sociology
the systematic study of human society, social groups, and social interactions
culture
the total way of life shared by members of a community
primary groups
characterized by intimate, fate-to-dace interacting
looking glass self
the process of learning to view ourselves as we think others view us
deviance
refers to norm violation that typically result in disapproval, or even punishement, when encountered in a given community
roles
refer to ways of behaving & thinking that are expected of anyone who occupies a specific social position
achieved status
optional- one that a person can obtain during a lifetime
secondary groups
formal, large & impersonal
structural-functional theory
addresses the question of social organization & how it works
differential association theory
argues that people learn to be deviant when more of their associates favor deviance than favor conformity
ascribed status
be one that is fixed by birth or inheritance & is assumed to be unalterable
norms
shared rules of conduct that specify how people ought to think & act