Core Themes and Concepts

Question 1

Nature Explanation

Answer 1

The view that human behaviour is genetically based.

Question 2

Evidence to support Nature explanation

Answer 2

Animal studies - scientists have succeeded in breeding animals with specific inherited characteristics

Twin Studies - Genetically identical twins, even when raised apart are similar in terms of intelligence or personality.

Question 3

Nurture Explanation

Answer 3

The view that human behaviour is learned and are a product of the environment.

Question 4

Evidence to support Nurture explanation

Answer 4

Various examples of children isolated from human contact from birth e.g. feral children show the importance of learning in human behaviour

Question 5

Primary Socialisation

Answer 5

Takes place during infancy, learning basic norms and values from parents.

Children imitate parents and learns rules about right and wrong.

Question 6

Secondary Socialisation

Answer 6

Carried out outside of the family, continues through the rest of our lives.

Question 7

Informal Socialisation

Answer 7

Usually takes part as part of an everyday activity, informally picked up from imitating parents.

Question 8

Resocialisation

Answer 8

When people are removed from their everyday situations and encounter new social environments. It involves relearning appropriate new norms and values to operate in that environment.

Question 9

Gender socialisation

Answer 9

The process of learning social expectations of gender

Question 10

What are Oakleys 4 Gender Socialisation processes during primary socialisation

Answer 10

Manipulation
Canalisation
Verbal Appellations
Differential Activity Exposure

Question 11

Manipulation

Answer 11

Boys and girls are encouraged to adopt behaviours regarded as appropriate and normal for their gender

Question 12

Canalization

Answer 12

Boys and girls are directed towards different toys and games.

Question 13

Verbal appellations

Answer 13

Boys and girls are exposed to different language and praised or rebuked for different things

Question 14

Differential activity exposure

Answer 14

Boys are girls are exposed to and are encouraged to do different activities, by observing and imitating role models

Question 15

Typical features of British culture

Answer 15

-Overpolite
-Reserved

Question 16

Norms

Answer 16

Socially expected patterns of behaviour, behaviour regarded as normal

Question 17

What do norms ensure in society?

Answer 17

Ensure that society functions smoothly without chaos

Question 18

How are norms enforced?

Answer 18

By positive and negative sanctions

Question 19

What is an example of a norm?

Answer 19

Wearing uniform

Question 20

What is an example of a positive sanction?

Answer 20

Praise

Question 21

What is an example of negative sanction?

Answer 21

Fines, Detentions

Question 22

What are beliefs?

Answer 22

What we believe to be true about the world and the nature of society

Question 23

What are values?

Answer 23

What people consider to be right or wrong in the world.

Question 24

High Culture

Answer 24

This culture is seen to have artistic and/or intellectual value, for example fine art, classical music, opera, and literature. It refers to activities with lasting value, aimed at upper-class and middle-class groups, interested in new ideas, critical discussion and analysis. It is associated with the rich and powerful and is seen by some as superior.

Question 25

Low Culture

Answer 25

This culture refers to cultural products and pursuits characterised by their production for, and consumption by, the masses. It is associated with relatively poorer and less-powerful groups of people.

Question 26

Consumer Culture

Answer 26

This culture involves social status, values and activities being centred on buying goods or services. A large part of what you do, what you value and how you are defined revolves around buying and doing stuff.

Question 27

Mass Culture

Answer 27

Both low culture and popular culture are forms of mass culture. It is manufactured, passive, inauthentic. It consists of trivial products, dumbed down to appeal to as many people as possible, which demand little critical thought, analysis or discussion, and are of no lasting artistic value. It is simple, undemanding, easy-to-understand entertainment.

Question 28

Popular Culture

Answer 28

This culture might include extensive coverage of celebrities and lifestyles, tabloid newspapers, tv soaps and reality shows, video games, films for the mass market and books for reading on the beach. It is passive and unchallenging, often fairly mindless entertainment, aimed at the masses. Some see it as shallow.

Question 29

Folk Culture

Answer 29

Local customs and beliefs that directly reflect ordinary people’s lives and experiences, such as songs and stories that are handed down from one generation to the next. It is traditional and authentic rather than manufactured.

Question 30

Global Culture

Answer 30

One, all-embracing culture that affects everyone everywhere. For example, McDonald's is a worldwide business, growing at a colossal speed. This weakens local cultures, as local food outlets close in the face of competition. The logos of companies like Apple, Starbucks, and Nike are global brands that can be recognized across the world.

Question 31

Subcultures

Answer 31

Social groups that differ from the dominant culture in terms of norms and values. Bring like minded individuals together.

Question 32

Identity

Answer 32

It is a social construction, created by the socialisation process. E.g. being black / white or male / female only has significance because people attach importance to these characteristics.

Question 33

Roles

Answer 33

Social roles are patterns of behaviour expected of certain people according to the position they hold in society.

Question 34

Role Conflict

Answer 34

When demands of one of our roles conflicts with those of another.

Question 35

Status

Answer 35

This refers to the amount of social prestige or the person has in a particular social position.

Question 36

The Upper Class

Answer 36

Often referred to as the elite, those in society with the most power and wealth, often inherited from their families. Don't need to work. often have titles.

Question 37

The Middle Class

Answer 37

Traditionally defined as those in non-manual professions, requiring qualifications

Question 38

The Working Class

Answer 38

Associated with manual professions, like labouring and manufacturing.

Question 39

What are 3 attitudes that came from the insecurity of life in the traditional working class?

Answer 39

Immediate Gratification: Enjoying pleasures now instead of later. A present orientation: A focus on the present rather than long term goals. A sense of fatalism: An acceptance of your situation as they don't see much hope in changing their lives.

Question 40

What is the functionalist view of the class system?

Answer 40

Functionalists argue that social class differences are inevitable in society. People are rewarded was on ability meaning people who work hard will be able to gain status and become socially mobile. They believe everyone has the chance to succeed.

Question 41

What is the Marxist view of the class system?

Answer 41

Marxism focuses on class conflict. They believe everyone fits into either the bourgeoise or the proletariat class based on their relationship to the means of production.

Question 42

What is the New Right view of the class system?

Answer 42

They believe there is a class under the traditional working class called the underclass, who are those unable or unwilling to work and dependent on state benefits. They believe this class is inadequately socialised and are the cause of many problems in society.

Question 43

What is the Post Modernists view of the class system?

Answer 43

They reject the influence of individual social class, society is too fragmented for people to conform to the norms and values of different social classes. They believe greater individualism means these classes no longer apply. People pick and choose their identities.

Question 44

What does Pierre Bordieu believe?

Answer 44

He believes that individuals of similar status tend to have similar tastes and attributes, he called this their habitus.

Question 45

What are Pierre Bordieus 4 main sources of capital in society?

Answer 45

Economic Capital: Consists of material wealth and income Cultural Capital: Including educational qualifications and knowledge and understanding of the creative and artistic aspects of culture Social Capital: Consists of social connections - who you know and who who can call on for help or favours. Symbolic Capital: Similar to the concept of status, refers to an image of respectability and honourability.

Question 46

Ethnicity

Answer 46

Refers to shared culture and identity, an ethnic group is one whose members see themselves as a group with a shared heritage and cultural background.

Question 47

Physical Power

Answer 47

Involves the threat of violence

Question 48

Economical Power

Answer 48

Involves control over scarce resources

Question 49

Social Power

Answer 49

Advantages one may have in their ability to exert their will .

Question 50

Differentiation

Answer 50

The way people perceive each other as different.

Question 51

Stratification

Answer 51

Using perceived differences as a power or authority.

Question 52

Intersectionality

Answer 52

Class, age, gender and ethnicity will interact in various combinations.

Question 53

Social Policy

Answer 53

The plans and actions of state agencies such as health and social services, the welfare system and schools.

Question 54

Globalisation

Answer 54

The process whereby the world is becoming more interconnected.

Question 55

Economic Globalisation

Answer 55

The globalisation of trade, production and consumption.

Question 56

Cultural Globalisation

Answer 56

The increasingly rapid spread of ideas and values around the globe. Includes everything from the spread of music and fashion to the spread of political and religious ideas.