Key Words For Sociology - Culture

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Norms

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Norms are the expected patterns of behaviour based on your culture and values. People's behaviour is linked to their underlying values and depending on the value, can change their norms over time. An example of a norm in contemporary UK is queuing.

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Values

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Values are beliefs and ideas that society see as important and are accepted by the majority of society. Values guide our behaviour. An example of a value could be religion or hygiene.

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Subculture

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A subculture is a unique culture shared by a smaller group of people within a larger culture. Each subculture has their distinct norms and values. Examples of subcultures are Bikers, Hippies, Chavs and Goths.

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Primary Socialisation

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This is the first occurring process and starts from birth and continues to the start of school. It occurs with people who infants spend the most time with.

It must be intimate and personal in order for it to be effective in shaping the infant.

Examples of this are gender, talking, walking and how to eat.

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Secondary Socialisation

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This process begins when he child becomes more independent (usually once they've joined the education system).
If the main primary socialisation is with family then the secondary socialisation will be with friends (secondary friendships)

Examples of this are learning how to share, making friends and your fashion sense.

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High Culture

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High culture is a term used to describe a subculture shared by the elite. They have a sophisticated taste in the fine art or humanities. For example, they often enjoy operas, theatre, high fashion and/or architecture.

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Consumer Culture

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Consumer culture is a system of behaviors found in all places, that's dominated by consumption of commercial products.

Suggest that consumption, act of buying goods or services, is a cultural activity. Example: marketers emphasis lifestyle benefits of their products by encouraging customers to view products as key to happiness.

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Cultural Diversity

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This refers to the varieties that make up a group, region or organisation. It's the acceptance of the various ethnic cultures in schools, businesses, neighborhoods or cities. Cultural Diversity is sometimes called Multiculturalism. The differences in race, language, ethnicity, sexual orientation, values and religion account for the diversity.

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Global Culture

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The transmission of ideas, meanings or values around the world to extend and intensify social relations. The way cultures in different countries of the world have become more alike, sharing increasingly similar consumer products and ways of life. This has arisen as globalization has undermined national and local cultures.

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Social Control

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It's the social constraints put in place that allow us to function correctly in society and cultures. There's two types of social control: 1) Formal: occurs in education, workplace or religion - Code of conduct/rules in workplace. 2) Informal: Occurs in family, media or peers - it uses rewards and sanctions to promote behaviour (Criticism, disapproval, ridicule).

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Cultural Hybridity

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A culture that is a ‘mix’ of two or more other cultures, creating a new culture (a ‘hybrid’). It's often considered to be linked to globalisation (the spread of western ideas and cultures). An example of cultural hybridity is Creolisation: the term used to refer to the cultures that don't have historical roots. How different types of culture exist and overlap to form new cultures.

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Popular Culture

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Also known as Mass Culture. It's cultural products that are produced as entertainment to ordinary people, involving mass-produced, standardized, short-lived products of no lasting value, which are seen as 'required'. Examples are music, fashion, tv and film.