Core Themes Flashcards
What is sociology?
The study of humans social life, groups and society. This includes interactions between individuals and the investigation of worldwide social processes.
What is the definition of society?
A society is a grouping of individuals characterised by patterns of relationships between individuals, that may have distinctive culture and institutions, or, more broadly, an economic, social and industrial infrastructure in which a varied multitude of people or peoples are a part.
Ascribed status
Social position which is given to an individual at birth.
Power
Advantage/ability to exert your will over other.
Sanctions
Actions that encourage or discourage certain behaviour.
Secondary socialisation
The process of learning societies norms and values that continues throughout life.
Values
General beliefs about things that are important and worthwhile in society.
Social class
Group of people who share a similar economic situation (based on occupation and income).
Stratification
Division of society into layers based on social status.
Identity
The sense of who we are (acquired via socialisation).
Achieved status
Social position achieved through an individual’s own efforts.
Social differentiation
Ways of distinguishing between social groups (through variations in characteristics such as cultural, power, wealth and status).
Social control
They ways societies try to ensure that members behave in an expected way.
Norms
Rules of behaviour in society situations.
Customs
Norms that have lasted for a long time so then become part of society’s traditions.
Roles
Patterns of behaviour expected from people in a particular situation.
Culture
Way of life of a society
Primary socialisation
Learning that takes place in the family (learning norms and values of society).
What are ‘feral children’?
Children that have not been socialised.
What do cases of feral children tell us about the significance of primary socialisation?
Primary socialisation is need as it shows us how to walk and talk and behave around others - the social norms and values in society.
Functionalism
Everyone is society agrees on what’s right for all of us. The parts of society (institutions) all work together to ensure everything in society is nicely ordered. The nuclear family is ideal for the good of all society’s members.
Marxism
Society is made up of two social classes. Conflict between them is inevitable, as the dominant ruling class have more wealth and power than the working class.
Feminism
Women are exploited by men and have less power in society than men but there are different types of feminists.
New rights
Ideal family in Nuclear - alternatives threaten society’s stability. Traditional gender roles are desirable.
Post modernism
We’ve moved on from ‘modern’ society - now there is no one way to live your life.
Interactionism
To understand people and why they behave as they do, you need to study society at an individual level, face to face.
Which theory links of the following statement?
“I like to look at the reasons for people’s behaviour and actions.”
Interactionism
Which theory links of the following statement?
“I’m interested in why some people have so much more money and power than others - it’s really unfair.”
Marxism
Which theory links of the following statement?
“I think women get a raw deal in society - men have all the power.”
Feminism
Which theory links of the following statement?
“I think family life today isn’t what it used to be - so society, and the children suffer.”
New right
Which theory links of the following statement?
“I like the way everyone gets on with each other in society without too many problems.”
Functionalism
Which theory links of the following statement?
“I think people can choose how to live these days.”
Post-modernism
