Sociology Flashcards
What is sociology?
The systematic study of human society and human interaction. The study of groups and group interaction, societies, and social interaction from small and personal groups to large groups.
Socialization
-The continuing process where an individual learns the appropriate behavioral patterns, skills, and values for their social world
-Is strongest during childhood to early adulthood, but can continue for the rest of your life
+develops social skills, form relationships
-pressure to fit in, discrimination
Agents of Socialization
People and institutions that shape an individual’s social development
Family (most important)
-languages
-relationships
Peers
-Activities
-trends
Religion
-values
-meaning of life
Media
-stereotypes
-trends
Work
-rules
-money
Clubs/social groups
-social interactions
activities
School
-rules
-social setting
Social Stratification (class)
-the institutional and social processes that define certain types of occupations and goods as socially desirable
Roles
-the various parts we play in society
Why roles
-bring order to the way in which people relate to each other
-ensure jobs get done
-clue to tell you how to play your own role
Status
-refers to the positions an individual holds within a group (bus driver, lawyer, etc.)
-role and status are independent of individual personality
Ascribed Status
-is assigned at birth regardless of a person’s abilities or performances
-race, sex, age, class, etc.
Achieved Status
-determined by individual choice and performance or roles
-education, jobs, marriage, etc.
Prestige
-based on status
-some jobs have built-in prestige
Esteem
-depends on the way an individual carries out their role behavior
-the fact that a person occupies a position of high prestige does not guarantee that they will be held in high esteem
Status gives prestige
Role Behaviour gives esteem
Social Institutions
an organization or social framework whose function is to meet the basic needs of its members by providing direction and operating principles of society
(healthcare, caring for children, husband and wife, charter of rights and freedom)
Values
a collection of standards people agree on
Norms
rules or standards about acceptable ways to act
Laws
formally defined rules that are part of the legal system
Sanctions
consequences for people’s behaviour
Industrial Revolution
-a time when the middle class benefited and there was a large social gap
-when sociology developed
Social Perspective
-almost every aspect of a person’s thoughts and behaviours is strongly influenced by other people
-social situation influences behaviour
Culture: material
objects and artifacts
Culture: non-material
values, beliefs, customs, and traditions
Culture: transmitted
passed down from one generation to the next
storytelling, documented, etc.
Culture: shared
develops as people share experiences and create meaning with each other
Culture: cumulative
emerges over time
Culture: social
product of a society or group of people
Culture
consists of commonly shared values, beliefs, etc. by most members of the society
Subculture
a small group within a society who share common values beliefs, etc that are different from those of the larger group
Counterculture
a subculture that rejects shared values and replaces them with extreme views
+movements
-cults
Social Learning Theory
children learn social behaviours by observing and imitating the behaviour of those around them