Book1

Question 1

Social Institutions

Answer 1

The various organized social arrangements which are found in all societies

Question 2

Social structure

Answer 2

The social institutions and social relationships that form the ‘building blocks’ of society

Question 3

Socialization

Answer 3

The lifelong process of learning the culture of any society

Question 4

Culture

Answer 4

The language, beliefs, values and norms, customs, dress, diet, roles knowledge and skills which make up the ‘way of life’ of any society

Question 5

Identity

Answer 5

How individuals see and define themselves and how other people see and define them

Question 6

Roles

Answer 6

The patterns of behavior which are expected from individuals in society

Question 7

Role Models

Answer 7

People’s patterns of behaviour which others copy and model their own behaviour on

Question 8

Role Conflict

Answer 8

The conflict between the successful performance of two or more roles at the same time, such as those of a worker, mother and student

Question 9

Values

Answer 9

General beliefs about what is right or wrong, and about the important standards which are worth maintaining and achieving in any society or social group

Question 10

Laws

Answer 10

Official legal rules

Question 11

Norms

Answer 11

Social rules which define the correct and acceptable behaviour in a society or social group to which people are expected to confrom

Question 12

Customs

Answer 12

Norms which have lasted for a long time and have become part of a society’s traditions

Question 13

Social Control

Answer 13

The term given to the various methods used to persuade or force individuals to conform to the dominant social norms and values of a society

Question 14

Deviance

Answer 14

The failure to conform to social norms

Question 15

Sanctions

Answer 15

The rewards and punishments by which social control is achieved and conformity to norms and values enforced.

Question 16

Positive sanctions

Answer 16

Rewards of various kinds

Question 17

Negative sanctions

Answer 17

Various types of punishment

Question 18

Social class

Answer 18

A group of people who share a similar economic situation, such as a similar occupational level, income and ownership of wealth.

Question 19

Social mobility

Answer 19

The movement of groups of individuals up or down the social hierarchy, from one social class to another

Question 20

Status

Answer 20

Sometimes refers to the role position someone occupies in society, but ore commonly refers to the amount of prestige or social importance a person has in the eyes of other members of a group or society

Question 21

Ascribed status

Answer 21

the status given by birth or family background, which, in general, cannot be changed by individuals

Question 22

Achieved status

Answer 22

A status that is achieved by an individual’s own efforts or talents

Question 23

Structuralism

Answer 23

a perspective which is concerned with the overall structure of society, and sees individual behaviour moulded by social institutions like the family, the education system, the mass media and work

Question 24

Macro Approach

Answer 24

Focuses on the large-scale structure of society as a whole, rather than on individuals

Question 25

Functionalism

Answer 25

A sociological perspective which sees society as made up of parts that work together to maintain society as an integrated whole. Society is seen as fundamentally harmonious and stable, because of the agreement on basic values (value consensus) established through socialization.

Question 26

Functional prerequisites

Answer 26

The basic needs that must be met if society is to survive

Question 27

Value consensus

Answer 27

a general agreement around the main values and norms of any society

Question 28

Marxism

Answer 28

A structural theory of society which sees society divided by conflict between two main opposing social classes, due to private ownership of the means of production: the key resources necessary for producing society's goods, such as land, factories and machinery.

Question 29

Means of production

Answer 29

The key resources necessary for producing society's goods, such as land, factories and machinery

Question 30

Relations of production

Answer 30

The forms of relationship between those people involved in production, such as cooperation or private ownership and control

Question 31

Ideology

Answer 31

A set of ideas, values and beliefs that represents the outlook, and justifies the interests, of a social group

Question 32

Surplus value

Answer 32

The extra value added by workers to the products they produce, after allowing for the payment of their wages, and which goes to the employer in the form of profit

Question 33

Class conflict

Answer 33

The conflict that arises between different social classes. It is generally used to describe the conflict between the bourgeoisie and proletariat in Marxist views of society

Question 34

The ruling class

Answer 34

The social class of owners of the means of production, whose control over the economy gives them power over all aspects of society, enabling them to rule over society

Question 35

The dominant ideology

Answer 35

The set of ideas and beliefs of the most powerful groups in society, which influences the ideas of the rest of society

Question 36

Ruling class ideology

Answer 36

The set of ideas of the ruling class

Question 37

False consciousness

Answer 37

A failure by members of a social class to recognize their real interests

Question 38

Class consciousness

Answer 38

is an awareness in members of a social class of their real interests

Question 39

Social Action theories or interprevist approaches

Answer 39

Perspectives which emphasize the creative action which people can take, rather than seeing them as simply passive victims of social forces outside them. Social action theory suggests it is important to understand the motives and meanings people give to their behaviour, and how this is influenced by the behaviour and interpretations of others. The focus of research is therefore on individuals or small groups rather than on society as a whole

Question 40

Determinism

Answer 40

The idea that people's behaviour is moulded by their social surroundings, and that they have little free will, control or choice over they they behave.

Question 41

Micro-approach

Answer 41

Focuses on small groups or individuals, rather than on the structure of society as a whole.

Question 42

Symbolic interactionalism

Answer 42

A sociological perspective which is concerned with understanding human behaviour in face- to- face situations and how individuals come to be defined in particular ways through their encounters with other people

Question 43

Labelling

Answer 43

Defining a person or group in a certain way - as a particular 'type' of person or group

Question 44

Structuration

Answer 44

An approach between structuralism and social action theory. It suggests that while people are constrained by social institutions, they also have a choice and can at the same time take action to support or change those institutions

Question 45

Feminsim

Answer 45

A view that examines the world from the point of view of women, who are seen as disadvantaged, with their interests ignored or devalued in society

Question 46

Marxist Feminism

Answer 46

Feminism that takes a Marxist approach to the study of women and women's interests and emphasizes the way in which women are doubly exploited - both as workers and as women

Question 47

Radical feminism

Answer 47

Focuses on the problem of men and male domination under patriarchy

Question 48

Patriarchy

Answer 48

The system whereby males dominate in every area of society

Question 49

Liberal Feminism

Answer 49

Focuses on measures to ensure that women have equal opportunities with men within the present system

Question 50

The New Right approach

Answer 50

Stresses individual freedom and self-help and self-reliance, reduction of the power and spending of the state, the free market and free competition between private companies, schools and other institutions, and the importance of traditional institutions and values

Question 51

Postmodernism

Answer 51

An approach that stresses that society is changing so rapidly and constantly that is is marked by chaos, uncertainty and risk, and is fragmented into many different groups, interests and lifestyles. Social structures are being replaced by a mass of individuals making individual choices about their lifestyles. Societies can no longer be understood through the application of general theories or grand stories (metanarratives) like Marxism or functionalism, which seek to explain society as a whole.

Question 52

Metanarrative

Answer 52

A broad all-embracing 'big theory' (literally a 'big story') or explanation for how societies operate

Question 53

A Social problem

Answer 53

Something that is seen as being harmful to society in some way, and needs something doing to sort it out

Question 54

A sociological problem

Answer 54

an social issue hat needs explaining

Question 55

Social Policy

Answer 55

Refers to the packages of plans and actions adopted by national and local government or various voluntary agencies to solve social problems or achieve other goals that are seen as important.