Chapter 1 The life and times of the street

Question 1

Social beings

Answer 1

The idea that humans, by their very nature, are best suited to living together in communities rather than alone.

Question 2

Microcosm

Answer 2

Something that illustrates on a small scale, or is representative of something larger.

Question 3

Trends and patterns

Answer 3

‘Trends’ refers to the general direction in which something is changing or developing; ‘patterns’ refers to a social situation or event that happens in a regular or repeated way.

Question 4

Surveys

Answer 4

A method of investigating the behaviours, opinions or experiences of groups of people by asking them questions.

Question 5

Description

Answer 5

A written or sometimes visual depiction of a social scene, situation or event. Descriptions are attempts to represent something without necessarily trying to explain or account for it.

Question 6

Explanation

Answer 6

An attempt to give reasons for society taking on particular characteristics or qualities. Explanations attempt to answer ‘why?’ and ‘how?’ questions.

Question 7

Inequality

Answer 7

The unequal distribution of valued social resources within a society or between societies.

Question 8

Making and remaking

Answer 8

The various activities and practices that people engage in, and the relationships they have with each other and things, that help to shape society in particular ways.

Question 9

Consumer society

Answer 9

A society that is defined as much by how and what people purchase and use, as by what they make or do.

Question 10

Social order

Answer 10

A stable social situation in which connections are maintained without change, or else change occurs in a predictable way (often contrasted with social disorder or chaos).

Question 11

Social disorder

Answer 11

An unstable social situation where behaviour is unpredictable and labelled as contrary to a desired or imagined social order.

Question 12

Community

Answer 12

A group of people living in the same place and/or having particular characteristics or interests in common.

Question 13

Change and continuity

Answer 13

‘Change’ highlights those aspects of social life that differ over time; ‘continuity’ refers to those aspects of social life that stay the same over time.

Question 14

Difference

Answer 14

Contrasts between groupings of people, such as those based on gender, class, age, sexuality, and race or ethnicity.

Question 15

Prejudice

Answer 15

Opinions that individuals might hold towards groups of people identified on the basis of difference, which are not based on reason or actual experience.