social
Define the terms "status" and "role" in a social context.
Status: a recognized social position that a person occupies in society (e.g., student, parent, teacher). It’s the "title" or "label" we hold.
Role: the expected behaviors, responsibilities, and obligations associated with a status. It’s what we do because of that status (e.g., students study, teachers teach).
Investigate a situation where role strain might occur in a student's life and discuss possible solutions.
Maria is a high school junior who is taking multiple AP classes, is a member of the soccer team, and also works a part-time job after school. One night, she has a big test to study for, soccer practice, and her boss scheduled her for a late shift. Maria feels torn between being a good student, a committed teammate, and a responsible employee — but there just aren’t enough hours in the day to do all three well.
Critique the effectiveness of different social institutions in promoting social stability
Social institutions are essential for promoting stability, as they provide structure, shared norms, and social support.
However, their effectiveness depends on equity, accessibility, and adaptability. Institutions that fail to address inequalities, conflict, or changing social needs may inadvertently contribute to instability.
What is Intersectionality
Intersectionality is a concept used to understand how different aspects of a person’s identity—like race, gender, class, sexuality, ability, and religion—interact and overlap to shape their experiences, especially experiences of discrimination or privilege.
It was coined by legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw in the late 1980s to explain how traditional approaches to discrimination often overlooked people who belong to multiple marginalized groups.
Compare and contrast the roles of primary and secondary groups in social interactions.
Both primary and secondary groups influence how we interact with others, but primary groups focus on deep, emotional bonds that shape who we are, while secondary groups are about completing tasks and reaching shared goals with less emotional involvement.
Assess how social structures within a school can affect student interactions and relationships.
School social structures can unite students (through clubs, traditions, and shared goals) but can also divide them (through cliques, tracking, or unequal access to resources). These structures heavily influence how students build friendships, resolve conflicts, and form their sense of identity.
what is Nature vs. nurture
Nature vs. Nurture is a debate in psychology and sociology about what shapes who we are—our genes (nature) or our environment and experiences (nurture).
Summarize how institutions like family, education, and religion influence individual behavior.
Family teaches norms, values, language, and first lessons about right and wrong. It’s where we learn basic behaviors like sharing, manners, and responsibilities.
Education helps us gain knowledge, develop social skills, and prepare for future roles in society. It encourages teamwork, discipline, and problem-solving.
Religion can guide moral decisions, provide a sense of purpose, and connect us to a larger community with shared beliefs.
Formulate a hypothesis about how changes in social status can impact group dynamics.
Hypothesis:
If a member of a group experiences a change in social status (such as becoming more popular, joining an honors class, or getting a leadership role), then the group’s dynamics will shift — potentially changing how decisions are made, who holds influence, and how inclusive the group feels.
Changes in social status often affect power, communication patterns, and group cohesion, which can either strengthen the group (by giving it a more confident leader) or create tension (if members feel unequal or excluded).
This term refers to the idea that our genetics influence traits like intelligence, personality, and talents.
What is nature?
Classify different types of social networks and describe their characteristics.
Dense Networks
Description: Most members are connected to each other.
Characteristics: Strong relationships, close-knit, high trust, information spreads quickly.
Example: Small friend group where everyone hangs out together.
Sparse Networks
Description: Few members are connected; many ties are weak.
Characteristics: More diverse connections, access to new information, but weaker emotional support.
Example: Large online gaming community where most people don’t know each other personally.
Formal Networks
Description: Organized and structured with clear roles.
Characteristics: Rules, hierarchy, and specific goals.
Example: A school club, sports team, or workplace organization chart.
Informal Networks
Description: Loosely organized, based on friendships or shared interests.
Characteristics: Flexible, spontaneous, no official rules.
Example: Group chat with friends or classmates.
Draw conclusions about the impact of social institutions on individual identity in your community.
Social institutions are organized systems in society that influence behavior, values, and relationships. In a community, the main institutions include family, education, religion, government, and media. Each shapes individual identity in different ways.
These four main agents teach us norms, values, and behaviors through family, peers, media, and school.
What are agents of socialization?
Estimate how many social roles a typical high school student might navigate daily.
Student – completing classwork, following teacher expectations
Friend – talking, sharing, supporting peers
Child/Sibling – following family rules, helping at home
Teammate/Club Member – practicing, collaborating toward group goals
Employee (if they have a job) – serving customers, following workplace rules
Peer Mentor/Leader – tutoring, mentoring, or setting an example
Romantic Partner (if applicable) – texting, spending time together
Community Member – participating in religious, volunteer, or neighborhood activities
Online Persona – managing social media presence and interactions
Consumer – making choices about food, clothes, entertainment
Analyze how social roles can lead to conflicts status conflict.
Some roles carry higher prestige than others, creating perceived inequalities.
Example: In a student group, the president might be given more influence than the treasurer, even if the treasurer contributes more time or effort. This can lead to resentment or challenges to authority.
The process by which people define themselves based on characteristics such as race, gender, religion, and culture is called this.
What is social identity formation?