Studying Society Flashcards
Define: Sociological
approach
A way of understanding human society that focuses on social structures
Define: Psychological approach
A way of understanding human behaviour by looking at individual make-up (brain, thinking
patterns, personality etc.)
Define: Biological approach
A way of understanding humans by looking at their biological make-up (genes,
chromosomes, hormones etc.)
Agents/agencies of socialisation
Institutions in society which establish/reinforce norms and values in people. An example is the family; they socialise their children to behave normally and teach them acceptable behaviour like manners.
Beliefs
ideas and attitudes that people have in society.
Conformity
to conform means to behave and think like the mainstream culture around you, to abide by the law and accept society’s goals and attitudes, and not strive to stand out.
Conflict/consensus
A conflict theory is one that says that society consists of groups which are all fighting for money and resources, and society functions through exploitation. Marxism and Feminism are both conflict theories. A consensus theory is very different to a conflict theory and says that society functions through independence and shared goals between groups/individuals in society. Functionalism is a consensus theory.
Culture
Shared patterns of behaviour, beliefs and attitudes within groups in society.
Cultural difference
The differences between cultures (in terms of norms, values, beliefs, opinions, behaviour etc)
Customs
Established habits, modes of behaviour, traditions, often within groups in society.
Discrimination
Treating people differently or denying them opportunities because or prejudice you have towards the group they belong to.
Ethnic group/ethnicity
Culture or nationality to which an individual belongs.
Feminism
The feminist theory says that many systems in society are patriarchal and looks at aspects of society through the perspective that women and oppressed or denied opportunities in those situations.
Functionalism
Functionalism believes that society functions because of each part of society playing its part well with a shared goal, and it believes that if one part of society is dysfunctional, the whole of society will be affected.
Gender/Sex
The biological approach says that your sex (genetics) controls certain aspects of your characteristics can be attributed to the sex a person is and how a person acquires these traits through gender socialisation.
Identity
The way a person sees themselves both as an individual and part of society. Many things can contribute to this, including age, social class, ethnicity, nationality etc.
Marxism
a conflict theory that says that society works through exploitation in capitalist societies of the lower classes, and society exists of groups fighting for money and resources. It looks through aspects of society through the perspective of class inequality.
Multicultural society
A society where many cultures and backgrounds exist within it.
Nature and Nurture
Nature is the biological idea that the person you become depends on your genetics, whereas nurture is the sociological idea that the way you are is based on different factors such as your socialisation, the family and class you are brought up in, your ethnic background, your education etc.
Norms
Ideas, attitudes and behaviour patterns that are ‘normal’ and expected of people in society.
Role models
Individuals who are portrayed as being a perfect example, for ‘normal’ people in society to aspire to, and copy from.
Peer group
People who are in a similar social situation to you, who you mix with a lot. This can be your classmates, colleagues, friends etc.
Prejudice
An impression or judgement you have about a group in society which can affect your feelings and attitudes towards individuals within that group.
Race
People who are associated with each other because they have the same nationality, ethnicity or colour
Racism
Discrimination or poor treatment of people because of their religion, nationality, ethnicity or colour.
Sanctions
Punishment or reward as a result of certain behaviour.
Formal Social Control
Formal: Social control refers to enforcing the idea of normal and acceptable behaviour in society. Agents of formal social control include the police and government, and their purpose is to control and stop criminal behaviour.
Informal Social Control
Agents of informal social control include peer groups and the media, and they encourage normal behaviour by subtly conveying the idea of what is acceptable and what is abnormal.
Social deprivation and the underclass
Social deprivation is the combination of many factors which leads to an individual to be socially excluded. Examples of these factors are poor housing, poverty, inadequate upbringing and mental illness. The underclass is a term used for those who are so highly deprived that they do not fit into the working class; they are a class in their own right.
Social issues
General issues or problems that relate to society. This can include poverty, unemployment, alcholism, racism etc.
Social Mobility
The idea of an individual being able to move to a higher/lower social class than they started out with in life. For example, a working class man going to university and qualifying as a doctor, which places him in the middle class.
Social Policies
Active responses by public institutions like the government to social problems, for example, setting up nationwide work schemes to tackle unemployment.
Social processes
The means by which something is achieved by society as a whole.
Social structure
The organisations and systems which make up society. The class system, as an example, is a social structure.
Socialisation
Socialisation is the informal process in which a person learns the norms and values expected in society, and acceptable ways of behaving.
Primary socialisation
Primary socialisation is carried out within the family; where the norms and values are established very basically, e.g. learning it is good manners to say please and thank you, eat with your mouth shut.
