Core sociology terms and theories tested on the CLEP Introductory Sociology exam. Front: the term or theory. Back: a plain-language definition.
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- Sociology
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The systematic study of society, social relationships, and human group behavior.- Society
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A group of people who share a common territory, culture, and set of institutions.- Culture
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The shared beliefs, values, norms, and practices of a group of people.- Norms
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Shared rules or expectations that guide acceptable behavior within a society.- Values
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Widely shared beliefs about what is good, desirable, or important in a culture.- Socialization
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The lifelong process by which individuals learn the norms and values of their society.- Social structure
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The organized pattern of relationships and institutions that make up a society.- Social institution
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An established structure, such as family or education, that organizes a fundamental area of social life.- Role
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The set of expected behaviors associated with a particular social position.- Status
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A recognized social position that a person holds within a society.- Ascribed status
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A social position assigned at birth or involuntarily, such as one's race or age.- Achieved status
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A social position gained through a person's own effort, choices, or accomplishments.- Social stratification
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The division of society into layers based on factors such as wealth, power, and prestige.- Social class
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A grouping of people who share a similar economic position in society.- Social mobility
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The movement of individuals or groups between different levels of a social stratification system.
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