Adapted from “Schaefer, Richard T. Sociology: A Brief Introduction. (4th Edition). DePaul University,” and Dictionary.com.
CULTURE: A learned set of shared interpretations about beliefs, values, norms, and social practices which affect the behaviors of a relatively large group of people.
STEREOTYPE: Unreliable generalizations about all members of a group that do not recognize individual differences within the group.
MORES: Norms deemed highly necessary to the welfare of a society.
COUNTER CULTURE: A subculture that deliberately opposes certain aspects of the larger culture.
SUBCULTURE: A segment of society that shares a distinctive pattern of mores, folkways, and values that differs from the pattern of the larger society.
IN-GROUP: Any group or category to which people feel they belong.
OUT-GROUP: A group or category to which people feel they do not belong.
PREJUDICE: A negative attitude toward an entire category of people, such as a racial or ethnic minority.
RACIAL GROUP: A group that is set apart from others because of obvious physical differences.
RACISM: The belief that one race is supreme and all others are innately inferior.
ETHNIC GROUP: A group that is set apart from others because of its national origin or distinctive cultural patterns.
HEGEMONY: leadership or predominant influence or ideas exercised by one group over other groups.
EPITHET: A word, phrase, or expression used to denounce as a term of abuse or a term of contempt to express hostility.