Important Definitions (Culture, Socialization and Identity)

Question 1

Define the concept of a Norm

Answer 1

A common form of behaviors which most people in a society follow. It’s not a written rule but it is something that your are expected to follow. Norms are regulated by sanctions and rewards and are relative. For example, in our society it is customary to not burp out loud but in some societies it is approved as it shows that one has fully appreciated their meal.

Question 2

Define the concept of Values

Answer 2

It is a principle or belief which the majority of society agrees on. They inform behaviour and vary from individual to individual. Are relative to context, time and society. There are many different types of values including: moral values, religious values and social values.

Question 3

Define Popular Culture

Answer 3

The culture of the masses e.g. going to the cinema

Question 4

Define Bourgeoisie

Answer 4

The upper/ruling class.

Question 5

Define Cultural Capital

Answer 5

How much someone can understand and access high culture.

Question 6

Define Culture

Answer 6

The values, beliefs, customs and the way of life of a society or group within society.

Question 7

Define Consumer Culture

Answer 7

Where buying things that are not necessarily needed is the norm. Which has been actively encouraged by capitalist societies as it makes people spend money. (Lury)

Question 8

Define Global Culture

Answer 8

A culture shared by many people across the world, which has been formed due to the world becoming more interconnected. (Ritzer)

Question 9

Define Cultural Homogenisation

Answer 9

Where people all over the world are becoming more similar due to globalization. (Ritzer)

Question 10

What is ‘McDonaldisation’?

Answer 10

Where large companies (often American) are dominating globally and bringing their culture with them. (Ritzer)

Question 11

What is Cultural Diversity?

Answer 11

Is where there are people from many different cultures and backgrounds living in a society.
Statistics to use in exams (from the 2001 census):
Population of England and Wales was 14.1% BAME
London had 40.2% of BAME population

Question 12

What is Multiculturalism?

Answer 12

Is the political belief that ALL ethnic groups have the same status in society and have equal the right to preserve their own cultural heritage in the UK e.g. wearing of the veil.

Question 13

What is a Subculture?

Answer 13

A culture within the mainstream culture, that has different values, lifestyle and dress to the main culture.

Question 14

What is a ‘feral child’?

Answer 14

A child who has not received primary socialistaion.

Question 15

What is an ‘agent of socialisation’?

Answer 15

The many people or institutions that socialize individuals.

Question 16

What is a ‘formal social control’?

Answer 16

Is associated with the formal agents of socialisation such as education, religion and the workplace. They use formal mechanisms of social control such as codes of conduct in education, guidelines of behaviour in religion and the rules and regulations in the workplace in order to control people.

Question 17

What is ‘informal social control’?

Answer 17

Associated with the less formal agents of socialisation such as the family, peers and the media. Control is exercised, but without written rules and guidelines. Instead rewards and sanctions are used to reinforce positive behaviour or discourage negative behaviour.

Question 18

Define Secondary Socialisation

Answer 18

The learning of social norms, values and behaviours outside of the house. It begins when children start school and continues to happen with things such as sharing and asking to go to the toilet, that a big emphasis placed on them. It is perpetuated by other agents of socialisation outside the home and is reinforced throughout their life.

Question 19

What is ‘stratification’?

Answer 19

The layering of different groups in society.

Question 20

Define Nouvezriche

Answer 20

People who were not born with money but are now super rich.

Question 21

Define Proletariat

Answer 21

People who are employed by the bourgeoisie. (Karl Marx)

Question 22

What is ‘reflexive modernity’?

Answer 22

A phase we are now in AFTER modern society.

Question 23

What is ‘compulsory heterosexuality’?

Answer 23

When women are socialised into a passive role, ensuring their availability to men.

Question 24

What is ‘hybrid identity’?

Answer 24

A combination of two or more ethnic identities e.g. ‘Brasian’ - British/Asian.

Question 25

What is a ‘generational shift’?

Answer 25

Young South Asians identifying more with a British identity as they are less likely than their elders to speak to other family members in Southern Asian languages.

Question 26

What is Age Identity?

Answer 26

Expectations associated with age as well as the number of years a person has been alive.

Question 27

What is Identity?

Answer 27

Refers to the way in which we see ourselves compared to other people. For example, we will all have a unique combination of characteristics such as date and place of birth, name and personal biography.

Question 28

What is high culture?

Answer 28

The culture of the elite (upper class) e.g. playing chess.

Question 29

What is Nature?

Answer 29

Refers to the argument that we genetically inherit all of our behavioural traits through our DNA. Nativists (Plato and Descartes) argue that the characteristics of the human species as a whole are a product of evolution and that individual differences are due to each person’s unique genetic code.

Question 30

What is Nurture?

Answer 30

Refers to the view that humans acquire all of their behavioural traits from the environment. According to this notion, everything that we are and all of our knowledge is determined by our experiences. Therefore, behavioural differences are the result of learning and experience, not biology.

Question 31

What is Cultural hybridity?

Answer 31

Where two cultures are combined, new, different forms of culture emerge. These are known as cultural hybrids. It is linked to the globalisation process, which refers to the spread of western ideas and culture. Western culture and local cultures combine in order to produce new forms of culture. It can be hard to disentangle cultures and it is often the case that it is more than two cultures that combine to produce the new form of culture. Case in point Gill and ‘Blasians’.

Question 32

What is social control?

Answer 32

A foundation of order within society, where people are controlled through formal and informal controls.

Question 33

What is Intersectionality?

Answer 33

The view that women experience oppression in varying configurations and in varying degrees of intensity due to the layering of different identities.

Question 34

What are the different types of masculinity?

Answer 34

Hegemonic masculinity (laddish behaviour, breadwinner role, manual labour, traditional masculinity)
Hyper masculinity (aggressive behaviour, 3 f's fighting, fucking, football)
Subordinate masculinity (associate with homosexual men)
Marginalised masculinity (unemployed men)