C147 words
Social Theory
Advanced vocabulary for sociology and social science.
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Words in this collection
- sociologysō′sē-ŏl<strong>′</strong>ə-jēThe scientific or systematic study of human society, social relationships, institutions, and development.
- anthropologynounăn′thrə-pŏl<strong>′</strong>ə-jēThe scientific study of human beings, their societies, cultures, and physical development.
- ideologyˌaɪdɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəlA system of ideas, beliefs, and values that forms the basis of a political or economic theory, or of a group's worldview.
- hegemonynounhɪˈɡɛmənɪPolitical, economic, or cultural leadership or dominance by one state or group over others.
- discoursenounˈdɪs kɔrsWritten or spoken communication or debate on a formal, extended topic.
- institutionnounˌɪn stɪˈtu ʃənA large, established organization with a significant societal role, such as a university, bank, government body, or hospital.
- structurenounˈstrʌk tʃərThe way in which the parts of a complex system are arranged and organised.
- agencynounˈeɪdʒənsɪA business or organization providing a particular service, especially on behalf of other businesses or people; the capacity to act independently and make free choices.
- powernounpou<strong>′</strong>ərThe ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way, especially to direct or influence the behaviour of others or the course of events.
- inequalitynounˌɪnɪˈkwɒlɪtɪThe state of not being equal, especially in status, rights, opportunities, or treatment.
- stratificationstrăt′ə-fĭ-kā<strong>′</strong>shənThe process or result of arranging something, especially a society or natural material, into distinct layers or strata.
- mobilitynounməʊˈbɪlɪtɪthe ability to move or be moved freely and easily
- reproductionrē′prə-dŭk<strong>′</strong>shənThe process of generating offspring or producing new individuals of the same species.
- capitalismnounˈkæp ɪ tlˌɪz əmAn economic system based on private ownership of the means of production and their operation for profit, driven by market competition.
- patriarchynounˈpeɪtrɪˌɑːkɪA social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property.
- colonialismkəˈləʊnɪəˌlɪzəmA policy or practice by which a powerful country directly or indirectly controls and exploits another country or territory, settling its own people there and extracting resources, often imposing its culture and governance.
- intersectionalitynounˌɪn tərˌsɛk ʃəˈnæl ɪ tiThe interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.
- feminismnounˈfɛmɪˌnɪzəmThe belief in and advocacy for the social, economic, and political equality of the sexes.
- marxismnounˈmɑrk sɪz əmThe political, economic, and social theories developed by Karl Marx, based on the analysis of class struggle and the idea that capitalism will be overthrown by the working class to create a classless, communist society.
- neoliberalismnounˌni oʊˈlɪb ər əˌlɪz əmA political and economic ideology that advocates for free-market capitalism, deregulation, reduced government spending, and globalization.
- globalizationnounˌɡləʊbəlaɪˈzeɪʃənThe process by which businesses, ideas, and cultures spread around the world, creating a more interconnected and interdependent global system.
- modernitynounmɒˈdɜr nɪ tiThe state or condition of being modern; the quality of being contemporary or up-to-date.
- identitynounaɪˈdɛn tɪ tiThe fact of being who or what a person or thing is; the distinct characteristics that define a person or group.
- representationnounˌrɛp rɪ zɛnˈteɪ ʃənThe act of depicting, describing, or symbolizing something; a portrayal, image, or depiction.
- resistancerĭ-zĭs<strong>′</strong>tənsThe act or power of opposing, refusing, or fighting against something or someone.
- solidaritynounˌsɒl ɪˈdær ɪ tiUnity and mutual support within a group, especially among individuals with a shared interest, goal, or situation.
- collectiveadjectivekəˈlɛk tɪvDone by or belonging to a group of people as a whole; shared or made by everyone in a group.
- individualismnounˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəˌlɪzəmA social theory or principle that emphasizes the moral worth, rights, and independence of the individual over the collective, and a belief that individuals should live their lives as they see fit.
- communitykə-myo̅o̅<strong>′</strong>nĭ-tēA group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic or interest in common.
- integrationnounĭn′tĭ-grā<strong>′</strong>shənThe action or process of combining separate parts into a unified whole.
- assimilationnounə-sĭm′ə-lā<strong>′</strong>shənThe process of absorbing, adapting to, or becoming similar to a dominant culture, group, or set of ideas; the absorption and integration of something.
- segregationnounˌsɛɡrɪˈɡeɪʃənThe action or state of setting someone or something apart from other people or things.
- alienationnounˌeɪljəˈneɪʃənThe state of feeling isolated or estranged from something or someone you were previously connected to, such as a person, group, society, or your own feelings or work.
- commodificationnounkəˌmɒd ə fɪˈkeɪ ʃənThe process of turning something into a commodity; making something that is not normally bought or sold (e.g., an idea, a relationship, a public service) into an object for commercial trade.
- bureaucracynounbyʊˈrɒk rə siA system of administration marked by officialism, red tape, and proliferation; a body of non-elected government officials; the administrative structure of a large organization.
- rationalizationnounˌræʃ ə nl aɪˈzeɪ ʃənThe process of making something more efficient, logical, or justifiable, often by reorganizing or explaining it in a systematic way.
- secularizationnounˌsɛk yə lə raɪˈzeɪ ʃənThe process of removing something from religious control or influence, making it non-religious.
- urbanizationˌɜr bə nəˈzeɪ ʃənThe process by which towns and cities are formed and become larger as more people begin living and working in central areas.
- industrializationnounɪnˌdʌs tri ə ləˈzeɪ ʃənThe process by which an economy is transformed from primarily agricultural to one based on the manufacturing of goods, typically involving mechanisation, factory systems, and urban growth.
- modernizationnounˌmɒd ər naɪˈzeɪ ʃənThe process of making something modern or up to date in its systems, methods, or appearance.
- fragmentationnounfrăg′mən-tā<strong>′</strong>shənThe process or state of breaking or being broken into small, disconnected, or ineffective parts.
- deconstructionnounˌdi kənˈstrʌk ʃənA method of critical analysis of philosophical and literary texts that questions the fundamental conceptual distinctions, or 'binary oppositions', in Western thought, arguing that language is inherently unstable and meaning is always deferred.
- postmodernismnounpoʊstˈmɒd ərˌnɪz əma late 20th-century movement in philosophy, arts, architecture, and criticism that represents a departure from modernism and is characterized by self-reference, irony, and the rejection of grand narratives or absolute truth.
- structuralismnounˈstrʌktʃərəˌlɪzəmAn approach in various fields that analyses systems and phenomena in terms of their structures and the relationships between their constituent parts, rather than focusing on their content or function in isolation.
- functionalismnounˈfʌŋkʃənəˌlɪzəmA theory or perspective that explains phenomena by their function, purpose, or role within a system, rather than by their form or historical origins.
- conflictnounkənˈflɪktA serious disagreement, argument, or prolonged struggle, often involving opposing ideas, interests, or forces.
- consensusnounkənˈsɛnsəsGeneral agreement among a group of people.