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Sociology > Introduction Definitions > Flashcards

Introduction Definitions Flashcards

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Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Social Institutions

A

Social institutions are the various organized social arrangements which are found in all societies

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2
Q

Social structure

A

Social structure refers to the social institutions and social relationships that form the building blocks of society

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3
Q

Objectivity

A

Objectivity means sociologists should approach their research with an open mind - a willingness to consider all the evidence, and to have their work available for scrutiny and criticism by other researchers

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4
Q

Value freedom

A

Value freedom means sociologists should try not to let their prejudices and beliefs influence the way they carry out their research and interpret evidence

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5
Q

Socialization

A

Socialization is the lifelong process of learning the culture of any society

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6
Q

Culture

A

The term culture refers to the language, beliefs, values and norms, customs, dress, diet, roles, knowledge and skills which make up the “way of life” of any society

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7
Q

Identity

A

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

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8
Q

Roles

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Roles are the patterns of behaviour which are expected from individuals in society

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9
Q

Role Models

A

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

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10
Q

Role conflict

A

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

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11
Q

Values

A

Values are 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

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12
Q

Laws

A

Laws are official legal rules, formally enforced by the police, courts and prison, involving legal punishment if the rules are broken

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13
Q

Norms

A

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

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14
Q

Customs

A

Customs are norms which have lasted for a long time and have become a part of society’s traditions

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15
Q

Social control

A

Social control is the term given to the various methods used to persuade or force individuals to conform to the dominant social norms and values of a society

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16
Q

Deviance

A

Deviance is the failure to conform to social norms

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17
Q

Sanctions

A

Sanctions are the rewards and punishments by which social control is achieved and conformity to norms and values enforced

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18
Q

Positive sanctions

A

Positive sanctions are rewards of various kinds

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19
Q

Negative sanctions

A

Negative sanctions are various types of punishment

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20
Q

Social class

A

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

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21
Q

Income

A

Income is a flow of money which people obtain from work, from their investments, or from the state

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22
Q

Wealth

A

Wealth is property in the form of assets which can, in general, be sold and turned into cash for the benefit of the owner.

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23
Q

Life chances

A

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

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24
Q

Social mobility

A

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

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25
Q

Upper class

A

The upper class consists of those who are the main owners of society’s wealth

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26
Q

Middle class

A

The middle class consists of those in non-manual work - jobs that are usually performed in offices and involve paperwork or computer work

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27
Q

Working class

A

The working class consists of those working in manual jobs, such as factory or labouring work

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28
Q

Underclass

A

The underclass is the social group right at the bottom of the social class hierarchy, consisting of those who are in some ways cut off, or excluded, from the rest of society

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29
Q

Status

A

Status sometimes refers to the role position someone occupies in society, but more commonly refers to the amount of prestige or social importance a person has in the eyes of other members of a group or society

30
Q

Ascribed status

A

Ascribed status is status given by birth or family background, which, in general, cannot be changed by individuals

31
Q

Achieved status

A

Achieved status is status that is achieved by an individual’s own efforts or talents

32
Q

Ethnicity

A

Ethnicity refers to the shared culture or a social group which gives its members a common identity in some ways different from that of other social groups

33
Q

Minority Ethnic group

A

A minority ethnic group is a social group which shares a cultural identity which is different from that of the majority population of a society

34
Q

Gender

A

Gender refers to the culturally created differences between men and women which are learnt through socialization.

35
Q

Sex

A

Sex refers to the biological differences between men and women, as opposed to culturally-created gender differences

36
Q

Perspective

A

A perspective is a way of looking at something

37
Q

Sociological perspective

A

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

38
Q

Structuralism

A

Structuralism is a perspective which is concerned with the overall structure of society, and sees individual behaviour moulded by social institutions like the family, the education system, the mass media and work

39
Q

Macro approach

A

A macro approach focuses on the large scale structure of society as a whole, rather than on individuals

40
Q

Functionalism

A

Functionalism is a sociological perspective which sees society as made up of parts which work together to maintain society as an integrated whole

41
Q

Functional prerequisites

A

Functional prerequisites are the basic needs that must be met if society is to survive

42
Q

Value consensus

A

Value consensus is a general agreement around the main values and norms of any society

43
Q

Marxism

A

Marxism is a structural theory of society which sees society divided by conflict between two main opposing social classes, due to private ownership of the means of production

44
Q

Means of Production

A

The means of production are the key resources necessary for producing society’s goods

45
Q

Relations of production

A

The relations of production are the forms of relationship between those people involved in production, such as cooperation or private ownership and control

46
Q

Ideology

A

Ideology is a set of ideas, values and beliefs that represents the outlook, and justifies the interests, of a social group

47
Q

Surplus Value

A

Surplus value is the extra value added by workers to the products they produce, after allowing for the payment of their wages, and which goes to the employer in the form of profit

48
Q

Bourgeoisie

A

The bourgeoisie or capitalists is the class of owners of the means of production in industrial societies, whose primary purpose is to make profits

49
Q

Proletariat

A

The proletariat is the social class of workers who have to work for wages as they do not own the means of production

50
Q

Labour power

A

Labour power refers to people’s capacity to work. People sell their labour power to the employer in return for a wage, and the employer buys only their labour power, and not the whole person

51
Q

Class conflict

A

Class conflict is the conflict that arises between different social classes

it is generally used to describe the conflict between the bourgeoisie and proletariat in Marxist views of society

52
Q

Ruling class

A

The ruling class is the social class of owners of the means of production, whose control over the economy gives them power over all aspects of society, enabling them to rule over society

53
Q

Dominant Ideology

A

The dominant ideology (or ruling class ideology) is the set of ideas and beliefs of the most powerful groups in society, which influences the ideas of the rest of society

54
Q

False consciousness

A

False consciousness is a failure by members of a social class to recognize their real interests

55
Q

Class consciousness

A

Class consciousness is an awareness in members of a social class of their real interests

56
Q

Communism

A

Communism refers to an equal society, without social classes or class conflict, in which the means of production are the common property of all

57
Q

Social action theories/Interpretivist

A

Social action theories or interpretivist approaches are perspectives which emphasise the creative action which people can take, rather than seeing them as simply passive victims of social forces outside them

58
Q

Determinism

A

Determinism is the idea that people’s behaviour is moulded by their social surroundings, and that they have little free will, control or choice over how they behave

59
Q

Micro approach

A

A micro approach focuses on small groups or individuals, rather than on the structure of society as a whole

60
Q

Symbolic interactionism

A

Symbolic interactionism is a sociological perspective which is concerned with understanding human behaviour in face-to-face situations, and how individuals and situations come to be defined in particular ways through their encounters with other people

61
Q

Labelling

A

Labelling refers to defining a person or group in a certain way - as a particular type of person or group

62
Q

Structuration

A

Structuration is an approach between structuralism and social action theory

it suggests that, while people are constrained by social institutions, they also have choice and can at the same time take action to support or change those institutions

63
Q

Feminism

A

Feminism is a view that examines the world from the point of view of women, who are seen as disadvantaged, with their interests ignored or devalued in society

64
Q

Marxist feminism

A

Marxist feminism emphasises the way in which women are doubly exploited - both as workers and as women

65
Q

Radical feminism

A

Radical feminism focuses on the problem of men and male domination under patriarchy - the system whereby males dominate in every area of society

66
Q

Liberal feminism

A

Liberal feminism focuses on measures to ensure that women have equal opportunities with men within the present system

67
Q

New Right

A

The New Right approach stresses individual freedom and self-help and self-reliance, reduction of the power and spending of the state, the free market and free competition between private companies, schools and other institutions, and the importance of traditional institutions and values

68
Q

Postmodernism

A

Postmodernism is an approach that stresses that society is changing so rapidly and constantly that it is marked by chaos, uncertainty and risk, and is fragmented into many different groups, interests and lifestyles

69
Q

Metanarrative

A

A metanarrative is a broad all-embracing “big theory” or explanation for how societies operate

70
Q

Social problem

A

A social problem is something that is seen as being harmful to society in some way, and needs something doing to sort it out

71
Q

Sociological problem

A

A Sociological problem is any social issue that needs explaining

72
Q

Social policy

A

Social policy refers to the packages of plans and actions adopted by national and local government or various voluntary agencies to solve social problems or achieve other goals that are seen as important

Sociology (7 decks)

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