Deviance - Differing from a norm or from the accepted standards of a society.
Social Control - enforcement of conformity by society upon its members, either by law or by social pressure.
Anomie - a state or condition of individuals or society characterized by a breakdown or absence of social norms and
values, as in the case of uprooted people.
Crime - an action or an instance of negligence that is deemed injurious to the public welfare or morals or to the interests
of the state and that is legally prohibited.
Primary & Secondary Deviance - Primary deviance represents actions that are against norms of a society or a group but
are relatively mild in which committed primary deviance would not impact one's self concept. Secondary deviance is an
act of defying norm in response to people's reaction to light deviant behaviors, that is, primary deviance.
Social Differentiation - the distinction made between social groups and persons on the basis of biological, physiological,
and sociocultural factors, as sex, age, race, nationality, etc.
Social Stratification - the condition of being arranged in social strata or classes within a group.
Wealth/Class..Power/Party..Wealth/Class..Power/Party..Prestige/Status..Caste/Estate/Class..all in the notes!
Life chances - the opportunities each individual has to improve their quality of life. The concept was introduced by
German sociologist Max Weber. It is a probabilistic concept, describing how likely it is, given certain factors, that an
individual's life will turn out a certain way. Life chances are positively correlated with one's social situation. The
opportunities mean the extent to which individuals have access to important societal resources, such as food, clothing,
shelter, education, and health care. Quality of life comprises the individual's ability to procure goods, have a career and
obtain inner satisfaction; in other words, the ability to satisfy one's needs.
Social Mobility - the ability of individuals or groups to move within a social hierarchy with changes in income,
education, occupation, etc. The ability of individuals or groups to move upward or downward in status based on wealth,
occupation, education, or some other social variable.
Underclass - the lowest societal stratum, usually composed of the disadvantaged.
Minority Group - A minority or subordinate group is a sociological group that does not constitute a politically dominant
plurality of the total population of a given society. A sociological minority is not necessarily a numerical minority โ it
may include any group that is disadvantaged with respect to a dominant group in terms of social status, education,
employment, wealth and political power. To avoid confusion, some writers prefer the terms "subordinate group" and
"dominant group" rather than "minority" and "majority".
Race - a group of persons related by common descent or heredity.
Ethnic Group - pertaining to or characteristics of a people who shares a common and distinctive culture, religion, or
language.
Prejudice - an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.
Discrimination - Treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than individual merit; partiality or
prejudice.
Racism - a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual
achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
Symbolic/Modern Racism - non-violent racism that exists within and feeds off of social and cultural beliefs about other
peoples.
