1. Areas of Study in Sociology

2. Family Primary function is to reproduce society, either biologically, socially, or both. Primary function is to reproduce society, either biologically, socially, or both. Family serves to socialize children. Family serves to socialize children. In societies with a sexual division of labor, marriage, and the resulting relationship between two people, is necessary for the formation of an economically productive household. In societies with a sexual division of labor, marriage, and the resulting relationship between two people, is necessary for the formation of an economically productive household.

3. Cliques, Groups, Gangs Gangs are groups of people with a common identity. Gangs are groups of people with a common identity. Although known with mostly a negative connotation today, the word gang originally meant a group of workmen. Although known with mostly a negative connotation today, the word gang originally meant a group of workmen. Cliques, groups, and gangs are seen everywhere from high schools, to the workplace, to community groups and in between. Cliques, groups, and gangs are seen everywhere from high schools, to the workplace, to community groups and in between.

4. Gender Different than sex. Gender identity is “an individual’s self conception as being male or female.” Different than sex. Gender identity is “an individual’s self conception as being male or female.” Refers mostly to social differences known in sociology as gender roles. Refers mostly to social differences known in sociology as gender roles. Gender roles are often thought to be socially constructed, and lack biological explanation. Gender roles are often thought to be socially constructed, and lack biological explanation.

5. Deviance Actions that violate social norms are referred to as deviant acts. Actions that violate social norms are referred to as deviant acts. There is a large study of patterns within the field of deviance to investigate why people do what they do (ie: crime rates in winter). There is a large study of patterns within the field of deviance to investigate why people do what they do (ie: crime rates in winter). Crimes are always deviant – deviance isn’t always a crime. Crimes are always deviant – deviance isn’t always a crime.

6. Crime/Criminology The breach of a rule or law of society is known as crime. These breaches usually result in punishment. The breach of a rule or law of society is known as crime. These breaches usually result in punishment. Sociologists study patterns and test theories on the creation of crime and why crime happens. Sociologists study patterns and test theories on the creation of crime and why crime happens. The word crime originally meant “accusation” The word crime originally meant “accusation”

7. Socialization How we become who we are. Socialization refers to learning one’s culture and how to live/survive within it. How we become who we are. Socialization refers to learning one’s culture and how to live/survive within it. Provides skills necessary for acting and participating in society. Provides skills necessary for acting and participating in society. Acceptance into cultural norms, attitudes, values, motives, social roles, language and symbols. Acceptance into cultural norms, attitudes, values, motives, social roles, language and symbols.

8. Stratification/Class Social stratification is the hierarchical arrangement of social classes. (ie: lower class, middle class, upper class). Social stratification is the hierarchical arrangement of social classes. (ie: lower class, middle class, upper class). Social classes are not universal to all societies, but having some form of social stratification is fairly universal compared to hunter-gatherer societies. Social classes are not universal to all societies, but having some form of social stratification is fairly universal compared to hunter-gatherer societies.

9. Race Usually refers to dividing humans into groups based on characteristics. Usually refers to dividing humans into groups based on characteristics. Most widely used is skin color but can include things like cranial or facial features and hair texture. Most widely used is skin color but can include things like cranial or facial features and hair texture. Self-identification can play a role in race as well. Self-identification can play a role in race as well.

10. Religion Religion is a set of tenants or practices, often centered upon specific supernatural and moral claims about reality, the cosmos, and human nature. Religion is a set of tenants or practices, often centered upon specific supernatural and moral claims about reality, the cosmos, and human nature. Religion also encompasses cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology. Religion also encompasses cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology. A sense of shared conviction tends to bring people together on a more social level. A sense of shared conviction tends to bring people together on a more social level.

11. Education Teaching and learning of knowledge. Teaching and learning of knowledge. Focus on the cultivation of skills, trades or professions, as well as mental, moral, and aesthetic development. Focus on the cultivation of skills, trades or professions, as well as mental, moral, and aesthetic development. Education is an important socialization factor in many cultures as students interact with peer groups and also learn civics and a sense of community. Education is an important socialization factor in many cultures as students interact with peer groups and also learn civics and a sense of community.

12. Politics The process by which groups make decisions. The process by which groups make decisions. The politics although generally related to government, can also be found in corporate, academic, and religious institutions. The politics although generally related to government, can also be found in corporate, academic, and religious institutions. Politics consists of “social relations involving authority or power.” Politics consists of “social relations involving authority or power.”

13. Environment Ecology is the scientific study of the distribution of life and interactions. Ecology is the scientific study of the distribution of life and interactions. Environment describes factors such as sunlight, climate, and geology. Environment describes factors such as sunlight, climate, and geology. We also discuss how environment influences our actions as humans. We also discuss how environment influences our actions as humans.

14. Urbanization Focuses on the physical growth of urban areas. Focuses on the physical growth of urban areas. Effects include change in density and administration services. Effects include change in density and administration services. Urbanization is attributed to the growth of cities. Urbanization is attributed to the growth of cities.

15. Social Movements A type of group action. Large, informal groupings of individuals or organizations focused on specific political or social issues. A type of group action. Large, informal groupings of individuals or organizations focused on specific political or social issues. Examples include: woman’s rights movement, civil rights movement, and war protesters in the Vietnam era. Examples include: woman’s rights movement, civil rights movement, and war protesters in the Vietnam era. Education and democracy have helped make social movements possible and popular. Education and democracy have helped make social movements possible and popular.

16. Social Problems Social issues either directly or indirectly affect many or all members of a society. Social issues either directly or indirectly affect many or all members of a society. They are often seen as controversies over moral values, problems, or both. They are often seen as controversies over moral values, problems, or both. Examples include: poverty, violence, pollution, injustice, suppression of human rights, discrimination, crime, abortion, gay marriage, gun control, autism, and teaching evolution. Examples include: poverty, violence, pollution, injustice, suppression of human rights, discrimination, crime, abortion, gay marriage, gun control, autism, and teaching evolution.

17. Culture Patterns of human activity and symbolic structures that give activities significance and importance. Patterns of human activity and symbolic structures that give activities significance and importance. Culture can also be defined as a way of life including art, beliefs, and institutions. Culture can also be defined as a way of life including art, beliefs, and institutions. Culture includes manners, dress, language, religion, rituals, norms, and belief systems. Culture includes manners, dress, language, religion, rituals, norms, and belief systems.