Introduction To Sociology

Question 1

What is Sociology?

Answer 1

Study of human social relationships and instutions

Question 2

What do sociologists study?

Answer 2

• Education
• Family
• Crime
• The Media
• Gender
• Politics
• The workplace
• Nuture vs nature

Question 3

Why is it useful to study society?

Answer 3

• Make differences / changes
• Deeper understanding of cultures
• Understanding why people behave the way they do

Question 4

Culture

Answer 4

Whenever humans come together in groups, used to describe the way of life they live

Question 5

What does a society share?

Answer 5

• Norms + Values
• Diet
• Religious beliefs
• Mannerisms
• Language
• Lifestyle choices

Question 6

Socialisation

Answer 6

Taught how to behave, adults have to learn what to do in each new situation they find themselves in

Question 7

Norms

Answer 7

Rules or guidelines for expected behavior

Question 8

Mores

Answer 8

Ways of behaving that are seen as good or moral

Question 9

Name some norms that have changed over time

Answer 9

• Children smoking and drinking alchol
• Childhood
• Corporal punishment
• Education
• Child labour
• Swimwear
• Image of men + women

Question 10

Values

Answer 10

Widely accepted beliefs that some things are worthwhile and desirable

Question 11

How do values connect to beliefs?

Answer 11

As many of us take our system of values and morals from our personal ideas about society and they influence the way we act

Question 12

Customs

Answer 12

Traditional and regular forms of behaviour associated with social occasions
- Accompained by traditons + rituals
Eg = Bonfire night, the custom would be fireworks

Question 13

Status

Answer 13

Persons standing or position within society

Question 14

Ascribed Status

Answer 14

Status that you are given automatically, for example being born into royalty

Question 15

Achieved Status

Answer 15

Positions in life changed through efforts, for example Lord Sugar making his way from market stalls to making millions worldwide

Question 16

Role Conflict

Answer 16

Where roles clash, for example being a student who has to study but being a friend to someone who needs your help

Question 17

Social Control

Answer 17

Ways of ensuring people conform to norms + values so that social order is kept in place, written and unwritten rules

Question 18

Formal Social Control

Answer 18

Official control on the basis of clearly written down laws / rules

Question 19

Informal Social Control

Answer 19

Unofficial control, not based on written rules + often based on expectation

Question 20

Sanctions are a form of..

Answer 20

Social Control

Question 21

What do positive sanctions do?

Answer 21

Reinforce good behaviour throughout rewards

Question 22

What do negative sanctions do?

Answer 22

Discourage behaviours through punishment

Question 23

Material Culture

Answer 23

Physical things that people create + attach themselves to, for example clothing, cars etc

Question 24

Non - Material Culture

Answer 24

Ideas that people share, their rules, traditons, languages and history. Important because helps people to understand their social world and guidelines on how to behave

Question 25

Social Construction

Answer 25

Any idea that is created + given special meaning by people

Eg = motherhood, approached differently in different cultures

Question 26

Collectivism Culture

Answer 26

Cultures which tend to empathise belonging to the group as more important than personal freedom

Question 27

Individualist Culture

Answer 27

Cultures that tend to empathise individual freedom and personal gain, sometimes at the expense of others

Question 28

Cultural Diversity

Answer 28

Meaning cultures can differ to a great deal, muslims do not eat pork whereas English people do