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SOCIOLOGY A-LEVEL > INTRODUCTION FOR SOCIOLOGY > Flashcards

INTRODUCTION FOR SOCIOLOGY Flashcards

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Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

what is SOCIALISATION?

A

socialisation is the process through which we learn society’s norms and values.

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2
Q

what are SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS?

A

● FAMILY
● EDUCATION
● MEDIA
● RELIGION

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3
Q

what is PRIMARY SOCIALISATION?

A

It is usually behaviour performed by family and teaches us PARTICULARISTIC norms and values that are passed on through traditions/ expectations/ habits/ customs

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4
Q

what is SECONDARY SOCIALISATION?

A

It is usually behaviour performed by other social institutions e.g. education, media, religion to pass on those UNIVERSAL norms and values

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5
Q

what is GENDER SOCIALISATION?

A

they are norms and values expected of different genders, which are taught from early ages through clothing, toys, books, education, and often referred to canalisation.

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6
Q

what are SUBCULTURES?

A

groups that are perceived to deviate from the normative standards of the dominant culture (mainstream society)

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7
Q

what are a FUNCTIONALISTS p.o.v of socialisation?

A

key to having a functioning society - essential to understand value consensus (societies to have common set beliefs and principles to work with as a general AGREEMENT)

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8
Q

what are the MARXIST AND FEMINIST P.O.V ON SOCIALISATION

A

we are all socialised into norms and values of dominant groups (upper class and patriarchy) and is a form of SOCIAL CONTROL

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9
Q

what is MARXISM?

A

it’s a STRUCTURAL CONFLICT THEORY that is a political, economic, and sociological perspective of KARL MARX
- suggesting there’s a CLASS CONFLICT in society

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10
Q

who are the BOURGEOISIE?

A

the CAPITALIST CLASS who own most of society’s wealth and means of production

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11
Q

who are the PROLETARIAT?

A

the WORKING-CLASS

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12
Q

what are the MEANS OF PRODUCTION?

A

● CAPITAL
● RESOURCES
● MACHINERY
(produced in industrial era)

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13
Q

what happens in a CAPITALIST SYSTEM?

A

goods are exchanged for money, and the only way PROLETARIAT could afford goods was to sell their labour (only get LOW WAGES in return= EXPLOITATION for BOURGEOISIE to maximise their profits

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14
Q

what is FALSE CONSCIOUSNESS?

A

the PROLETARIAT don’t recognise they’re being EXPLOITED by the BOURGEOISIE and become DOCILE (accept control) to meet their basic needs in society despite the inequality.

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15
Q

what is FUNCTIONALISM?

A

it’s a STRUCTURAL CONSENSUS THEORY by DURKHEIM that objectively studies society with scientific methods.

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16
Q

who was DURKHEIM?

A

●FOUNDING FATHER producing scientific methods into human behaviour
●proposed society held together by SOCIAL BONDS through SOCIAL SOLIDARITY

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17
Q

how do FUNCTIONALISTS view society?

A

● similar to the human body (organic analogy)
●different social institutions e.g. family have different roles to fulfil the basic needs (FUNCTIONAL PREREQUISITES)

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18
Q

how do SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS help members of society?

A

● e.g. FAMILY socialise children into NORMS AND VALUES to reproduce their next generation
●provides economic support

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19
Q

who is TALCOTT PARSONS?

A

●KEY FUNCTIONALIST and developed SYSTEMS THEORY and SEX ROLE THEORY
●examined the role of SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS for the needs of individuals and GENDER ROLES in the family
● underlined importance of the VALUE CONSENUS for socialisation

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20
Q

what are NORMS?

A

●patterns of expected behaviour in a given social context
●it’s how we are expected to act at a certain time/place/social situation
●influenced by our social characteristics, e.g, SOCIAL CLASS, GENDER, ETHINCITY, AGE

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21
Q

what are VALUES?

A

●what we believe as the ‘correct’ type of behaviour to display in a social context
●they’re internal thought processes that influence our behaviour e.g. SOCIAL CLASS, GENDER, FAMILY BACKGROUND, ETHNICITY

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22
Q

how are NORMS AND VALUES formed?

A

●they’re SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED (made by individuals within society)
●FUNCTIONALISTS argue they reflect the VALUE CONSENUS
●MARXISM & FEMINISM
(CRITICAL THEORIES) suggest they’re created by dominant groups in society

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23
Q

how do the NORMS AND VALUES change over time?

A

●they change as SOCIAL CHANGE OCCURS
●when society evolves= people’s attitudes, behaviours and beliefs change
●if used by majority= become DOMINANT norms and values

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24
Q

what are SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES?

A

●DIFFERENT WAYS in which SOCIOLOGISTS view society
●based on their own PERSONAL VALUES
●can come from a detached and OBJECTIVE viewpoint

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25
Q

how do SOCIOLOGISTS differ in their view of society?

A

●some adopt a STRUCTURAL approach by analysing the impact of SOCIAL FACTORS on individuals
● others have a SOCIAL ACTION approach so individuals have FREE WILL to make their own choices

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26
Q

what are STRUCTURAL THEORIES?

A

●they suggest that SOCIAL FORCES shape the behaviour of individuals
●focus on MACRO sociology (social trends and human behaviour from them)
●broken down further into CONFLICT AND CONSENUS theories

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27
Q

what are CONFLICT and CONSENUS theories and EXAMPLES?

A

●society ÷2 or more groups that compete for POWER AND RESOURCES
●common conflict theories: MARXISM AND FEMINISM
●CONSENUS theories suggest society is = (balanced), and people have a common identity and purpose
●common CONSENUS theory is FUNCTIONALISM

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28
Q

what are SOCIAL ACTION theories?

A

●examined society on a MICRO LEVEL + suggest society is made up of individuals who have FREE WILL
●they examine the EXPERIENCES OF INDIVIDUALS (with no ‘voice’)

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29
Q

what is FEMINISM?

A

●STRUCTURAL CONFLICT THEORY that examines differences between GENDERS in society
●they argue we live in a PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY

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30
Q

what was the 1st act of FEMINISM?

A

●FOUGHT FOR RIGHT FOR WOMEN TO HAVE LEGAL EQUALITY WITH MEN.
●women gained UNIVERSAL SUFFERAGE in 1928 in the UK
●SUFFRAGETTE MOVEMENT by Mary Wollstonecraft and Harriet Martineau

31
Q

what was the 2ND act of FEMINISM?

A

●FOUGHT FOR LEGAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL EQUALITY FOR WOMEN FROM 1950 ONWARDS
●WOMEN’S LIBERATION MOVEMENT secured control over reproductive rights
●led by Simone De Beauvoir and Gloria Steinem

32
Q

what was the 3RD act of FEMINISM?

A

●DEVELOPED FROM 1980S ONWARDS ADDRESSED: INEQUALITIES W/ WOMEN AND MEN BASED ON SOCIAL CLASS, SEXUALITY, ETHNICITY AND GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION (INTERSECTIONALITY)
●led by Bell Hooks, Heidi Mirza, Kimberly Crenshaw

33
Q

what is LIBERAL FEMINISM?

A

●focused on achieving equality through LEGAL RIGHTS and from 1950s +
●tackled ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INEQUALITY of females
●KEY sociologist: Anne Oakley

34
Q

what is RADICAL FEMINISM?

A

●argues RADICAL CHANGE is required to gain GENDER EQUALITY
●focus on rebuilding society than gradual reform
●POWER DIFFERENCES are a result of biology= source of women’s OPPRESSION
●KEY sociologist: Shulamith Firestone

35
Q

what is MARXIST FEMINISM?

A

●argues women are EXPLOITED by both MEN AND CAPITALISM
●focus on unpaid labour that women perform in society
●GENDER PAY GAP!
●KEY sociologist: Fran Ansley

36
Q

what is INTERSECTIONAL FEMINISM?

A

●examines the different experiences of women across the SOCIAL SPECTRUM
●their experiences differ based on their: SOCIAL CLASS, ETHNICITY, SEXUALITY and GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
●critical on LIBERAL FEMINISM for being focused on white middle-class western women
●KEY sociologist: Bell Hooks

37
Q

what is the NEW RIGHT?

A

●POLITCAL IDEOLOGY that combines neo-liberal economic policy and neo-conservative social policies

38
Q

what is NEO-LIBERALISM?

A

●ECONOMIC POLICY prefers LESS STATE INTERVENTION and more public service run by PRIVATE COMPANIES (PRIVATISATION)
●involves public money collected by taxes given to private companies to run hospitals, schools, transport
●it’s the belief private companies are better= more efficient

39
Q

what us NEO-CONSERVATISM?

A

●belief TRADITIONAL TAXES in social institutions e.g. FAMILY, EDUCATION, CULTURE
●focus on social problems being caused by INDIVIDUALS than the STRICTURE of society

40
Q

what did the NEW RIGHT cause?

A

●promoted PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY by individuals
●more concerned w/ ECONOMIC GROWTH and TRADITIONAL SOCIAL VALUES

41
Q

how did the NEW RIGHT do this?

A

●SOCIAL POLICY reduced spending welfare benefits; work was route of poverty than WELFARE DEPENDENCY
●there’s an UNDERCLASS of idle young men inadequately socialised by single parents
●targeted areas of HIGH CRIME and ZERO TOLERANCE policies imposed on criminal behaviour

42
Q

what is the evaluation of the NEW RIGHT?

A

●Charles Murray criticised for blaming the most vulnerable in society for STRUCTURAL failings
●PRIVATISATION in education and healthcare accused of making profit off people
●TRADITIONAL VALUES exclude different social groups in society

43
Q

what is INTERACTIONISM?

A

●collection of SOCIAL ACTION THEORIES that examine how individuals make sense of the world around them
●they INTERPRET behaviours of others to understand what they’re thinking and how they should behave

44
Q

how do INTERACTIONISTS interpret behaviour?

A

●one way is through the meanings of SIGNS & SYMBOLS they see
● = SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM

45
Q

what is SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM?

A

●not instinctive behaviour; a process of INTERPRETING what signs mean and may differ in social contexts

46
Q

what is the LABELLING THEORY?

A

●label APPLIED to individuals, categorised based upon superficial characteristics.
●they may INTERNALISE these ‘labels’ and begin to act upon them (SELF FULFILLING PROPHECY)
●reinforces belief of observers and the label becomes a MASTER STATUS

47
Q

what is SELF-CONCEPT?

A

●according to COOLEY ppl understand themselves through the way others react to them
●so influence our SELF-CONCEPT and understand who we are

48
Q

what is the DRAMATURGICAL MODEL?

A

●that individuals take on different roles in different social contexts
●GOFFMAN argues we’re like actors by performing actions expected of us in society
●that the ‘true’ and ‘authentic self’ is ‘back-stage’

49
Q

what is CULTURE?

A

●way of life of a particular group forms part of an individual’s identity
●can be based upon: BELIEF SYSTEMS, GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS and PHYSICAL TRAITS

50
Q

what makes up OUR CULTURE?

A

●LANGUAGE
●CUISINE
●CLOTHING
●MUSIC AND ARTS
●CELEBRATIONS+RITUALS
●BELIEFS

51
Q

what TYPES of CULTURE are there?

A

●MAINSTREAM/POPULAR CULTURE
●FOLK CULTURE
●GLOBAL CULTURE
●HIGH CULTURE
●LOW CULTURE
●SUBCULTURES

52
Q

how do FUNCTIONALISTS view CULTURE?

A

●take a consensus view and suggest it reflects the norms and values of the MAJORITY
●those who reject/replace social norms & values from SUBCULTURES

53
Q

how do MARXISTS and FEMINISTS view CULTURE?

A

●MARXISTS claim mainstream culture reflects HEGEMONIC norms & values of the CAPITALIST ruling class
●FEMINISTS argue society’s culture is PATRIARCHAL and benefits men through promoting male interests

54
Q

how do INTERACTIONISTS and POSTMODERN view CULTURE?

A

●INTERACTIONISTS suggest society’s culture is constructed through ppl interpreting social interactions (SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION)
●POSTMODERN suggests there’s no longer dominant culture; society’s FRAGMENTED and increasingly DIVERSE

55
Q

what are the PROBLEMS defining CULTURE?

A

●value of different behaviour is down to INDIVIDUAL INTERPRETATIONS which makes CONSENSUS hard
●rapidly changing norms & values= culture change at a faster pace (can’t understand)
●definitions of culture VARY ACROSS GROUPS and there’s different CONTEXTS for cultural behaviours

56
Q

what is POSTMODERNISM?

A

●rejects many of the assumptions made about the structure of society
●society moved into a postmodern era by INDIVIDUALISM & INSECURITY but there is more choice and diversity
●contrasts modern era when behaviour was more certain and predictable

57
Q

what is DIVERSITY?

A

●the greater range of social characteristics in a society
●in modern era, CLASS, GENDER & ETHNICITY were from a LIMITED range
●in postmodern era people have greater choice over their identity and how they can present themselves

58
Q

why is there now more choice now in the POSTMODERN era?

A

●individuals are seen as a consumer than producers of goods
●less believing in religion and there’s distrust of social institutions= more choice
●GLOBALISATION= increased education, changing SOCIAL ATTITUDES so ppl have choice over what they believe in

59
Q

why have we lost FAITH in INSTITUTIONS?

A

●MEDIA SATURATION led to increased knowledge; LACK OF FAITH in information from SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
●growth of ‘fake news’ (SIMULACRA) so not real as we perceive
●Lyotard suggested rejection of METANARRATIVES (single truths)= now ppl decide w/ multiple sources instead of 1

60
Q

what is ETHNICITY?

A

●shared cultural practices, tastes and attributes of a group
●COMMON LANGUAGE, CUSTOMS, RITUALS, CELEBRATIONS AND BELIEFS
●often based upon GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

61
Q

how does ETHNICITY impact on life chances?

A

●EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES vary on ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS
●reflected in poverty figures, access to healthcare and rates of offending and victimisation

62
Q

why does ETHNICITY impact on LIFE CHANCES? PT1

A

●INSTITUTIONAL RACISM- SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS have practices & policies that discriminate against different groups
●OVERT RACISM- individual response of people in society

63
Q

why does ETHNICITY impact on LIFE CHANCES? PT2

A

●RELATIVE DEPRIVATION impacts on life chances & overrepresentation of ethnic minority groups
●LABELLING AND NEGATIVE STEROTYPING in the MEDIA and other social institutions
●LACK OF REPRESENTATION- e.g. the curriculum seen as ethnocentric

64
Q

what is GENDER?

A

●SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED CHARACTERISTICS that surround people across the gender spectrum
●differs from BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS! (e.g periods/ child birth)

65
Q

what are the GENDER DIFFERENCES in education?

A

●GIRLS achieve HIGHER but face discrimination e.g. HARASSMENT and get low paying careers
●BOYS UNDERACHIEVE and so curriculum is accused of being ‘FEMINISED’
●BULLYING of non-binary

66
Q

what are the GENDER DIFFERENCES in CRIME?

A

●MALES more LIKELY to commit crimes linked to SOCIALISATION (attitudes towards MASCULINITY and STATUS within society)
●younger males more LIKELY to be VICTIMS of crimes
●FEMALES more LIKELY subject to sexual crimes

67
Q

what are the GENDER DIFFERENCES in EMPLOYMENT?

A

●WOMEN earn less on average than males in the workplace
●WOMEN LESS LIKELY to be in leadership roles
●DECLINE in traditional male jobs since 1970s

68
Q

what is SOCIAL CLASS?

A

●form of STRATIFICATION (way of organising ppl based on their SOCIAL & ECONOMIC characteristics)
●associated w/ employment and their access to resources
●it’s a SUBJECTIVE measurement of status

69
Q

what SOCIAL CLASSES are there?

A

●UPPER CLASS (ELITES)
-inherited wealth & status
●MIDDLE CLASS
-professional occupations
●THE WORKING CLASS
- manual occupations

70
Q

how is SOCIAL CLASS measured?

A

●by EDUCATION and SOCIAL CONNECTIONS
●OCCUPATIONS of HIGHER STATUS= HIGHER CLASS

71
Q

does SOCIAL CLASS matter?

A

●HEALTH, LIFE EXPECTANCY, EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES demonstrate HIGHER SOCIAL CLASSES at an advantage
●working class is at a DISADVANTAGE in HOUSING, DIET, ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION

72
Q

how do FUNCTIONALISTS view SOCIAL CLASS?

A

●society is MERITOCRATIC and that social mobility is possible
●SOCIAL CLASS INEQUALITY is inevitable as skills vary

73
Q

how do MARXISTS view SOCIAL CLASS?

A

●MARXISTS argue its dependent on an individual’s relationship to the MEANS OF PRODUCTION (either BOURGEOISIE OR PROLETARIAT)

74
Q

what are the other THEORETICAL VIEWS of SOCIAL CLASS?

A

● NEW RIGHT argue there’s a UNDERCLASS beneath working class that’s WELFARE DEPENDENT
●POSTMODERNISTS reject it influences our behaviour as society is TOO FRAGMENTED
●SOCIAL ACTION approach SOCIAL CLASS as a MEASURE of their ECONOMIC SITUATION, STATUS IN SOCIETY AND POWER OVER OTHERS

SOCIOLOGY A-LEVEL (30 decks)

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