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Essay / Sociology and Human Behavior - 769
Sociology has come a long way since its beginnings, with new discoveries and a better understanding of how society functions as a whole. Scientists are able to see how the behaviors of each individual help us deepen our knowledge of their origins and development. However, many aspects of sociology remain subject to debate. One such topic is the primacy of structure and action in influencing human behavior. Structure is defined as the designed arrangements that impact or limit the decisions and opportunities available. Agency is defined as the ability of individuals to act for themselves and make their own choices without influence (Duffy and Mandell, 2011: 357). The debate between structure and agency can be seen as a question of socialization versus autonomy in determining whether people work as a free agent or whether they work in a manner managed by the social structure. Kosut and Moore (2010) argue that the body “is the ultimate locus of the division in sociology between structure and action” (Kosut and Moore, 2010: 2). They use many theories and the work of other sociologists to support their argument for the idea of the body and how it can be used in everyday society. The body can be seen as the locus of division between the two aspects, because although people have the right to do whatever they want with their own bodies, such as getting tattoos or expressing themselves through fashion, the Individuals always tend to follow the social norm in terms of not being excluded or becoming an outcast. So, does the body fall into a structure or an action? Arthur Frank described the body as a mode of communication, because the body itself is not voiceless, but it is voiceless, and what is it...... in the middle of paper.... ..n structure and arrangement is the aging body. In the past, society respected and revered its elders, thinking that it was a natural and normal process, but in today's society, people want to hide the aging process and everything that comes with it , considering it as an illness (Calasanti, 2005: 1). Individuals are expected to show control over their bodies and showing signs of loss means they are unfit, unhealthy and not following social structures (Calasanti, 2005: 2). Losing such control is considered unacceptable and thus you become considered abnormal. Many companies have developed many different methods, for example anti-aging creams, to prevent the signs of aging, so one can be more socially acceptable when it comes to old age, but this goes to against action, because people should be able to age in peace and not have to worry about what society thinks.