27/04/2026
Glossary of sociology
Few terminologies with example
Society
Definition: A group of people living in a defined territory who share culture, institutions, and patterns of social interaction.
Example: Pakistan is considered a society because its people share common language groups, religion, laws, and social institutions.
Culture
Definition: The shared beliefs, values, norms, customs, language, and material objects of a group or society.
Example: In many Muslim societies, greeting with “Assalam‑o‑alaikum” and shaking hands is part of cultural etiquette.
Norm
Definition: An accepted rule or expectation about how people should behave in a given situation.
Example: In classrooms, students are expected to raise their hands before speaking; this is a behavioral norm.
Socialization
Definition: The lifelong process through which individuals learn the norms, values, and roles of their culture and society.
Example: A child learns table manners, politeness, and religious practices by observing and being guided by parents and teachers.
Social structure
Definition: The organized pattern of social relationships and institutions that shape how society functions.
Example: A family, school, workplace, and government form part of a country’s social structure that organizes daily life.
Social inequality
Definition: Unequal access to resources, power, opportunities, and status among different groups in society.
Example: Rich families may send their children to expensive private schools, while poorer families rely on overcrowded public schools.
Role
Definition: The expected behavior attached to a particular social position or status in society.
Example: A “teacher” is expected to prepare lessons, take attendance, and maintain discipline in the classroom.
Institution
Definition: Stable, organized systems of social behavior that meet basic societal needs such as family, education, religion, and government.
Example: Marriage, regulated by law and religion, is part of the family institution that organizes relationships and child‑rearing.
Social interaction
Definition: Communication and action between individuals or groups that give meaning to their behavior.
Example: Two friends chatting, joking, and supporting each other during a crisis is an act of social interaction.
Deviance
Definition: Behavior that violates important social norms and is seen as unacceptable or wrong by a group.
Example: A student cheating in an exam violates academic norms and is considered deviant in an educational settings
