Society, Culture, and Communication

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers key concepts in sociology and communication, including social structures, group dynamics, cultural types, and context-based communication styles.

Society

A group of people who live in a defined geographical region, interact with one another, and have a shared culture.

Social Institution

Patterns of relationship that influence how interactions occur within society.

Social Groups

Collections of people who share a sense of identity because of common interests, experiences, and relationships.

Primary Groups

Groups composed of small and significant people in our lives that interact long term and in highly emotional ways.

Secondary Groups

Goal- or task-oriented groups with no emotional connections.

Social Status

Position or rank within the hierarchy in a large group.

Social Roles

Sets of behaviors, responsibilities, or expectations associated with the position or the status of the individual.

Norms

A standard of behavior in accordance with what a society establishes as good, right, proper, and important.

Formal Norms

Established written rules that people are expected to follow.

Informal Norms

Casual behaviors encouraged and accepted by society that are learned through imitation, observation, and passed down from generation to generation.

Culture

The way a group or community live their lives or function in society.

Material Culture

Tangible, physical objects serving as representations of culture.

Non-material Culture

Non-tangible aspects of culture like language, beliefs, and values.

Cultural Diversity

Differences in cultural practices that may lead to misunderstanding.

Intercultural Communication

The process of recognizing cultural similarities and differences within a communication situation.

High Context

A communication context that is indirect, collectivist, and non-confrontational.

Low Context

A communication context that is direct, explicit, and favors individualism.