Sociology Concepts and Theories

Definition Achieved status refers to a social position or rank that an individual attains through...

Definition Adaptation refers to the process by which individuals modify their behavior or beliefs...

Definition Anomie is a concept from sociology that describes a state of normlessness or a breakdo...

Definition Ascribed status refers to social positions or roles that are assigned to individuals a...

Definition Behavioral ecology is a field of study that examines how people behave in relation to ...

Definition Competition as social interaction refers to the way individuals or groups engage with ...

Definition Conflict as social interaction refers to a situation where two or more individuals or ...

Definition Conflict theory is a sociological perspective that views society as being shaped by on...

Definition Cooperation as social interaction refers to when two or more individuals work together...

Definition Cultural lag refers to the delay in societal adjustments when technological advancemen...

Definition Cultural relativism is the idea that a culture's beliefs, practices, and values should...

Definition Cultural universals are fundamental traits or practices that are common to all human s...

Definition Culture refers to the shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and artifacts that c...

Definition Culture shock refers to the feeling of disorientation or confusion that occurs when so...

Definition Deviance refers to behavior, beliefs, or actions that deviate from the accepted social...

Definition Diffusion, as a mechanism for cultural change, refers to the process by which cultural...

Definition Distance zones (social interaction) refer to the invisible boundaries people maintain ...

Definition The division of labor is a concept where tasks or processes are split into smaller, sp...

Definition Dramaturgy is a sociological concept that examines how individuals present themselves ...

Definition Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own culture or ethnic group is superior to othe...

Definition Ethnomethodology is a sociological approach that studies how people create and maintai...

Definition Exchange as social interaction refers to the process where individuals or groups excha...

Definition Folkways are social conventions or customary ways of behaving that are considered appr...

Definition "The 'I' and the 'Me'" are two key concepts in George Herbert Mead's social behavioris...

Definition Innovation is a mechanism for cultural change that involves introducing new ideas, pra...

Definition Language is a system of communication used by humans through the use of speech, writin...

Definition The "looking glass self" is a sociological concept introduced by Charles Horton Cooley...

Definition Manifest Functions These are the overt, intentional roles that social structures or be...

Definition In sociology, a master status is the social position that dominates all other statuses...

Definition Material culture refers to the physical objects, artifacts, and built environments cre...

Definition Mores are the deeply held customs, behaviors, and beliefs of a society or culture that...

Definition Nonmaterial culture refers to the intangible aspects of a society that include shared ...

Definition Nonverbal social interaction refers to the way people communicate and connect without ...

Definition Primary socialization is the process through which individuals first learn the norms, ...

Definition Resocialization is the process of learning new social norms, behaviors, and values tha...

Definition Rites of passage are ceremonies or rituals that mark significant transitions in an ind...

Definition In sociology, a "role" refers to a set of expectations, behaviors, and responsibilitie...

Definition Role conflict occurs when a person experiences competing demands or expectations from ...

Definition Role strain occurs when the demands or expectations of a single social role become dif...

Definition Language is a system of communication used by humans through the use of speech, writin...

Definition Social cohesion refers to the degree of unity, solidarity, and sense of belonging amon...

Definition Social institutions are the pillars of society. They are structured systems of norms,...

Definition Social interaction refers to the process by which individuals communicate and exchange...

Definition Social norms are the unwritten rules or expectations that guide how people behave in s...

Definition Socialization is the process through which individuals learn the norms, values, behavi...

Definition The sociological imagination, a term coined by C. Wright Mills in 1959, refers to the ...

Definition In sociology, status refers to the position or rank that an individual occupies within...

Definition Structural functionalism is a sociological perspective that views society as a complex...

Definition A subculture is a distinct group within a larger culture that shares unique beliefs, v...

Definition A symbol is an object, action, or idea that represents something else, often carrying ...

Definition Symbolic interactionism is a sociological perspective that focuses on how individuals ...

Definition A fad (sociology) is a temporary and rapidly spreading phenomenon within a culture or ...

Definition In sociology, a rumor is a piece of unverified information that circulates within a gr...

Definition Public opinion refers to the collective attitudes, beliefs, or feelings held by a grou...

Definition Collective behavior refers to the spontaneous, temporary, and unstructured actions of ...

Definition Mass hysteria, also known as collective hysteria or mass delusion, is a sociological p...