7 concepts of sociological interest

This essay has been inspired by a couple of recent events. Firstly, whilst on a panel discussion at a student study weekend, the question was asked why academics had to use such difficult language. In my response I conceded that academics often confuse people and could make more of an attempt to be accessible, but also suggested that academic terms were just another form of a ‘practice language’, where one can learn the meanings and partake in such language if one has access to people utilising such words on a regular basis. I pointed out that such terminology was a form of shorthand which academics could ‘un-pack’ for better communication with others. Recently, I posted a comment on twitter with the academic conceptual word ‘iatrogenic’ contained in it. I received one response, which was what I was hoping for with the original post. This response said they had looked the word up on the internet and agreed with the point I was making. In the spirit of explaining the use of such terms as an autistic sociologist, what better to apply them to than the social structures of Assessment and Treatment Units (ATUs) at the heart of the #7Daysof action campaign? So, I have chosen 7 sociological concepts to explain and show the potential relevance for such an analysis.