intro to sociology key terminology

Question 1

What are social institutions?

Answer 1

the various organised social arrangements which are found in all societies
e.g. family, religion, education and government

Question 2

What is a social structure?

Answer 2

refers to the social institutions and social relationships that form the ‘building blocks’ of society

Question 3

What is socialisation?

Answer 3

the lifelong process by which people learn the culture of any society, carries out by agencies of socialisation

Question 4

What is culture?

Answer 4

the language, beliefs, values and norms, customs, dress, diet, roles, knowledge and skills which make up the ‘way of life’ of any society

Question 5

What are norms?

Answer 5

social rules which define the correct and acceptable behaviour in a society or social group to which people are expected to conform

Question 6

What are values?

Answer 6

general beliefs about what is right or wrong, and about the important standards which are worth maintaining and achieving in any society or social group

Question 7

What is identity?

Answer 7

concerned with how individuals see and define themselves and how other people see and define them

Question 8

What are role models?

Answer 8

people’s patterns of behaviour which others copy and model their own behaviour on

Question 9

What is role conflict?

Answer 9

The conflict between the successful performance of 2 or more roles at the same time, such as those of worker, mother and student

Question 10

What are customs?

Answer 10

Norms which have lasted a long time and have become part of society’s traditions

Question 11

What is social control?

Answer 11

various methods used to persuade or force individuals to conform to the dominant social norms and values of society

Question 12

What is informal social control?

Answer 12

social control through peer-group pressure, personal embarrassment at doing something bad, or the pressure of public opinion

Question 13

What is formal social control?

Answer 13

social control through institutions like the law or school rules

Question 14

What is social class?

Answer 14

a group of people who share a similar economic situation, such as occupational level, income and ownership of wealth

Question 15

What is social mobility?

Answer 15

the movement of groups or individuals up or down the social hierarchy, from one social class to another

Question 16

What are life chances?

Answer 16

the chances of obtaining those things defined as desirable and of avoiding those things defined as undesirable in any society

Question 17

What is ascribed status?

Answer 17

status given by birth or family background, which cannot be changed by individuals

Question 18

What is achieved status?

Answer 18

status that is achieved by. an individuals own efforts or talents

Question 19

What is a sociological perspective?

Answer 19

involves a set of theories which influences what is looked at when studying society

Question 20

What is a social construct?

Answer 20

An idea that has been created and accepted by people in a society