Last Updated on June 2, 2025 by Karl Thompson
The following question came up in June 2022 on the AQA A-Level topics in sociology paper…
Applying material from Item I, analyse two ways in which social change may lead to the growth of sects.
The question and item are below…
A possible answer…
With these types of 10 mark with item questions you need to take your two points from the item, here that is clear:
- Increased poverty
- Increased uncertainty
Hence your two paragraphs would be something like what is below…
Poverty and the growth of sects
Social change may lead to the growth of sects in a number of ways. One way is through increasing poverty and deprivation. As stated in Item I, “Social change can involve periods of increased poverty and higher numbers of people living in such conditions.”
According to Stark and Bainbridge, people experiencing relative deprivation—feeling deprived compared to others in society—may turn to sects as a solution to their suffering. Sects often offer hope, community, and a sense of purpose, appealing especially to those who feel excluded from mainstream society.
For example, world-rejecting New Religious Movements (NRMs) like the People’s Temple or the Nation of Islam gained followers from marginalised groups, including the poor and oppressed, by offering an alternative lifestyle and clear moral guidance.
These movements often criticise the inequalities in mainstream society, which resonates with those facing hardship during times of economic and social instability.
This can be related to the Neo-Marxist perspective on religion and social change, Otto Maduro argued that in very religious countries religion can by the only institution which can result in change, as in the example of Liberation Theology in Latin America. This attracted people mainly from the poorest sectors in society.
Uncertainty and the growth of sects
A second way social change leads to the growth of sects is through increased feelings of uncertainty. Item I highlights that “individuals may feel uncertainty in times of rapid social change.”
This can create what sociologist Durkheim called anomie, or normlessness, where traditional norms and values become less clear. In these situations, sects can offer a sense of certainty and stability.
Wallis (1984) argued that world-rejecting NRMs appeal to those who feel disillusioned with the confusion and moral ambiguity of modern life. These groups often provide a rigid set of beliefs and a strong sense of community, which can be especially attractive during periods of upheaval such as post-industrial decline or political instability.
For example, young people experiencing uncertainty about their identity or future prospects may find comfort in the structured beliefs and lifestyle of a sect. This may help explain why young people are generally more attracted to sects.
In this theory sects are reacting against Postmodern society, and one extreme form of this are Fundamentalist groups, so some of these sects may have a political dimension too, and aim to try and change society back to what they perceive to be better and more moral times.
Steve Bruce’s theory on the rise of Fundamentalism argues that lack of a central ideology, or diversity and uncertainty is part of the reason for the rise of Fundamentalist ‘sects’, but there are other reasons too (such as poverty).
Sources
This question is from the AQA June 2022 A-level sociology topics paper.
For further advice on how to answer questions in A-level sociology please see my exams and essays page…