Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics – Key Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards summarizing the essential concepts, terms, and distinctions discussed in the lecture on culture, society, and politics.

Culture

A set of learned behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs that characterizes a society or group.

Society

A group of people living together, interacting, and sharing a common culture.

Politics

Activities and processes related to government and the distribution of power and resources.

Sex

Physical or physiological differences between males and females, including reproductive organs and secondary characteristics.

Gender

Socially constructed norms, roles, and relationships associated with being male or female.

Religion

A set of practices and behaviors tied to belief in a god or group of gods.

Socio-economic Class

A category of people with similar economic privileges within a society.

Nationality

Identity tied to membership in a particular nation or country.

Ethnicity

A group sharing common culture, language, history, religion, and traditions.

Exceptionality

Conditions involving personality, intellect, or physical traits that deviate from the norm, often linked to disabilities.

Political Identity

Attitudes and practices an individual follows regarding political systems and actors.

Social Sciences

Academic disciplines that study society and relationships among individuals.

Sociology

Social science examining human societies, interactions, and social structures.

Anthropology

Discipline focused on human diversity and universal patterns of behavior across cultures.

Political Science

Field analyzing the theory and practice of government and political behavior at all levels.

Ethnocentrism

Belief that one’s own culture is the most natural and superior standard.

Culture Shock

Disorientation or confusion experienced when immersed in an unfamiliar culture.

Xenocentrism

Preference for foreign cultures and belief that one’s own culture is inferior.

Xenophobia

Fear or hostility toward people or practices perceived as foreign or strange.

Cultural Relativism

Principle that cultures should be understood by their own standards without ranking them.

Socialization

Lifelong process through which people learn identities, skills, and norms for participating in society.

Agents of Socialization

Persons, groups, or institutions (family, school, media, etc.) that teach societal norms and values.

Natural Socialization

Informal learning through play and exploration during childhood.

Planned Socialization

Deliberate teaching or training by others to transmit norms and skills.

Positive Socialization

Learning reinforced by enjoyable experiences and rewards.

Negative Socialization

Learning reinforced through punishment, harsh criticism, or fear.

Resocialization

Process of discarding old behaviors and adopting new ones during life transitions.

Enculturation

Learning the values, behaviors, and expectations of one’s surrounding culture.

Norms

Rules that guide group members’ behavior by defining right and wrong.

Values

Culturally defined standards of what is desirable, good, and beautiful.

Folkways

Informal norms governing casual interactions and etiquette.

Mores

Strong norms based on societal values that define moral rights and wrongs.

Taboo

Absolutely forbidden norm whose violation provokes extreme disgust.

Laws

Norms formally enacted and enforced by government with legal sanctions.

Status

Social position a person occupies within a system.

Role

Behaviors expected of someone holding a particular status.

Ascribed Status

Social position assigned at birth without individual effort (e.g., age, sex).

Achieved Status

Social position acquired through choice, merit, or effort (e.g., profession).

Role Strain

Tension among multiple responsibilities linked to a single status.

Role Conflict

Incompatibility among roles connected to two or more different statuses.

Culture is Adaptive

Concept that culture helps humans adjust to environmental and social challenges.

Culture is Maladaptive

Idea that some cultural practices can harm individuals or societies.

Culture Changes

Recognition that cultural patterns evolve over time due to internal and external influences.