Core Definitions SY1

Culture The culture of a society is it’s whole way of life. That is shared meaning, norms and values. Culture can differ around the world. This can be by religion, music, food and language. For example, the French eat snails whereas the British eat fish and chips. Culture provides us with our identity. This is through socialisation passed on through generations. For example western cultures pass on the value of materialism so we are encouraged to possess stuff such as mobile phones.

Cultural Diversity Cultural Diversity describes a society in which many different cultures exist. Values differ between cultures in society. In Northern Ireland, there are strong Christian values whether it be Protestant or Catholic, however in England we are deemed to be quite secular. Norms differ between cultures in society. For example, it is a norm for men to wear kilts in Scotland but in England, men wear pants.

Norms Norms are the ideas that we have about what is normal behaviour. For example, queuing for a bus is appropriate behaviour at the bus stop. Social Norms provide social control and make social life predictable. They govern the way we dress and eat. We eat with a knife and fork. Norms don’t imply that everyone should follow them but there is widespread agreement that people should adhere to certain standards of behaviour

Values Values are general ideas which people regard as important. Defining what is worth having and what is worth striving for. For example, most societies place high value on human life. Values influence our norms about what is correct or unacceptable behaviour. For example, it is wrong to kill or steal. Values vary considerably over time and between cultures. For example, Japanese communities place a higher value on community and peace.

Status The social position given to you by your culture. It refers to the prestige attached to the roles we perform Status can be ascribed where it is fixed at birth and you have no say over the matter. For example, monarchy. Status can also be achieved through hard work. For example, a doctor.

Social Roles The key expectations of norms attached to a particular position. For example, it is the parents role to discipline their children. Social roles make social life predictable as we know what to expect causing less strain and maintaining social order. Role conflict can occur due to the different roles we have to perform. For example, a role as a parent may come into conflict with a role at work.

Identity This is the means of answering the question, ‘Who am I?’ We may choose to go watch Manchester United because we identify ourselves with that particular team or wear their replica kit. Our identity can have element of being ascribed. For example, our age and race. Our identity can also have elements of being achieved. For example, what food we eat, the music we listen to or what we wear.

Subculture A group within a larger culture that shares aspects of that culture but has some of it’s own norms and values. For example, a criminal gang may value gaining money illegally. Subculture may be distinctive because of certain factors of it’s members. This includes age, class and gender. For example, a group of pensioners will have different tastes in music compared to teenagers. Qualities that determine a subculture as distinct could come from factors such as religious, political or class. For example, a group of solicitors will have different subcultural beliefs to a group of footballers.

Nature Biologists think people behave as they do because they are controlled by nature. Humans are compared to animals and are seen to act on instinct. Animals at lower end of the evolutionary scale are usually capable o fending for themselves. They have inbuilt programmed behaviour. Not all behaviour is instinctive with some behaviour being learnt. For example. Ants are able to memorize the path through a maze.

Nurture Nurture is the sociological view that human behaviour is learnt rather than innate. This is known as the nurture theory of human behaviour and means the way you were brought up was through socialisation. Socialisation takes place within primary and secondary agents of socialisation. For example, family, education or media. Sociologists say women look after children because they were taught to look after children when they were small. For example, girls are given dolls to play with and this teachers them to look after children

Social Structure Society is made up of social institutions or social structures such as family, religion and education. Social structures exist externally to the individual and influences as well as shapes their behaviour and we learn to conform to their norms and values. For example, poor parenting can lead to delinquency. Social structures are interrelated, one structure can determine what happens in another. For example, changes to industrialisation lead to changes in the family – it became nuclear.

Social Construction This view argues that our notions of our roles and social phenomena whether it be childhood or deviant behaviour are created through interactions of members in society rather than being determined by its social structures Notion of childhood is said to be socially constructed as interactions between adults and children change. It is argued that we are more child centred than in the past. For example, there have been changes in the law & making education compulsory Socially constructed ideas vary from culture to culture or place to place, for example, wearing bikini on beach is acceptable going shopping on the high street wearing it isn’t

Social Change This refers to shifts in society that bring about a transformation to that society and its individuals Significant periods of social change are he shifts from agricultural to industrial society. People moved from rural areas into newly emerging urban areas and worked in factories instead of farming. Changes can emerge due to changes in social structure. For example, the economy or people may actively pursue change.

Social Inequality Social Inequality refers to the unequal rewards for different individuals within a group or society. For example, a child may have limited cultural experiences from a single parent family compared to nuclear family. Social Inequality can be associated with social class. For example, wealthy class families may pay for their child's education at an advantageous public school compared to the working class Social Inequality can also be associated with gender. Men dominate top jobs in society as women are associated with childbearing and many sacrifice careers for children.

Social Control Social control is a term used by sociologists to refer to the social processes by which the behaviour of individuals or groups are regulated Formal social control exists through force such as rule enforcement. For example, shoplifting and murder are crime that may result in arrest or imprisonment Informal social control involves controlling people through ideas. For example, ideas in the family, not being home in curfew may result in being grounded

Consensus This refers to a situation where there's a general agreement about what our norms and values are. For example, clear norms and values about what makes a good ‘mother’ or good ‘father’. Our socialisation ensures we follow society’s consensual norms and values. For example, we learn to agree on how to behave in certain social situations such as now elbow on the table or no eating with mouth open. The consensus theory is associated with the Functionalist perspective which sees society as a system of general agreement over norms and values creating social order and social control.

Conflict Occurs when groups or individuals with interests that opposes the opposition completes to exert power and gain a beneficial outcome. Social Inequalities are created when dominant groups expert power. For example, men exert power over women to gain a beneficial position in society. Conflict is the opposite of consensus.

Cultural Transmission (Socialisation) Cultural Transmission refers to the process where norms and valued are passed onto the next generation This process id one through socialisation through the agencies of socialisation such as the family. For example, in the family, we learn to share our toys with our siblings. Different cultures pass on different norms and values. For example, knife and forks are used in western society whereas chopsticks are used in Japan.