Sociological approaches

society definition

a group of people who share a culture or a way of life

norms definition

the rules that define appropriate and expected behaviour

values definition

beliefs and ideas about what is seen as desirable or worth striving for in a society

culture definition

the whole way of life of a particular society or social group. Culture includes the values, norms, customs, beliefs, knowledge, skills, and language of the group or society

social structures definition

the parts or institutions that make up society, such as families, educations and stratification (class)

social processes definition

processes in society that involve interaction between interactions, groups or social structures, e.g. process of socialisation or social control

social control definition

the way our behaviour is regulated, it can be formal (police) and informal (family and friends)

socialisation definition

describes the process by which we learn the culture, norms and values of society we are born into

primary socialisation definiation

refers to early childhood learning during which, as babies and infants, we learn the basic behaviour patterns, language and skills that we need for later life

secondary socialisation definition

begins later in childhood and continues throughout our adult lives, through this process we learn society’s norms and values

agent of socialisation definition

a social group or institution responsible for undertaking socialisation

social issues definition

the issues that affect communities, groups and people’s lives, social issues are often social problems

social problems definition

the problems facing society, they are seen as damaging or harmful to society and therefore need to be tackled or solved through social policies

social policies definition

a set of plans and actions put in place by the government or other organisations in order to address social problems

what is the example of a society

British society

what are the examples of a norm

putting your hand up in class or queuing

what is the example of a value

respect

what is the example of a culture

British culture

what are the examples of a social structure

family or education

what are the examples of a social process

socialisation or social control

what are the examples of social control

police or family

what are the examples of socialisation

primary or secondary

what are the examples of primary socialisation

manners or potty training (family)

what are the examples of secondary socialisation

education or work

what are the examples of an agent of socialisation

family or school

what are the examples of social issues

crime or poverty

what are the examples of social problems

rise in gang crimes, rise in homeless, boys underachievement

what are the examples of social policies

stop and search, pupil premium, free school meals