Sociological Concepts

Major sociological concepts:

1- Socialization: the process by which a person acquires the technical skills of his or her society, and the attitudes and values that make conformity with social rules personally meaningful, even gratifying; also termed enculturation.

2- Social Class: a category of people who have generally similar educational histories, job opportunities, and social standing and who are conscious of their membership in a social group that is ranked in relation to others and is replicated over generations.

3- Racism: is prejudice or discrimination based on the belief that race is the primary factor determining human traits and abilities. Racism includes the belief that genetic or inherited differences produce the inherent superiority or inferiority of one race over another. In the name of protecting their race from "contamination," some racists justify the domination and destruction of races they consider to be either superior or inferior. Institutional racism is racial prejudice supported by institutional power and authority used to the advantage of one race over others.

4- Poverty: those not getting their basic daily needs met, that is, who are not able to acquire a bare minimum of nutrition, basic shelter, and adequate clothing, would be defined as poor.

5- Discrimination: is the restrictive treatment of a person or group based on prejudiced assumptions of group characteristics, rather than on individual judgment.