Introduction to Sociology

Key terms

norms

the expected behaviours of members of society or a culture

values

beliefs within society about what is important/worthwile

socialisation

the internalisation of society's norms and values

primary socialisation

the first, and arguably most important, occurance of the internalisation of society's norms and values that commonly occurs within the family

role

the expected behaviours of a member of society based on their status within society

status

a person's position within society

ascribed status

status that is given/born with (e.g., royalty)

achieved status

status that is earned/worked for (e.g., being PM)

agencies of socialisation

societal institutions that teach society's norms and values (e.g., family, education)

culture

the way of life and norms of a society

subcultures

side cultures within the main culture that share different norms and values to the main culture

structural/macro

society shapes the individual (e.g., functionalism)

social action/micro

the individual shapes society (e.g., symbolic interactionism)

consensus

society is fair and harmonious - everyone has equal opportunities (e.g., functionalism)

conflict

society is unfair - there are not equal opportunities for all (e.g., feminism)

ideology

using ideas to change perceptions of reality (e.g., religion & afterlife)

exploitation

using someone's weaknesses against them (e.g., the bourgeoisie vs. the proletariat)

patriarchy

a male-dominated society

definition of the situation

individuals attaching meanings to things

looking glass self

observing the self from the viewpoint of others (e.g., self-fulfilling prophecy)

status symbol

something that can be owned/possessed/wielded to display social status and gain validation (e.g., luxury goods, material objects, cars, yachts, designer clothes)

role conflict

when the expected norms of behaviour associated with an individual's status come into conflict with another status they have (e.g., parenting vs. career)