Concepts of Culture, Society & Politics – Vocabulary Review

A comprehensive vocabulary set covering key terms from CULSOCPOL Module 1-6, including cultural concepts, social structures, anthropological theories, political science notions, and processes of socialization.

Culture

A learned set of beliefs, behaviors, attitudes, values, laws, and artifacts shared by members of a society.

Society

A group of people living together who interact and share a common culture.

Politics

Activities and processes related to governance and the exercise of power within a state.

Sex

Biological characteristics distinguishing males, females, or intersex individuals.

Gender

Socially constructed roles, behaviors, and attributes a society considers appropriate for men, women, and diverse identities.

Sexual Orientation

Enduring pattern of romantic or sexual attraction (e.g., heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual).

Gender Identity

An individual’s internal sense of being masculine, feminine, both, neither, or somewhere along the spectrum.

Gender Expression

The outward presentation of one’s gender through pronouns, clothing, and behavior.

Heterosexual

Person primarily attracted to individuals of the opposite sex.

Homosexual

Person primarily attracted to individuals of the same sex.

Gay

Homosexual male or umbrella term for homosexual persons.

Lesbian

Homosexual female.

Bisexual

Individual attracted to more than one sex or gender.

Asexual

Person who experiences little to no sexual attraction toward any gender.

Polysexual

Individual attracted to multiple gender identities.

Pansexual

Person attracted to individuals regardless of gender identity.

Transgender

People whose gender identity differs from their biological sex.

Transsexual

Individuals who transition or identify with a sex different from their biological characteristics.

Socio-Economic Class

Category of people with similar economic resources, privileges, and social status.

Political Identity

Set of attitudes and practices an individual holds toward political systems and actors.

Religion

Structured set of beliefs and practices relating humanity to the supernatural or sacred.

Monotheistic

Belief in the existence of one deity.

Polytheistic

Belief in the existence of multiple deities.

Nationality

Legal and cultural identity tied to membership in a specific nation-state.

Ethnicity

Shared cultural traits, history, language, and traditions within a subgroup of a nation.

Exceptionality

Non-average capabilities or disabilities that set individuals apart from typical standards.

Cultural Variation

Differences in cultural practices and traditions among societies.

Ethnocentrism

Belief that one’s own culture is superior and the most natural way to understand the world.

Cultural Relativism

Perspective that cultures must be understood in their own context without judgment.

Social Change

Adjustments in human relationships and institutions due to adaptation, technology, or globalization.

Culture Shock

Disorientation experienced when immersed in an unfamiliar culture.

Xenocentrism

Preference for foreign cultures over one’s own.

Xenophobia

Fear or hostility toward what is perceived as foreign or strange.

Biological Capacity for Culture

Human anatomical traits—brain, vocal tract, hands, bipedalism—enabling cultural development.

Bipedalism

Ability to walk upright on two feet.

Oldowan Industry

Earliest stone-tool tradition using river cobbles shaped by percussion flaking.

Acheulian Industry

Homo erectus hand-axe tradition with bifacial, sharper tools.

Mousterian Industry

Neanderthal tool culture combining Acheulian and Levallois techniques for efficient flakes.

Aurignacian Industry

Early modern human tool industry producing fine blades from flint, bone, and antler.

Magdalenian Industry

Late Paleolithic culture noted for microliths and advanced bone and ivory tools.

Neolithic Revolution

Transition from foraging to agriculture leading to permanent settlements and new social structures.

Divine Right Theory

Idea that rulers’ authority derives from a filial link to supernatural forces.

Force Theory

State formation through conquest and subjugation of other groups.

Paternalistic Theory

State evolving from the father’s authority over an expanding family unit.

Social Contract Theory

State created by mutual agreement for order and security between rulers and the ruled.

Natural Theory

View that humans naturally form political communities; humans are “political animals.”

Anthropology

Holistic study of humans, their origins, development, and contemporary diversity.

Archaeology

Subfield analyzing material remains of past human populations.

Cultural Anthropology

Study of contemporary cultures through beliefs, practices, and material life.

Linguistic Anthropology

Examination of language in relation to culture and social life.

Physical Anthropology

Study of human biological evolution and variation.

Applied Anthropology

Use of anthropological methods to solve contemporary problems.

Key Informant

Community member with extensive knowledge who aids anthropological research.

Participant Observation

Ethnographic method involving immersion in daily activities of a group being studied.

Cultural Universal

Pattern or element found in all human cultures.

Material Culture

Tangible objects produced or used by a society (e.g., tools, clothing, buildings).

Non-Material Culture

Intangible beliefs, values, norms, and ideas of a society.

Enculturation

Process by which individuals learn their own culture.

Acculturation

Cultural modification through continuous firsthand contact between societies.

Deculturation

Loss or forgetting of cultural traits across generations.

Social Sciences

Academic disciplines studying society and relationships among individuals (e.g., sociology, economics).

Sociology

Scientific study of society, social relationships, and culture.

Sociological Imagination

Ability to see the connection between personal experiences and larger social forces.

Social Interaction

Mutual influence people have on one another’s behavior within society.

Status

Recognized social position an individual occupies.

Role

Expected behaviors attached to a particular status.

Group

Two or more individuals who interact and share norms.

Institution

Stable set of statuses, roles, and groups addressing fundamental societal needs (e.g., family, education).

Social Structure

Framework of statuses and roles that organize society.

Social Organization (Subdiscipline)

Sociological focus on institutions, stratification, and group relations.

Social Psychology (Sociology)

Study of how group life influences individual personality and behavior.

Human Ecology

Analysis of human interaction with environments and institutions.

Demography

Statistical study of populations and their changes.

Positivism

Scientific approach using quantitative methods to study social phenomena objectively.

Anti-Positivism

Qualitative approach emphasizing subjective meanings in social research.

Political Science

Systematic study of government, public policy, political processes, and behavior.

Political Theory

Examination of concepts such as justice, rights, and equality in contemporary contexts.

Comparative Politics

Analysis of similarities and differences among political systems.

Political Behavior

Study of individual attitudes and actions in response to political variables.

Public Policy

Governmental courses of action addressing public issues.

Public Administration

Implementation and management of government policies and programs.

David Easton’s Political System

Model with environment, input, political system, output, and feedback loops.

Power

Ability to influence or control others’ behavior (Dahl).

State

Community occupying definite territory with government, sovereignty, and people.

Government

Personnel and institutions that manage state affairs and allocate values.

Sovereignty

Supreme authority of a state to govern itself internally and externally.

Territory

Geographic space over which a state exercises sovereignty.

Nation

Cultural community bound by shared history, language, or ethnicity.

Aristotle’s Monarchy

Rule by one individual for the common good.

Tyranny

Rule by one individual for personal interest, often oppressive.

Aristocracy

Rule by a few virtuous elites for the common good.

Oligarchy

Rule by a few wealthy individuals for their own benefit.

Polity

Rule by many, especially the middle class, balancing interests.

Democracy (Aristotle)

Rule by many that may devolve into chaotic pursuit of self-interest.

Social Learning Theory

Idea that behaviors are acquired through interaction and observation in society.

Sociobiology

Perspective that behavior is genetically inherited and shaped by natural selection.

Socialization

Process by which individuals internalize society’s norms, values, and roles.

Natural Socialization

Informal learning through play and exploration.

Planned Socialization

Deliberate teaching or training by others.

Positive Socialization

Learning based on rewarding experiences.