The Sociological Approach Key Terms Flashcards
(26 cards)
What is sociology?
The planned and organised study of human groups in modern society.
What is society?
A group of people with a common or shared culture e.g. UK society.
What is culture?
The whole way of life of a society: its norms, values, customs, language and history.
What are norms?
Social rules which define the acceptable behaviour in a society, social group or social context. People are expected to conform to these norms e.g. queuing in a shop.
What are values?
Commonly held beliefs about what is right or wrong, desirable and worth striving for in a society e.g. privacy, material wealth.
What is social structure?
Features of society which can influence and limit our behaviour (including social institutions and social factors).
What is a social institution?
The organisations or groups within society that are united behind a common purpose e.g. family, education, media.
What are social factors?
Circumstances within society that can affect a person’s lifestyle and opportunities. (DR CAGES).
What is social class?
A way of distinguishing between different individuals based on factors such as wealth and education.
What are social processes?
A series of interactions with people which can shape an individual’s behaviour e.g. socialisation/social control.
What is primary socialisation?
Learning the norms and values of society in the early years of life which usually happens within the family.
What is secondary socialisation?
Learning of norms and values which occurs outside of the family, such as in education or work.
What is an agent of socialisation?
The social institutions responsible for teaching the norms and values e.g. family.
What is social control?
The process by which the members of a society are persuaded to conform to the rules of that society.
What are positive sanctions?
Rewards that are given for behaviour that follows society’s norms.
Example: certificates.
What are negative sanctions?
Penalties given for unacceptable behaviour that goes against society’s norms, rules and laws.
Example: punishments such as detention/prison.
What is formal social control?
Organisations/systems that use strict values and morals that we are commonly made to obey.
Example: police, law courts, prison.
What is informal social control?
Organisations that encourage us to follow norms and values but have no legal power.
Example: family, education, media.
What is sex?
The biological differences between men and women.
What is gender?
Social or cultural expectations and ideas associated with being male or female.
What is gender socialisation?
The process by which children learn the cultural expectations of their gender.
Example: through the toys they are given to play with.
What is race?
The classification of people based on apparent physical differences.
Example: skin colour.
What is ethnicity?
A shared cultural identity.
What is an ethnic group?
People within a society who share a clear identity based on a common culture, traditions and history.
Example: Irish.
