Sociology key terms

Crime-generating: describing conditions or a system that encourage criminal behaviour.

Uncertainty or anxiety experienced by some men about their identity and role as traditional expectations of men are challenged by social and economic change.

Knowledge, skills, attitudes and cultural familiarity that are valued by educational institutions and can give pupils and parents an advantage.

The explanation that some children lack the knowledge, attitudes or experiences needed to succeed at school. Critics argue that this can wrongly treat cultural differences as deficiencies.

Differences between families in beliefs and values, including expectations about gender roles, child-rearing and obligations to relatives.

An explanation of social outcomes that focuses on people’s learned values, attitudes and behaviour.

Shared ideas about what is important, desirable or worthwhile within a culture.

A difference in how behaviour is defined or judged between societies or cultural groups.

The shared way of life of a group or society, including its norms, values, beliefs, customs, language and skills.

The claimed development of attitudes and behaviour that make people reliant on welfare benefits rather than self-supporting. It is a contested explanation, not a description of all benefit recipients.

A set of values, beliefs and behaviours said to develop among people experiencing poverty and to be passed between generations, helping poverty persist.

The subjects, knowledge and learning activities included in an educational programme.

A sentence that involves confinement in an institution, such as a prison or young offender institution.

A process through which disadvantages reinforce one another and can be passed from one generation to the next.

Crimes that are not reported or recorded and therefore do not appear in official crime statistics.

Harmful aspects of family relationships, including abuse, violence and unequal power, which challenge the idea that families are always safe and supportive.

Information collected or used to investigate a research question.

Interpreting collected information to identify patterns, meanings or relationships.

Safeguarding personal information through secure storage, controlled access and responsible handling.

An explanation given to participants after research, clarifying its real purpose and any deception used.

Intentionally misleading research participants about a key aspect of a study, including giving false information or concealing that research is taking place.

Showing respect towards someone considered more senior because of their position, status or age, for example an employee being polite to a boss.

Giving up an immediate reward or pleasure in order to gain a greater benefit in the future.

Criminal or antisocial behaviour, especially among young people.

A group whose shared norms and values support law-breaking and can reward members with status for criminal behaviour.

An approach to bringing up children that involves listening to their views and discussing decisions and rules, while parents retain responsibility for their welfare.

An alleged pattern in which people come to rely on welfare benefits rather than paid employment or family support. New Right thinkers argue that welfare can encourage this pattern.

A child who relies on a parent or carer for support and care, rather than living independently.

A family member who relies on other family members for support, typically a child under 16 or a young person still in full-time education.

A measure combining indicators of disadvantage across areas of life, such as diet, housing, heating and social participation.