Key Concepts in Sociology

Question 1

What are norms?

Answer 1

Normal human behaviour accepted by society e.g. Greeting someone with a handshake.

Question 2

What is primary socialisation?

Answer 2

Occurs during early childhood. The main agents are:

• parents and family members
• anyone who’s close to you (e.g.nanny)

Question 3

What is secondary socialisation?

Answer 3

Occurs through childhood to adulthood. The agents are:

• peers (age/social group)
• school and teachers
• religion
• media

Question 4

What are values?

Answer 4

Beliefs shared by society.

Question 5

What is culture?

Answer 5

The way of life shared by society.

Question 6

What is social differentiation?

Answer 6

Subcultures within a culture that share the same norms and values.

Question 7

What is stratification?

Answer 7

The hierarchy of different layers in society based on power and money.

Question 8

What is achieved status?

Answer 8

Earned position through behaviour and choices

Question 9

What is ascribed status?

Answer 9

A position your born into e.g. Royal family

Question 10

What is social mobility?

Answer 10

Movement through social hierarchy. Upward or downward social mobility

Question 11

What are demographics?

Answer 11

Categorising people into gender, ethnicity and religion, etc.

Question 12

What are subcultures?

Answer 12

Small groups in bigger culture

Question 13

Explain the key theory on Marxism?

Answer 13

-The economy is the key driving force

Question 14

What is socialisation?

Answer 14

Is the process by which we learn the norms and values that are appropriate for our culture.

Question 15

What are norms?

Answer 15

Normal human behaviour accepted by society e.g. Greeting someone with a handshake.

Question 16

What is primary socialisation?

Answer 16

Occurs during early childhood. The main agents are:

• parents and family members
• anyone who’s close to you (e.g.nanny)

Question 17

What is secondary socialisation?

Answer 17

Occurs through childhood to adulthood. The agents are:

• peers (age/social group)
• school and teachers
• religion
• media

Question 18

What are values?

Answer 18

Beliefs shared by society.

Question 19

What is culture?

Answer 19

The way of life shared by society.

Question 20

What is social differentiation?

Answer 20

Subcultures within a culture that share the same norms and values.

Question 21

What is stratification?

Answer 21

The hierarchy of different layers in society based on power and money.

Question 22

What is achieved status?

Answer 22

Earned position through behaviour and choices

Question 23

What is ascribed status?

Answer 23

A position your born into e.g. Royal family

Question 24

What is social mobility?

Answer 24

Movement through social hierarchy. Upward or downward social mobility

Question 25

What are demographics?

Answer 25

Categorising people into gender, ethnicity and religion, etc.

Question 26

What are subcultures?

Answer 26

Small groups in bigger culture

Question 27

Explain the key theory on Marxism?

Answer 27

- The economy is the key driving force - dominant ideology - Believes society should be equal in status - take a macro approach

Question 28

What is socialisation?

Answer 28

Is the process by which we learn the norms and values that are appropriate for our culture.

Question 29

What is functionalism?

Answer 29

- Believe every part of society has its place a function - these are social institutions - They take a macro approach

Question 30

What are feminists?

Answer 30

- Believe in gender equality - Take a macro approach - there are liberal feminists, radical feminists and Marxist feminists

Question 31

What is the new right view?

Answer 31

-conservative And traditional -take a macro approach