Aqa Sociology - General Key Terms

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Culture

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- The whole way of life of a particular society

- Includes the values, norms, customs, beliefs, knowledge, skills and language of a society

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Values

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- Ideas and beliefs that people have about what is desirable and worth striving for

- Provide us with general guidelines for conduct

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Norms

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- Similar to values but are more specific to particular situations

- Tell us what is appropriate and expected behaviour in specific social settings such as classrooms, cinemas, restaurants, planes etc.

- They provide order in society and allow it to function properly

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Primary Socialisation

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- Early childhood learning during which, as babies and infants, we learn the basic behaviour patterns, language and skills that we will need in later life

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Secondary Socialisation

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- This begins later in childhood and continues throughout our lives. Through this process we learn society's norms and values

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Bourgeoisie

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- The capitalist class who own the means of production and private property

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Proletariat

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- (Working Class) Own nothing but their ability to work as wage labourers

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Secularisation

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- A process in society whereby the influence of religion aids its decline

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Social Cohesion

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- When a society is based on this, the different individuals and groups that make up society are united into a body of citizens rather than divided by conflicting interests.

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Social Stratification

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- The way society is structured or divided into hierarchical layers with the most privileged at the top and the least favoured at the bottom

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Coercion

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- Obedience based on the threat or use of force

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Authority

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- The exercise of power based on consent or agreement

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Capitalism

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- An economic system in which private owners invest money in businesses in order to make a profit

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Communism

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- A theory or system of social organisation in which all property is owned by the community and each person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs

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Status

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- Social positions linked to occupations and families such as child, parent, teacher, train driver, etc.

- It can also refer to the amount of prestige or social standing that an individual in a particular social position is given by other members of the group or society

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Class Struggle

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- The gap in the resources of the bourgeoisie and proletariat would increase over times

- Marx argued that this was the key to bringing about social change

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Functionalism

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- Views society as made up of different parts that interlock and fit together

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Marxism

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- A system of economic, social and political philosophy based on ideas that view social change in terms of economic factors

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Feminism

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- A sociological approach which examines the ways gender operates in society against the interests of women