sociology: key concepts

• Culture


  Shared way of society
• Elements of culture


  • Language
  • Clothing
  • Region
• Norms


  Patterned of behaviour in a particular situation
• Values


  Generalised beliefs and goals about how to behave
• Norms and values are the guidelines to everyday behaviour
• Socialisation


  The process of learning norms and values of society
• Stages of socialisation


  • Primary (0-5 years)
  • Secondary (education, media, religion, workplace)
• Agents of socialisation


  • Family
  • Peer groups
  • Media
  • Gender norms
• Norms and values are transmitted through imitation, internalisation, and formal/hidden curriculum
• Social control


  The process of a group requiring its members to behave according to its beliefs, principles to prevent negative deviance
• Forms of social control

  • Informal (raised voice, dirty looks)
  • Formal (police, court, youth workers)
• Norms


  Unwritten rules of society
• Values


  Ideas and beliefs
• Elements of identity


  • Class
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Ethnicity
• Role


  Your place in society
• Status


  Level of importance someone's job has (ascribed, achieved)
• Education is a bridge between family and further society