education and functionalism key Flashcards
sociology
The study of society which explores social structures in order to comprehend human behaviour
society
A group of people with a common culture – used to describe a nation state
culture
Customs, ideas, beliefs and practices of a particular group or society
norms
Social rules, expectations or standards that govern our behaviour. They can be formal or informal
values
Important beliefs and ideas held by individuals, social groups and members of society. They tell us what is good and bad and aid with social order
consensus
an agreement among society’s members about what values are important
macro theory
(attempts to explain how society functions as a whole)
Institutions in society have clear functions, which ensure there is a value consensus (an agreement) about the norms and values of society and which enable organic analogy and the smooth running of society
particularistic standards
Rules that apply only to that particular child e.g. in the home, ascribed status – in some cultures the eldest son/daughter must marry first
universalistic standards
rules that apply to everyone e.g. , the GCSE grading system, the British constitution
ascribed status
the social status a person is assigned at birth or assumed involuntarily later in life
achieved status
a social position that a person can acquire on the basis of merit
capitalism
an economic system based on pursuit of profit, in which means of production are privately owned by wealthy individuals or corporations
means of production
the tools and materials used to produce goods and services
relations of production
the relationship between the owners of the means of production and labourers
The capitalist system/ ruling class (bourgeoisie)
The minority class. They are the employers who own the means of production. They make their profits by exploiting the labour of the majority.
