Subculture | AQA A-Level Sociology

For Specification 7192

AQA A-Level Sociology | Free Revision Notes

Estimated study time: 35 minutes

exam questions by topic 👇

Subculture is one of the different conceptions of culture that AQA requires students to study within Culture and Identity. This Subculture A-Level Sociology revision page examines where subculture fits within the specification, its relationship to wider themes such as socialisation and identity, and how students should approach the concept sociologically. It builds directly on understanding culture [Understanding culture] and prepares you for comparing subculture with other cultural forms later in the topic.

Learning Objectives 🎯

By the end of this revision page, you should be able to:

• Explain where the concept of subculture fits within the AQA Culture and Identity topic.

• Examine relationships between subculture and the wider themes of culture, socialisation and identity.

• Explain how subculture can be considered alongside social differentiation, power and stratification.

• Analyse the place of subculture within contemporary social life.

• Recognise what would be required when evaluating sociological explanations of subcultural identity.

Revision Notes 📚

Subculture within Culture and Identity

AQA requires students studying Culture and Identity to be familiar with sociological explanations of different conceptions of culture. The specification identifies:

• subculture

• mass culture

• folk culture

• high culture

• low culture

• popular culture

• global culture.

Subculture is therefore not an optional extra within this topic. It is explicitly named as one of the conceptions of culture students may need to understand and use sociologically.

This lesson follows understanding culture [Understanding culture]. It is then followed by other conceptions of culture [Mass, folk, high and low culture], allowing you to compare different ways in which culture can be understood.

Subculture and wider society

Although the specification does not explain a particular relationship between subcultures and wider society, it does tell students how all Topics in Sociology should be approached.

Culture and Identity should be examined in relation to the two AQA core themes:

1. socialisation, culture and identity

2. social differentiation, power and stratification.

AQA describes these themes as threads running through different areas of social life rather than as completely separate topics. This means that a sociological study of subculture should not stop at recognising the term. Students should be prepared to connect cultural issues with wider sociological questions.

Subculture, culture and identity

Subculture appears within the same specification section as:

• socialisation

• agencies of socialisation

• the self

• identity

• difference

• identity in relation to age, disability, ethnicity, gender, nationality, sexuality and social class

• production, consumption and globalisation.

AQA does not state that every one of these factors must explain every subculture. However, the specification explicitly encourages students to draw links between different areas of Sociology.

The relationship between culture and how individuals become part of society will be developed through socialisation [The socialisation process], while the link between society and personal or group identity is explored more directly in self and identity [The self, identity and difference].

Subculture and socialisation

The socialisation process immediately follows the different conceptions of culture within the AQA specification. Students are also required to study the role of agencies of socialisation.

This establishes an important area for sociological thinking: culture should be considered alongside processes through which people become connected to the social world.

Detailed explanations of this process belong in socialisation [The socialisation process] and agencies of socialisation [Agencies of socialisation]. The supplied specification does not provide enough information to claim particular agencies produce particular subcultures.

Subculture and identity

AQA requires students to study the self, identity and difference as both socially caused and socially constructed. It also requires identity to be considered in relation to several social characteristics.

This is relevant to the learning objective concerning subcultural identity because it places questions of identity within a wider social context.

Subculture and social differentiation

The second core theme required throughout AQA Sociology is social differentiation, power and stratification.

Students should therefore avoid thinking about culture as though it exists separately from the organisation of social life.

The course later considers identity directly in relation to social characteristics including:

Specification area	Connection within Culture and Identity
Age	Identity must be examined in relation to age
Disability	Identity must be examined in relation to disability
Ethnicity	Identity must be examined in relation to ethnicity
Gender	Identity must be examined in relation to gender
Nationality	Identity must be examined in relation to nationality
Sexuality	Identity must be examined in relation to sexuality
Social class	Identity must be examined in relation to social class

These relationships are developed in later lessons, including age and disability [Age and disability identities], ethnicity and nationality [Ethnicity and nationality], gender and sexuality [Gender and sexuality] and class identity [Social class and identity].

⚠️ This does not mean the specification says that each of these social characteristics necessarily creates a particular subculture. It means that identity and social differentiation are important wider parts of the Culture and Identity topic.

Subculture and different conceptions of culture

AQA's wording is important. It refers to different conceptions of culture, which means students need to recognise that subculture sits alongside several other ways of considering culture.

Conception specifically named by AQA	Where it fits in the revision plan
Subculture	This lesson
Mass culture	Next comparison lesson [Mass, folk, high and low culture]
Folk culture	Next comparison lesson [Mass, folk, high and low culture]
High culture	Next comparison lesson [Mass, folk, high and low culture]
Low culture	Next comparison lesson [Mass, folk, high and low culture]
Popular culture	Popular and global culture [Popular and global culture]
Global culture	Popular and global culture [Popular and global culture]

The specification itself does not supply definitions that would allow these cultural conceptions to be compared in detail.

Subculture in contemporary society

AQA states that the central focus of the Sociology specification should be UK society today, while comparative dimensions should be considered where relevant. This includes understanding UK society within a globalised context.

When studying subculture as part of the complete course, students should therefore be prepared to apply sociological ideas to contemporary social life rather than treating culture as purely historical or abstract.

Global dimensions become particularly important in popular and global culture [Popular and global culture] and later in production, consumption and globalisation [Production, consumption, globalisation and identity].

Sociological explanations of subcultural identity

The lesson plan asks students to:

Evaluate sociological explanations of subcultural identity. 

AQA also states more generally that students should examine both evidence and sociological explanations for the content within Topics in Sociology. Sociological theories and perspectives are integral elements throughout the course.

Adding named approaches or studies here would therefore breach the requirement to use the supplied specification as the absolute content boundary.

Applying subculture in an examination

AQA A-Level Sociology assesses three assessment objectives:

• AO1: knowledge and understanding of sociological theories, concepts, evidence and research methods

• AO2: application of sociological knowledge to issues

• AO3: analysis and evaluation, including arguments, judgements and conclusions.

For subculture, this means students ultimately need more than recognition of the term.

AO1 could require accurate knowledge of the concept and appropriate sociological explanations.

AO2 could require that knowledge to be applied to an issue or source material.

AO3 could require comparison, analysis, evaluation and a supported judgement.

The supplied material establishes that subculture is testable but does not provide enough substantive material to construct accurate AO1 knowledge of named explanations. Students would therefore need specification-compatible teaching material before attempting detailed evaluation questions about specific subcultural theories.

Key Words 🔑

Key word	Student-friendly definition	How it may be used in an exam
Subculture	One of the different conceptions of culture explicitly identified in the AQA specification. The supplied specification does not give a fuller definition.	May need to be identified, explained or used within discussion of Culture and Identity.
Culture	Part of the AQA core theme of socialisation, culture and identity.	Used when examining different conceptions of culture, including subculture.
Identity	A required area of Culture and Identity involving the self and difference as socially caused and socially constructed.	Can be connected to sociological discussion of culture and subcultural identity.
Socialisation	A process that AQA requires students to examine alongside culture and identity.	Used when explaining relationships between individuals and wider social life.
Social differentiation	Part of AQA's second core theme, alongside power and stratification.	Helps students connect cultural issues to wider differences in society.
Power	Part of the core theme of social differentiation, power and stratification.	May form part of wider sociological analysis where relevant.
Stratification	Part of the second core theme running throughout AQA Sociology.	Used to connect particular topics to broader patterns of social differentiation.

Common Mistakes ⚠️

Mistake: Treating subculture as the only conception of culture

Why this is incorrect: AQA lists subculture alongside mass culture, folk culture, high and low culture, popular culture and global culture.

How to improve: Learn where subculture fits within the complete specification and prepare to distinguish it from the other required conceptions of culture.

Mistake: Treating subculture as an isolated concept

Why this is incorrect: AQA requires Culture and Identity to be studied through the core themes of socialisation, culture and identity and social differentiation, power and stratification.

How to improve: When revising subculture, actively look for relevant links with identity, socialisation and wider social processes.

Mistake: Assuming AQA restricts subculture to one particular social group

Why this is incorrect: The specification simply identifies subculture as a required conception of culture. It does not restrict it to a particular age group, class, gender or other category.

How to improve: Do not add restrictions that are not stated in the specification.

Mistake: Inventing named theories or studies because the specification says "sociological explanations"

Why this is incorrect: The supplied specification requires sociological explanations but does not identify particular subcultural theories, sociologists or research studies.

How to improve: Use only sociological material that has been established as appropriate for the specification by your teaching resources. Do not attach a theorist to an explanation unless you know it accurately.

Mistake: Forgetting the wider Culture and Identity topic

Why this is incorrect: Subculture is only one part of a topic that also requires socialisation, identity and difference, different social identities, and links between identity, production, consumption and globalisation.

How to improve: Build connections between lessons instead of revising every specification point as an isolated definition.

Exam-Style Questions ✍️

Because the supplied material does not provide detailed definitions, named theories or evidence about subcultures, these questions test only the material that can be securely established from the specification.

Question 1

Identify one conception of culture specified by AQA other than subculture. [1 mark]

Question 2

State the two core themes that students must apply throughout AQA A-Level Sociology. [2 marks]

Question 3

Outline two features of the way subculture is located within the AQA Culture and Identity topic. [4 marks]

Question 4

Item A

A sociologist is investigating culture in contemporary UK society. The researcher wants to examine subculture but also considers questions of identity, socialisation and differences between social groups.

Using Item A, explain two ways in which this research reflects the wider requirements of the AQA Sociology specification. [6 marks]

Question 5

Explain two reasons why the study of subculture should be connected with wider sociological themes. [6 marks]

Question 6

Analyse the position of subculture within the AQA Culture and Identity specification. [8 marks]

Question 7

Evaluate the view that subculture should be studied as an isolated conception of culture. [10 marks]

Answers and indicative mark scheme

Question 1

Award 1 mark for any one of:

• mass culture

• folk culture

• high culture

• low culture

• popular culture

• global culture.

Question 2

Award 1 mark for each correct theme:

• socialisation, culture and identity

• social differentiation, power and stratification.

Total: 2 marks

Question 3

Award up to 2 marks for each developed feature.

Possible answers include:

• Subculture is explicitly identified as one of AQA's different conceptions of culture.

• It is located within the Culture and Identity topic.

• Culture and Identity should be examined through the core themes.

• AQA expects both evidence and sociological explanations to be considered.

• Links should be drawn between different areas of subject content.

Total: 4 marks

Question 4

Award marks for two developed applications to Item A.

For example:

• Item A refers to identity, which connects with AQA's core theme of socialisation, culture and identity and with the separate requirement to study the self, identity and difference.

• Item A refers to socialisation, another explicit part of Culture and Identity.

• Its focus on differences between social groups can be related to the core theme of social differentiation, power and stratification.

• Its focus on contemporary UK society reflects AQA's required central focus.

Answers should use details from Item A rather than simply reproduce specification wording.

Total: 6 marks

Question 5

Possible developed explanations include:

• AQA treats socialisation, culture and identity as a core theme running through many areas of social life, so culture should not be approached as a completely discrete topic.

• Social differentiation, power and stratification form a second core theme that students should apply to substantive sociology.

• AQA specifically requires links to be drawn between topic areas.

• Subculture sits within a topic that also contains socialisation, identity, difference and globalisation.

Award higher marks for explanation of the relationships rather than a simple list.

Total: 6 marks

Question 6

A stronger response should analyse several connections, such as:

• subculture as one of the required conceptions of culture

• its position alongside other conceptions of culture

• the importance of the socialisation, culture and identity core theme

• the relationship with the wider study of self, identity and difference

• connections with social differentiation, power and stratification

• the requirement to study contemporary UK society and consider global dimensions where relevant.

Analysis should make connections between these areas rather than simply listing them.

Total: 8 marks

Question 7

Arguments against studying subculture in isolation could include:

• AQA places subculture within a wider set of conceptions of culture.

• Culture itself forms part of the combined core theme of socialisation, culture and identity.

• Culture and Identity also requires study of the self, identity and difference.

• The second core theme requires consideration of social differentiation, power and stratification.

• AQA explicitly requires connections between different areas of Sociology.

A balanced response could recognise that subculture is a distinct specification concept that requires focused knowledge in its own right. However, a supported conclusion should recognise that the structure of the AQA specification encourages students to connect cultural concepts to wider sociological themes rather than treating them as entirely separate.

Total: 10 marks.