sociology key terms

conflict theory

society made up of groups that have conflicting interests eg Marxist view that society divied into two opposed classes

consesus theory

society is essentially harmonious and works on the basis of shared goals/morals which leads to cooperation

culture

includes norms, values and behaviours that are shared by a social group or society that are transmitted across generations through socialisation

globalisation

growing interconnectedness of societies across the world as a result of factors such as the creation of global media and global markets.

identity

an individuals sense of self that emerges through the socialisation process and interactions with other people

ideology

a set of secret ideas, values and beliefs that are intended to justify the interests of a dominant social group

industrialisation

the introduction of mechanisation and mass-production that has led many societies to transform from being agricultural to adopting the factory system of production

life chances

the chances members of different social groups have to btain those things that are desirable eg edcuational acheivements, good income and health

modernity

the period during which logic and rational principles were applied to the developement and organisation of societies as opposed to the more religious principles previously used

norms and values

rules and expectations of what is important and right within a social group, which are passed on through the socialisation process, and formally/informally control the behaviour of group members

postmodernity

perpective that views society as changing rapidly which led to the growing uncertainty and risk. As a result society has become so unstable and diverse its not possible for one theory to explain how it works

power relationships

differences in power and influence of those within a relationship (eg. marriage) may relate to money and decision-making and may reflect inequality

secularisation

the process whereby religous thinking, participation and influence in society is seen to be less important and in decline

socialisation

the process of learning and internalisation the culture of a society. The primary agent of socialisation is the family, secondary agents include the education system, media and peer groups

social action theories

theories seen individuals as having free the are not passively shaped by the structures of society

social change

significant changes to the functions and structure of society including thoses brought about by processes shuch as industrialisation and secularisation

social class

a social group of people who share a similar income, wealth or type of occupation including class differences between manual and non-manual occupations

social construction

the construction of something through social processes rather than structural causes eg. interactionists view crime as being constructed through the meanings and interpretations given to a suspects actions by the CPS

social control

the process by which society seeks to ensure its memebrs follow society’s norms and values by both informally and formally controlling behaviour

social differentation

the physical and social separation of social groups within society

social groups

groups of people who share common social interests or social injustices eg class, ganger, ethnicity, sexuality

social mobility

the movement of individuals or groups up the social heirarchy or down eg. some sociologists argue that working class pupils who are educationally successful can become middle class

social problems

social behaviour that causes public friction or unrest which need collective action to resolve eg. growth in antisocial behaviour

social structure

network of social institutions and social relationships that form the organsiation and authority of society

stratification

division of society into a heirarchy of unequal groups based on wealth, power or status. The stratification may be based on gender, ethnicity and class differences. Those in groups lower down the heirarchy are likely to have a correspondingly lower life-chances than those in higher groups

subcultures

a smaller group within the main-stream culture of a society that are in some ways different from main-stream culture eg some youth cultures have very different values and behaviours to the older generation