1. Chapter 2: American Society and Its Values
Social Science

2. Participating in a Group
Many people participate in a group to satisfy certain needs they have
Physical, social, emotional, etc.
The process of learning how to participate in a group is called socialization
Also means accepting the values and rules, or specific expectations about what our behavior should be, of the group

3. Social Institutions Groups can not always fulfill individual needs
The needs that can not be met by groups or met by social institutions, or systems of values and rules that determine how our society is organized
Consist of five major institutions: family, religion, education, the economy, and government
Not only satisfy needs, but also teach values and provide a framework within which groups and organizations can exist

4. The Family
The family is the most basic social institution in our society
Give you basic needs and teaches you values from birth
Many families are structured in different ways
Most have a father, mother, and children, but some parents are deceased, divorced, or are single parents by choice, or some families can be blended families, or families made up of adults and children from previous marriages, or made up of foster or adopted children
Families are where you learn many of the rules that govern daily life through learning basic life skills and values
Those rules travel outside the home in the form of laws

5. Religion
Not everyone belongs in a religion, but those who do gain spiritual guidance, a sense of belonging, and moral standards
Each religion has its own moral code, punishments that may occur during life or after death, and rewards that include acceptance by the group or eternal happiness
Some religious morals are written into law, but other morals are done for the betterment of the community, and are not written into law
Not all religions share the same values, and when one religion tries to impose its values on society, conflicts can arise
We must remember that they have the right to speak freely and the right to believe what they want to

6. Education
Education exists in to teach individuals basic skills needed to survive in society and also to help people achieve their goals and follow the paths to their dream careers
Schools are one of the first places you meet people from different backgrounds and families, and the first place you learn respect and acceptance
Schools also teach individuals how to think critically, form opinions, make judgments, and solve problems, while also teaching American values and ideals
School also provides you with good memories, long friendships, and a sense of who you are as a person

7. The Economy
Every society has an economy, or a system of producing and distributing goods and services to fulfill people’s want
In our economy, each of us is a consumer, or a person who uses goods and services to satisfy his or her wants
People exchange goods through a market, and exchange goods in either stores or the stock exchange
The amount you must pay for a good or service in a market is its price, which is normally paid using money, which can be anything that is generally accepted as payment for a good or service

8. Economic Freedoms Built into our economy are five important freedoms
Freedom to buy and sell goods or services to anyone we wish
Freedom to compete with others who are selling goods and services
Freedom to earn a profit
Freedom of ownership over your goods until you sell them
Freedom to pursue any career you wish

9. Government
The government exists in order to deter chaos, to protect its citizens and their rights, to ensure the safety of the country, to provide necessary services to its citizens, and to give structure to society
There are three main forms of government:
Monarchy-all or most of the power is in the hands of one individual, a monarch
Monarch’s authority is hereditary (passes down a bloodline)
Dictatorship-government is controlled by one person, a dictator
Dictator takes power by force and are usually military leaders
Democracy-power is shared by all the people
People vote in representatives who will meet the needs and freedoms of the people

10. Laws and Politics
Laws are the formal rules that govern our behavior in society
Ours are written down in the Constitution
Laws exist to ensure that rights are protected and order is maintained
Breaking laws can lead to punishment, and the more severe the crime is, the more severe the punishment will be
Citizens in a democracy have the right to try and work with others to change laws they don’t like
A combination of patriotism, or demonstration of love and devotion to one’s country, and political socialization, or the process of learning how to behave politically, makes for an ideal citizen