Our sociological glossary is new; we are in the process of developing our online sociological glossary, with more terms to be added as we go along. If you think there is something we haven't added yet, please let us know.
Glossary
-
Ideal Type
Weber’s ideal type is a conceptual model that highlights essential characteristics of social phenomena to aid sociological analysis.
-
Illusio
Illusio is Bourdieu’s concept describing an individual's deep investment in the rules and stakes of a social field, often without questioning them.
-
Imposter Syndrome in Higher Education
Imposter syndrome in HE refers to students, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, feeling as though they do not belong in university despite their qualifications.
-
Impression Management
Impression management refers to the strategies individuals use to control how others perceive them.
-
Institutional Habitus
Institutional habitus refers to the dominant culture and expectations within an educational institution that affect student experiences and outcomes.
-
Institutional Trust
Institutional trust refers to the degree to which individuals believe social institutions (government, media, education) act fairly and in their best interests.
-
Instrumental Rationality
A term from Max Weber, instrumental rationality refers to decision-making based on efficiency, calculation, and goal-oriented logic rather than values or ethics.
-
Interaction Order
Goffman’s concept of the interaction order refers to the structured yet fluid norms that govern everyday social interactions.
-
Intersectionality
Intersectionality is a theoretical framework that examines how different social identities (such as race, class, gender) intersect to produce unique experiences of oppression or privilege.
-
Iron Cage
Max Weber’s iron cage metaphor describes the increasing rationalisation and bureaucratisation of society, leading to a loss of individuality and creativity.
