Glossary of the Social Sciences

20 terms

I study Social Science at the College Lionel-Groulx. In this program, we study a lot of different subjects like sociology, economics, politics and a lot more. To help understand the basics of Social Sciences, I put together a glossary with some terms related to my field of study.

anthropology

The study of human societies and cultures and their development.

Example: Source : https://www.google.com/search?q=define+anthropology

capitalism

An economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

Example: Source : https://www.google.com/search?q=define+capitalism

centralization

The concentration of control of an activity or organization under a single authority.

Example: Source : https://www.google.com/search?q=define+centralization

class system

A class system is based on both social factors and individual achievement. A class consists of a set of people who share similar status with regard to factors like wealth, income, education, and occupation.

Example: Source : https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sociology/chapter/what-is-social-stratification/#:~:text=A%20class%20system%20is%20based,systems%2C%20class%20systems%20are%20open.&text=In%20a%20class%20system%2C%20occupation%20is%20not%20fixed%20at%20birth.

culture

The customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group.

Example: Source : https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture

demography

The study of statistics such as births, deaths, income, or the incidence of disease, which illustrate the changing structure of human populations.

Example: Source : https://www.google.com/search?q=define+demography

economy

An economy is a system of making and trading things of value. It is usually divided into goods (physical things) and services (things done by people). It assumes there is medium of exchange, which in the modern world is a system of finance. This makes trade possible.

Example: Source : https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy

globalization

The process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.

Example: Source : https://www.google.com/search?q=define+globalization

industrialization

The development of industries in a country or region on a wide scale.

Example: Source :https://www.google.com/search?q=define+industrialization

matriarchy

A form of social organization in which descent and relationship are reckoned through the female line.

Example: Source :https://www.google.com/search?q=define+matriarchy

patriarchy

A form of social organization in which descent and relationship are reckoned through the male line.

politics

The activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power.

Example: Source : https://www.google.com/search?q=define+politics

population

A population is the number of organisms of the same species that live in a particular geographic area at the same time, with the capability of interbreeding.

Example: Source : https://biologydictionary.net/population/

psychology

The scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting behavior in a given context.

Example: Source : https://www.google.com/search?q=define+psychology

sexism

Prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex.

Example: Source : https://www.google.com/search?q=define+sexism

sociology

Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies and how people interact within these contexts.

Example: Source : https://www.asanet.org/about/what-sociology#:~:text=SOCIOLOGY%20is%20the%20study%20of,people%20interact%20within%20these%20contexts.

state

A nation or territory considered as an organized political community under one government.

Example: Source : https://www.google.com/search?q=define+state.

symbol

A symbol is a mark, sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship.

Example: Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbol

urbanization

Urbanization refers to the population shift from rural to urban areas, the decrease in the proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which societies adapt to this change.

Example: Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urbanization

values

A person's principles or standards of behavior; one's judgment of what is important in life.

Example: Source : https://www.google.com/search?q=define+values