culture and identity

High culture

Cultural creations that have particularly high status, considered superior to other cultural products or leisure activities.

Folk culture

Cultural activities and products that originate with ordinary people, rooted in pre-industrial society and passed down through generations.

Low culture

Cultural creations that have particularly low status and little worth, such as products of mass media.

Anomie

A sense of normlessness when norms and values break down, leading to feelings of alienation.

Mechanical solidarity

High levels of social solidarity where everyone feels similar in traditional pre-industrial society, often influenced by common religion.

Organic solidarity

Social order maintained despite a variety of beliefs in an urbanized world, as people become dependent on each other through specialized roles.

Ruling class ideology

Cultural ideas and values dominated by the ruling class, used to socialize society's members to accept these norms.

Bourgeoise

The capitalist class who use wealth to acquire political and cultural power.

Dual class consciousness

The ability of the working class to see through the ideology of the ruling class, rejecting acceptance of low status.

Impression management

The process in which individuals attempt to influence perceptions of themselves through social interaction.

Looking glass self

The concept that individuals develop their self-concept based on how they believe others perceive them.

Labeling theory

The theory that society decides who is deviant, with labels influencing behavior and identity.

Master status

The primary identifying characteristic of an individual.

Hegemony

The dominance of one group over others, often reinforced through cultural means.

Elaborated code

A communication style that aligns with the middle class, often disadvantaging working-class students.

Bonding social capital

Groups that rely on strong, close connections for support.

Bridging social capital

Groups that have access to diverse networks that can aid in job opportunities.

Culture

The informal rules governing social situations and interactions.

Metrosexual man

Heterosexual males who are concerned with their image, often using personal grooming products.

Crisis of masculinity

The decline of traditional masculine roles leading to low self-esteem and alternative behaviors among young men.

Feminisation of the workplace

The shift in workplace norms where women's participation and economic independence are increasingly recognized.

Heteronormativity

The cultural acceptance that heterosexual relationships are the norm, with other orientations viewed as deviant.

Social model of disability

The perspective that disabled individuals are seen as inferior due to societal labels and assumptions.

Bourdieu’s notion of habitus

The ingrained habits, skills, and dispositions shaped by a person's social context.

Media saturation

A societal condition where media creates desires and pressures that influence personal identity.