Sociology Definitions

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Race

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The division of people based on certain physical characteristics.

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Ethnicity

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The classification of people who share a common cultural linguistic, or ancestral heritage.

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Majority Group

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the group that has the largest population in society and holds significant power and priviledge.

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Minority Group

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a group that has a smaller population and less power than the majority group

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Colonialism

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The imposition of control over a weak nation by a more powerful country.

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Racism

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is discrimination based on a person's race.

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.Genocide

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the attempt to destroy or exterminate a people based on their race and/or ethnicity.

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Hate Groups

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are organizations that promote hostility or violence toward others based on race and other factors.

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Conquest

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is the domination over a group of people by a superior force.

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Pluralistic Minorities

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groups that enter into an area voluntarily but seek to maintain their own culture while also integrating into the dominant group.

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Assimilationist Minorities

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Are groups that seek to shed their old ways and integrate themselves into mainstream society.

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Voluntary Immigration

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is the willing movement of people from one society to another.

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Involuntary Immigration

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the forced movement of people from one society to another.

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Secessionist Minorities

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are groups that voluntarily separate themselves from the dominant group and view the dominant group with disdain, believing that it will corrupt the group's belief system.

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Militant Minorities

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are groups that seek to overthrow the existing system because they see it as unjust.

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Prejudice

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Refers to negative attitudes about an entire category of people.

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Discrimination

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The unfair treatment of people based on a prejudice

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Segregation

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Is forced separation because of factors such as race, gender, or ethnicity.

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Patriarchy

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Is a social system in which the father serves as head of the family, and men have authority over women and children.

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Matriarchy

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Is a social system in which women are the main authority and hold power over men.

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Sexism

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Is the belief that one sex is superior to the other.

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Gender Roles

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Are society's expectations of how males and females should act and think.

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Glass Ceiling

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is an invisible barrier preventing women from reaching executive-level positions in the workplace.

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Feminism

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The vast collection of social movements and theories about gender differences, proposing social equality for all people.

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Deviance

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Is the violation of norms that a society agrees upon

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Crime

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is the violation of norms that have been written into law.

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Criminology

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Is the scientific study of crime, deviance, and social policies that the criminal justice system applies.

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Street Crime

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refers to many different types of criminal acts, such as burglary, rape, and assault.

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Suite Crime

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Refers to white-collar crimes.

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What are some of the correlates of crime?

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Gender and Crime, Race and Crime, Social class and crime, Age and crime, and international comparisons of street crime.

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International comparisons of crime

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1.Crime numbers may or may not be accurate.

2. Legal definitions of crimes differ among nations.

3. Different methods of collecting data can result in differences in reported crimes.

4. Cultures vary, as do programs to prevent, punish, and curb crime

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Deterrence

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Is a measure that prevents a person from doing something because of fear of the consequences.

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General Deterrence

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Is a measure that ensures individuals will not commit a crime because they see the negative consequences applied to others, an they fear experiencing these consequences.

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Specific Deterrence

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Is a measure that ensures individuals will not commit a crime because they see the negative consequences applied to others, and they fear experiencing these consequences.

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Recidivism

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Is the tendency for inmates released from prison to return to prison.

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Incarceration Rates

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Policies like the three-strikes law have contributed to the United States' much higher incarceration rate in comparison to similar countries' rates.

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Costs for incarceration

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$30,000 a year to incarcerate a single inmate.

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Economic System or Economy

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is the social institution that helps a society organize what it produces, distributes, an consumes.

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Capitalism

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Is an economic system in which individuals can own the means of production as well as the services that others may need.

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Free Markets

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Generally refer to markets that are free from government control.

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Socialism

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Is the economic system by which resources and the means of production are owned collectively by the citizens.

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Democracy

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a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.

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Democratic Socialism

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Is the economic system that advocates running government democratically and for the good of the most people.

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Supply

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The amount of a good or service available.

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Demand

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The desire for a good or service.

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Monopoly

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the exclusive possession or control of the supply or trade in a service.

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Convergence Theory

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The tendency for capitalism and socialism to converge.

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Political Systems

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Are social institutions that are based on an established set of practices for applying and realizing a society's goal.

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Monarchy

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a political system whereby leadership is based on the idea that leaders are selected by divine right or heritage

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Authoritarianism regimes

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usually involve an individual or small group taking power and using repression and other techniques to maintain it.

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Totalitarianism

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a type of authoritarian government whereby the government controls everything in people's lives, and generally those who disagree are punished.

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Oligarchy

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Is a small group of very influential people who control the government.

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Military Industrial Complex

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Is a combination of the armed forces and defense industries that provide weapons and other materials to the country.