Definition Questions

Question 1

Youth

Answer 1

• the period of life between childhood and adulthood (15-25 years old)

Question 2

Youth culture

Answer 2

Associated with a way of life which is different to that of children and adults
- there are many norms and values associated with youth culture which marked it distinctive and youth culture is based around music/ fashion/ leisure/ schooling and freedom

Question 3

Subculture

Answer 3

A smaller group within a large one it a minority section of a majority culture
- groups of young people who do not follow same norms and values as each other

E.g Sewell - young African Caribbean males formed an anti- school subculture based in going against the norms and values of the school

Question 4

Youth subcultures

Answer 4

Groups of individuals who often develop an opposition to authority and who share norms and values which go against the norms in society

Question 5

Peer groups

Answer 5

A set of people belonging to a similar age grouping who share the same norms and values

Peer groups are very important between the ages of 5 and 18 when young people are in full time education

Question 6

Spectacular youth subcultures

Answer 6

Subcultures which are based around flamboyant and highly visible styles and confrontational attitudes
Teddy boys
Punks
Mods

Question 7

Nature

Answer 7

• refers to the idea that social behaviour is biological or innate. Psychologists believe that our behaviour is due to nature whereas psychologists believe that it is due to nurture

E.g - sleeping (can do this from baby- not learnt through society)
E. g - the process of eating (we are taught manners and to eat with knife and fork but the actually process of swallowing food in nature

Question 8

Nurture

Answer 8

Refers to the idea that social behaviour is learnt through society. Sociologists believe that our behaviour is due to nurture, however psychologists believe it is due to nature

E.g Speaking - the language we use - primary socialisation - learnt from family
E.g eating - how we eat (our manners) is a result of nurture - evidence: feral children - Edik ate raw meat with hands instead of using a knife and fork - raised by a dog

Question 9

Primary socialisation

Answer 9

Where the family teaches individuals the behaviours, rules, regulations and things that are important and hold value to the people in our society. First stage of a life long process of learning

E.g how the family teaches children how to speak. Children learn from those around them in the family
Another example - how to eat - Edik

Question 10

Secondary socialisation

Answer 10

Process by which we learn norms and values and behaviour appropriate to our society. Secondary socialisation is the way behaviour is learnt through other agents, such as the media, education, peer groups, work and religion.

E.g Norms and values such as punctuality, hard work and obedience (transmitted through education and the hidden curriculum)

E.g - drinking smoking (peer groups and processes of social control - e.g peer pressure

Question 11

Formal social control

Answer 11

Used to reinforce society’s norms and values to individuals by the agents of socialisation
- reinforcing mechanisms that are associated with the more formal agents of socialisation (e.g education)

An example would be official rules
School - wearing a uniform and handing in work in time - reinforce values of hard work and punctuality.

Another example would be deliberate instruction
Religion - give followers direct instructions to wear certain pieces of clothing or to not eat certain foods

Question 12

Informal social control

Answer 12

Used to reinforce’s society’s norms and values to individuals via the agents of socialisation.
Refers to reinforcing mechanisms that are associated with the more informal agents of socialisation (media/ peer group)

An example would be peer pressure. Per group may put pressure on an individual to behave in a way that may go against society’s norms and values

Another example is role models - the media may reinforce gender appropriate norms and values for individuals by displaying role models for individuals to follow.

Question 13

Norms

Answer 13

Unwritten rules which guide our behaviour in society. Based on values

• normally socially constructed- different in different societies and change over time
• taught through agents of socialisation

An example of a norm is eating with a knife and fork. This is a norm in the U.K. but not in all counties. For example in North Africa, it is the norm to eat with your hands

Other examples - relate to gender
E.g girls wearing a skirt , if a boy did this it would be seen as deviant

Question 14

Values

Answer 14

The beliefs and morals that are held by most people in society and can be taken as typical of that culture.

• socially constructed as they are different in different societies and they change over time
• taught through agents of socialisation

An example is politeness (forming queues)
Another example - to value achievement and educational.

Question 15

Status

Answer 15

Refers to a position in society. Everyone has several statuses and together these are referred to as a ‘status set’

Can either be ascribed (born with) or achieved ( that u work for)

Ascribed status - Member of the royal family - e.g prince William was boring into his status as future King
Achieved status - teacher- work hard to gain qualifications in order to achieve that status

Question 16

Roles

Answer 16

A role is a part you play in society. People may have more than one role at the same time. Each role has a set of norms or patterns of behaviour attached. (Different in different societies and change over time)

Example - teacher. Expected to do things that they would not do in their role as a mother or father (marking homework, dressing smartly)

Roles may also be different for different genders
Female role- mother/ housewife
Male role - breadwinner/ provider

Question 17

Culture

Answer 17

Refers to the beliefs, customs and ways of live if a society or social group within a society. Sociologists argue that culture consists of norms/ values/ statuses/ role and customers

E.g popular culture - refers to the norms and values associated with the masses/ majority of people (e. g watching football)

High culture - associated with the upper class where it is the norm to play polo and listen to classical music

Question 18

High culture

Answer 18

The culture of the elite/ upper class.
- formed by members of the elite who believe that only people with good breeding and with appropriate education can appreciate his cultures aesthetic quality
- privileged posturing both economically, culturally and socially. - operate system of social closure (prevent others getting in)
E.g. Attending ballet / operas

Question 19

Consumer culture

Answer 19

Culture related to what we buy/ consume in society. People often portray a sense of identity through what they buy/wear. Uk and Western societies have growing and large consumer cultures

E.g Saunders.
- media targets middle age as they are the group with the highest disposable income and often define their identity by what they own - conspicuous consumption.

E.g - different forms of shopping which are now available ( internet, large shopping centres)

Question 20

Masculine identity

Answer 20

Type of gender identity
- sense of belonging and the particular roles that are associated with being a man.
Masculinity is socially constructefd - shaped by society and changes over time.

E.g hegemonic - traditional
E.g new man