As level Aqa Sociology - Key concepts

As level Aqa Sociology - key concepts flashcards

What is socialisation?

The process through which individuals learn the values, beliefs, norms, and behaviours of their culture and society, shaping their identity and social roles.

What is primary socialisation?

The family is where we first learn norms and values.

What is secondary socialisation?

The process of learning norms and values outside the family, typically occurring in the Education system, the Media, Religion and the law.

What are norms?

Socially accepted patterns of behaviour that guide how individuals should act in various situations.

What are values?

Core beliefs or principles about what is important in life.

What is culture?

The shared beliefs, customs, practices, and social behaviour of a particular group in society.

What is multi culture?

A diverse range of cultural groups.

What is cultural relativity?

Judging one culture in accordance to our own.

What is social control?

How norms and values are controlled in society to maintain order and regulate behaviour.

What is conformity?

The act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours to group norms or expectations.

What are sanctions?

Sanctions are mechanisms of social control that enforce norms and values through rewards or punishments, influencing individual behaviour in society.

What is a role?

The part someone plays in society that comes with certain expectations and behaviours associated with their social position.

What is gender?

Gender refers to the social and cultural roles, behaviours, and attributes that a society considers appropriate for men and women, distinct from biological sex.

What is identity?

Identity is the conception of oneself as a distinct individual, shaped by personal experiences, social interactions, and cultural influences, encompassing aspects such as gender, ethnicity, and social roles.

What are agents of socialisation?

Institutions in society where we learn norms and values that shape our behaviour and beliefs.

What is differentiation?

The process of “making people different” ; characteristics used to enhance the power of one group over another, always involves a sense of inequality and social ranking.

What is power?

The ability to control the behaviour of others through persuasion or force.

What is stratification?

Refers to the hierarchical layering of people/social groups into different positions within society based on factors like, wealth, income, family background, education and power.

What is status?

The role position someone occupies in society and refers to the amount of prestige or importance a person or social group has in the eyes of other members in society.

What is ascribed status?

A position in society that a person has that is assigned at birth.

E.g Queen or Prince

What is achieved status?

A social position that an individual has achieved through their own efforts, talent and reward.

E.g Dr or Lawyer

What is a closed system?

A social stratification system that limits social mobility and prevents people from changing their social standing. They exist when a group of people are given different opportunities, depending on the characteristics they were born with, such as colour, gender, or the economic situation of their parents.

E.g slavery and caste systems.

What is an open system?

A society with mobility between different social classes.

What is cultural capital?

Pierre Bourdieu:

A concept that describes the social assets that people have that can help them achieve success and social mobility.

E.g Education, style of speech, style of dress, personality, knowledge and skills. (non- financial assets)

What is economic capital?

Pierre Bourdieu:

An individual's financial assets and material wealth.

E.g Cash, property, stocks

What is social capital?

Refers to the networks and relationships a person possesses based on class membership.

What is Meritocracy?

A social system where people are given positions of power and success based on their abilities and achievements, rather than their social class, wealth, or family. The idea that people should be rewarded for their efforts and talent, rather than their social status. IQ + Effort = Reward

Apart from class, what might be other factors that determine social mobility?

Appearance Accent Jobs Education Income Hobbies Gender Age Ethnicity