social class: key concepts

• What does innate mean?

  The idea that we are born with certain features that are inherited
• What is labelling?

  The process of attaching a definition or meaning to a person or group
• What is material deprivation?

  A lack of resources and wealth needed for educational success
• What is subculture?

  The development of a culture separate from the rest of society. The group have their own set of values that are different from mainstream society
• What is polarisation?

  The second stage of the formation of a subculture, where students in high sets become more motivated, whereas peer pressure causes the behaviour of students in low sets to deteriorate
• What is fatalism?

  The subcultural value of believing in fate
• What is collectivism?

  The subcultural value where the working class believe that being part of a group is more important than acting as an individual
• What is immediate gratification?

  The subcultural value that causes students to want to gain smaller rewards straight away rather than wait for larger ones
• What is cultural capital?

  The middle class advantage of having knowledge, values, tastes and experiences that lead to educational success
• What is economic capital?

  The middle class advantage of having enough wealth to give their children the best chance of educational success
• What is social capital?

  The middle class advantage of knowing people who can help 'open doors' for you - connections and contacts
• What is marketisation?


  The way in which schools are run like businesses
• What is elaborated code?

  Language styles which have a wider vocabulary, are complex and have longer sentences
• What is restricted code?

  Language styles which have a limited vocabulary, are simple and have shorter sentences