sexuality-and-disability.md)
  - [9.2.5 Practice Exam Questions - Presentation of Women](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/9-2-5-practice-exam-questions-presentation-of-women.md)
- 9.3 Audiences
  - [9.3.1 Media Theories](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/9-3-1-media-theories.md)
  - [9.3.2 Media Theories 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/9-3-2-media-theories-2.md)
  - [9.3.3 Media Representations & Audiences](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/9-3-3-media-representations-and-audiences.md)

### 10 Crime & Deviance
- 10.1 Crime & Society
  - [10.1.1 Functionalism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/10-1-1-functionalism.md)
  - [10.1.2 Subcultural Theory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/10-1-2-subcultural-theory.md)
  - [10.1.3 Marxism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/10-1-3-marxism.md)
  - [10.1.4 Moral Entrepreneurs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/10-1-4-moral-entrepreneurs.md)
  - [10.1.5 Labelling Theory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/10-1-5-labelling-theory.md)
  - [10.1.6 Realism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/10-1-6-realism.md)
  - [10.1.7 Other Approaches](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/10-1-7-other-approaches.md)
  - [10.1.8 End of Topic Test - Crime & Society](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/10-1-8-end-of-topic-test-crime-and-society.md)
  - [10.1.9 Practice Exam Questions - Social Construction](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/10-1-9-practice-exam-questions-social-construction.md)
- 10.2 Social Distribution of Crime
  - [10.2.1 Ethnicity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/10-2-1-ethnicity.md)
  - [10.2.2 Gender](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/10-2-2-gender.md)
  - [10.2.3 Globalisation & Crime](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/10-2-3-globalisation-and-crime.md)
  - [10.2.4 Media & Crime](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/10-2-4-media-and-crime.md)
  - [10.2.5 Types of Crimes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/10-2-5-types-of-crimes.md)
  - [10.2.6 End of Topic Test - Social Distribution of Crime](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/10-2-6-end-of-topic-test-social-distribution-of-crime.md)
- 10.3 Prevention & Punishment
  - [10.3.1 Surveillance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/10-3-1-surveillance.md)
  - [10.3.2 Prevention](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/10-3-2-prevention.md)
  - [10.3.3 Punishment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/10-3-3-punishment.md)
  - [10.3.4 Victimology](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/10-3-4-victimology.md)
  - [10.3.5 End of Topic Test - Prevention & Punishment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/sociology/aqa/10-3-5-end-of-topic-test-prevention-and-punishment.md)
