11–12Society and Culture 11–12 Syllabus (2026)

Individuals: Each person is a unique individual who develops in social, cultural and environmental settings where they are influenced by and interact with other individuals and groups. Ways in which individuals interact include communication, the sharing of values and beliefs, and cooperation.

Society: Society is made up of individuals, groups, networks, institutions, organisations and systems and includes the common ways people live together in local, national and global communities. People belong to informal and formal groups. Within and between these groups, people interact in ways that shape shared culture.

Culture: Culture refers to the shared knowledge, attitudes and behaviours that constitute a peoples’ way of life. Culture is demonstrated through the beliefs, customs, values, rules, laws, governance, arts, technologies and artefacts that people generate in order to interpret or derive identity and meaning from their world. While culture is continuous, it is also dynamic and undergoes change.

Identity: Identity refers to a person’s sense of self. Identity develops over time through interactions with family, peers, communities and wider society. It can include aspects such as family, ancestry, gender, beliefs and status, and may create a sense of belonging or difference within a group or culture.

Environment: Each society is located in and interacts with a particular physical setting. The values people hold about the environment influence how they use and care for it. Different environments provide opportunities and challenges, which can shape the culture and daily life of a society.

Power: The ability or capacity to influence or persuade others to a point of view or action with which they may not agree is known as power. Power can come from different sources, such as social status, wealth, knowledge or political position. It can exist in everyday relationships as well as in formal institutions like governments and organisations. Power is not always shared equally in society and may be challenged or debated.

Authority: Legitimated power is known as authority. Authority can be informal, such as the respect given to elders, community leaders or cultural practices. It can also be formal, such as the power held by leaders and governments. Authority plays an important role in decision-making, resolving disputes and maintaining order or guiding change.

Continuity and change: Individuals, societies, cultures and environments exist in a time and are changed over time. Continuity is evident in the maintenance of cultural elements in a society across time, and through the maintenance of traditions and social structures that bring stability to a society. Change is evident in the alteration of social and cultural elements in a society, brought about by a range of processes, including new worldviews or technological innovations. Perceptions of continuity and change are drawn from past events, and influence ideas of the present and predictions about the future.