Hi, my name is Kéliane Boucher. I'm 19 years old and I'm currently studying Social Science at Lionel-Groulx College. More precisely, I'm in the Individual profile inside which I learn a lot about human behaviors, relationships between the modern individual and the society as well as challenges of the society itself. In order to better understand and distinguish aspects of my program, I created a glossary that it could be useful for all those interested in Psychology, Sociology and the human being. Students who are already studying in my program and new ones are therefore welcome. Thereby, all the 20 terms that I have carefully chosen are part of the vocabulary commonly used in this field and have a particular importance. In view of the above, I strongly suggest that you learn the definition of these terms, they are excellent tools that may help you in one of your courses in the near future.
anthropology
Scientific study of man, of human groups, in all of their aspects, both on the physical and cultural history.
Example: Anthropology is what allows human beings to know themselves better.
fr: anthropologie
archeology
Scientific discipline which studies man from prehistoric times to contemporary times, through several material remains.
Example: Archeology allows us to understand the past of this site which has seen the evolution of missionaries, peasants, and ideologies.
fr: archéologie
behavior
Set of observable reactions of an individual within his living environment and given circumstances. It's generally identified through a specific act or attitude.
Example: His behavior suggests that he is angry.
fr: comportement
capitalism
Economic system which is based on private ownership of the means of production and structured with a view to maximizing profits.
Example: Capitalism has become the predominant economic model in the world with the emergence of globalization.
fr: capitalisme
civilization
Set of features that form the state of a given society, from a technical, intellectual, political and moral perspective, without making a value judgment.
Example: The ancient Greek civilization lived for 12 centuries and therefore marked all the European cultures which succeeded it.
fr: civilisation
culture
Set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional traits that define a society or a social group, such as arts, lifestyles, laws, values, traditions, and beliefs.
Example: Native Americans express their culture through dance, which evokes their history and spirituality.
fr: culture
democracy
Political system in which sovereignty is attributed to citizens, who participate in political decisions through voting.
Example: All Canadians have the right to participate in the government's decisions, because their political system is democracy.
fr: démocratie
education
All the means used which make it possible to train and instruct an individual. To know how to behave well in society is to have a good education.
Example: His son never listens to his teachers' instructions, he constantly argues with him, he steals other students' materials, everything he does prove he has no education.
fr: éducation
evolution
Any set of gradual changes over time that influence an object, a living being, a population, a system, or even thought and behavior.
Example: Current technological advances have come about through the evolution of generations.
fr: évolution
experimental method
Scientific process used to verify the validity of a hypothesis, through various tests and trials performed.
Example: In order to evaluate the degree of obedience of an individual to an authority that he considers legitimate, the scientist used the experimental method by observing situations of submission to authority.
fr: méthode expérimentale scientifique
history
Knowledge and accounts of past events that are considered to be memorable. (Ancient History, History of the Middle Ages, History of Modern times, Contemporary History)
Example: Since the Middle Ages, France has played a decisive role in the artistic, cultural, intellectual and political history of many countries.
fr: histoire
human biology
Branch of the biology which studies the functioning of organs, with the aim of discerning their relations and exchanges necessary to maintain the homeostasis of the human body.
Example: The medical analysis carried out in the laboratories are carried out using, among other things, human biology.
fr: biologie humaine
hypothesis
In sociology, a hypothesis is a provisional answer to a starting question. It makes it possible to establish a relationship between one or more observed phenomena.
Example: In order to find the causes of suicide, he puts forward the following hypothesis: "The degree of social integration of a society determines the suicide rate".
fr: hypothèse
poverty
Condition of a person or group of people without access to basic needs such as food, clean water, clothing, shelter, and heat.
Example: She was kicked out of her apartment because she hadn't paid her rent for three months.
fr: pauvreté
religion
System of practices and beliefs practiced in a group or a certain community.
Example: My mother's religion is Catholicism.
fr: religion
science
The body of knowledge and studies of universal value which make it possible to produce scientific knowledge. Using verifiable objective observations and rigorous reasoning, she seeks to account for reality.
Example: Marine biology is the science of studying marine, and therefore oceanic, life in all of its forms.
fr: science
social class
According to Marxist thought, a social class refers to social inequalities. It's defined according to the ownership of the means of production and of the labor force and exists in all capitalist societies. The three main classes are the petty bourgeoisie, the working class and the big bourgeoisie.
Example: The arrival of the industrial revolution gives birth to a new social class, that of the working class, where poverty reigns.
fr: classe social
social interaction
aucun
Interhuman relations which may or may not be verbal (gestures, looks, attitudes ...) and which provoke a reciprocal action between two or more people.
Example: People with autism cannot change their style of social interaction, so they are dependent on the tolerance of others.
fr: interaction social
sociology
Study of societies through their relationships, actions and social representations. Allows understanding the existing relationships between individuals and society.
Example: Catholicism today means all Christians in communion with the Pope and the bishops, in other words a religion, which, in sociology, can be understood as a “set of practices and beliefs”.
fr: sociologie
welfare
Social benefits intended for people in financial difficulty, to help them meet their basic needs.
Example: My aunt has been on welfare for much of her life because she was having severe mental retardation.
