My name is Batleb Ishoua. I have been studying Social Science for the past three semesters at Ahuntsic College. My glossary will cover terms related to the subjects in Social Science, such as Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, History and Political Science. These subjects help us analyze human behavior, society, and culture, and it helps us to better understand life on a day-to-day basis.
anthropology
noun
The study of human societies and cultures and their development.
Example: Therefore as a core analytical category it could be argued that its application is not functional. A final problem in considering gender as a core analytical category in Social ANTHROPOLOGY is the fact that there is no real documented history of gender before the 1970s, the time when feminism took hold. "The feminist critique in social ANTHROPOLOGY, as in the other social sciences, grew out of a specific concern with the neglect of women in the discipline " (Moore, 1988, p1). With this in consideration, there is little historical documentation in reference to the development of gender in a number of societies; the only real documentation was given through ethnographies when considering kinship and marriage (Moore, 1988).
fr: anthropologie
class
noun
The system of ordering a society in which people are divided into sets based on perceived social or economic status.
fr: classe
crime
noun
An action or omission that constitutes an offense that may be prosecuted by the state and is punishable by law.
Example: In the sixteenth and seventeen centuries witches were seen as a real threat and object of fear, not just by ordinary people, but also those of education; hence from the outset of this essay the current dismissal of witchcraft must be forgotten. From the first witchcraft statute in 1542 to the repeal of the last in 1736 there were fewer than 1,000 executions for this CRIME; a figure of half this is probably closer to the mark. Even at the height of prosecutions, from 1570 to 1680, there were only about 4 to 9 executions per year, from a population of 3.5 to 5 million in England. Hence, unlike the so called witch hunts of the continent, except in a few isolated cases, '...the term witch-craze remains a misnomer for England'. 'Studies of witchcraft depositions in... England... reveal that many of those who were prosecuted for witchcraft were in fact women.".
fr: crime
culture
noun
The customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group.
Example: This would however not work under all circumstances, because as pointed out in lectures, stress on logic and explicitness in Western CULTURE would most probably obstruct a person getting away with much of the abstract demagogy embodied in such wrapping of words (Sadgwick,2005). It is thus easy to deduce that when a Westerner encounters a Japanese person, misunderstandings are more than likely to occur.(Janos,1998,pp.34-37) Referring back to the idea of 'upper hand', it is possible to argue that one can find similarities in the Bernstein's theories applied in West. Hendry, Joy (1993).
fr: culture
discrimination
noun
The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of ethnicity, age, sex, or disability.
Example: This becomes acute in cases wherein person s committing the past atrocities cannot even be traced after the passage of time and therefore making it difficult to hold someone accountable for the former acts. This tendency to compensate only the victims who have suffered DISCRIMINATION, whether in the past or present, is a product of the theory of individual rights which has mostly dominated the western conception of rights and justice without taking into account any possibility of group rights. In Bernard R. Boxill's view, "claims can be inherited, thus overcoming the generation gap created by individual rights discourse.".
fr: discrimination
ethics
noun
Moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity. The principles of conduct governing an individual or group: concerns for what is right or wrong, good or bad.
fr: éthique
extinction
noun
The fact or process of a species, family, or other group of animals or plants becoming extinct. When a culture dies out.
Example: The human population could have created unfavourable conditions for mega fauna in other ways. In Australia Aboriginal fires might account for charcoal peaks in the last interglacial. These fires may have altered the vegetation causing the Tasmanian devil to find refuge in woodland areas and the EXTINCTION of other animals reliant on the previous vegetation. The rises charcoal levels may have been caused by climatic change (Martin Bell). Climate change brought mega fauna close to EXTINCTION and humankind added the final blow.
fr: extinction
genocide
noun
The deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group.
Example: Allport (1954), argued that without a knowledge of the origins of hostility, 'we cannot hope to employ our intelligence effectively in controlling its' destructiveness,' (as cited in Tesser, p.425). Throughout history there has been copious examples of this 'destructiveness,' such as the GENOCIDE of Jews in Nazi Germany, the terrorist attacks on September 11 th 2001, and more recently the July 2005 bombings in London, to name but a few. This essay aims to discuss the role of theories and explanations on intergroup relations and prejudice, in terms of the extent that they can contribute to our understanding of such conflict, with the ultimate goal of reducing acts of terrorism and political violence.
fr: génocide
homo sapiens
noun
The primate species to which modern humans belong; humans regarded as a species. A member of the Homo Sapiens species; a human being.
Example: This reassessment allowed a suitable position, only obstructing the oropharynx, part of the pharynx between the soft palate and the hyoid bone, during the acts of swallowing and breathing (fig 3). This reconstruction produced a vocal tract similar to that of modern HOMO SAPIENS , although possibly with a facial extension in the anterior direction (the characteristic forward movement of the Neanderthal mid-face), resulting in a proposed capability of speech (Houghton, 1993). Fig 3 The reconstruction of the La Chapelle-aux-Saints skull with the hyoid bone marked (H), the laryngeal aditus (L) and an appropriate sized tongue (from Houghton, 1993). Recent work has examined the correlation between the size of the hypoglossal canal and the capability of speech.
fr: homo sapiens
multiculturalism
noun
The presence of, or support for the presence of, several distinct cultural or ethnic groups within a society.
fr: multiculturalisme
nationalism
noun
Identification with one's own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations.
Example: This modern world, with its increased migration, its threats to state sovereignty imposed by supranational institutions and transnational corporations, and it's emerging cosmopolitan community, may indeed be rendering NATIONALISM obsolete. Nevertheless, theorists such as Andrew Smith insist that, in a "disintegrating society" of disorienting global change, NATIONALISM, with its reassuring promise of "collective faith, dignity and hope", should gain unmatched appeal. NATIONALISM's prospects of power in a globalizing environment remain hotly debated. Hobsbawm, Eric. Nations and NATIONALISM Since 1780.
fr: nationalisme
negative sanction
phrase
Negative sanctions are essentially punitive measures taken to discourage certain behaviors or actions that violate social norms or laws. They are often used as a tool for social control and can be either formal or informal.
Example: Society may punish a member with a NEGATIVE SANCTION or reward it with a positive one. For example, positive sanctions may include, awards, fame, decoration, and negative sanctions: punishment, bad reputation. The threat of negative sanctions discourage the members of a society to behave socially and morally incorrect and positive sanctions encourage them to behave socially and morally correct. Radcliffe-Brown, cited in Hendry, J (1999) An Introduction to Social Anthropology: Other People's Worlds.
fr: sanction négative
positive sanction
phrase
Positive sanctions are rewards given for conforming to norms. A promotion at work is a positive sanction for working hard.
fr: sanction positive
qualitative research
phrase
Qualitative research is a type of research that aims to gather and analyse non-numerical data in order to gain an understanding of individuals' social reality, including understanding their attitudes, beliefs, and motivation.
fr: recherche qualitative
quantitative research
phrase
Quantitative research is a research strategy that focuses on quantifying the collection and analysis of data.
fr: recherche quantitative
racism
noun
Racisme is the discrimination, prejudice, or antagonism by an individual, community, or institution against a person or people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized.
fr: racisme
religion
noun
The belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods.
fr: religion
ritual
noun
A religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order.
Example: The fairly recent, modern funeral of Princess Diana is a good example of not only the importance of the individual but of the community as a whole. Except for the actual internment of the body, the nation (through the medium of television or by being present at the church) was able to witness her funeral. This then established Diana's importance as an individual within our society. Furthermore, anybody directly involved in the 'RITUAL' of her funeral (for example Earl Spencer or Sir Elton John) consequently had their status raised merely through association. This pattern could be applied to Neolithic burials. Those who had a higher status within their community were likely to receive a more extravagant burial and those involved would have their statuses raised for taking part in the RITUAL.
fr: rituel
sexism
noun
Prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex.
Example: For instance, I have seen many care staff abuse their power by withholding help or assistance because they can. I find this kind of behaviour completely unacceptable, and as a senior support worker have been responsible for reprimanding individuals. Overall, I have found the majority of people who display this kind of behaviour are very much aware of what they are doing, and will continue to do so when given the opportunity. I have also observed SEXISM displayed by negative attitudes towards male care workers from females. It is often still believed that men do not have the skills necessary to care for others. However, I believe both males and females are capable of working in a care environment depending on the individual. I have always thought of myself as being open- minded, and would like to think I do not behave in a discriminatory behaviour towards anyone.
fr: sexisme
stereotype
noun
A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.
Example: Ironically, much of the tension regarding the hypermasculine STEREOTYPE of black men is a logical cultural development for a group systematically denied full access to the socially constructed ideals of masculinity.
fr: stéréotype
tribe
noun
A social division in a traditional society consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties, with a common culture and dialect, typically having a recognized leader.
Example: In witch-bound Africa; an account of the primitive Kaonde TRIBE and their beliefs. New York: Barnes and Noble. This book looks at the views of the Kaonde TRIBE in Africa, looking at the TRIBE's beliefs and traditions. Especially concentrating on the tribes believes in witchcraft.
fr: tribu
world view
noun
A particular philosophy of life or conception of the world. The beliefs about the world shared by the members of a society and represented in their myths, lore, ceremonies, social conduct, and values.
