Culture And Identity Flashcards
Socialisation definition
Transition of norms values and culture of a society by agents of socialisation
Culture definition
Learned shared way of living of members of a society including norms and values
Dominant culture definition
The main culture in a society which is accepted without opposition by the majority of people
Subcultures definition
Smaller groups emerging within larger society which share their own beliefs and way of life
Folk culture definition
Culture created my local communities and is rooted in the experiences, customs and beliefs of people
High culture definition
Culture practised by those with ascribed status within a system of social closure seen as superior to others
Popular / mass / low culture definition
Commercially produced culture consumed by the majority of society + enjoyed by the masses, increasingly borrowing from subcultures
Global culture definition
Suggested by Ritzer:
Cultures in different countries of the world becoming increasingly alike due to globalisation leading to one world culture (occurance due to cultural homogeneity)
Cultural homogenisation definition
A reduction in cultural diversity through the popularisation and diffusion of the same cultural symbols globally
Glocalisatin definition
The combining of global and local products the create cultural hybrids
Cultural Defense Definition
When religion is used as a way of defending a culture under threat
Globalisation definition
The growing interconnection of societies across the world through the spread of culture, consumer goods and economic interest
What do functionalist believe is the function of socialisation
Structural theory:
Process by which we learn norms and values of society and therefore we reach a value consensus > promotes social solidarity and stability
What does functionalist PARSONS believe about socialisation
- family plays key role as agent of primary socialisation to teach the next generation the norms and values of society ( nuclear family is best to perform gender socialisation)
- fist particularistic view are taught ( those of the family) then then secondary socialisation teaches universal values, reinforcing a value consensus
Value consensus definition
a common set of beliefs and principles of a society to work with and towards
What does functionalist DURKHEIM believe about socialisation
- When socialisation has been ineffective and there is a lack of value consensus, society reaches a state of ANOMIE ( instability in society due to a breakdown of norms + values)
What does functionalist MERTON believe about socialisation
Developed idea of anticipatory socialisation: an individual adopts the norms and values of a group or situation prior to them becoming part of the group
What do Marxists believe is the function of socialisation + agents of socialisation
- helps maintain conformity to an unequal society
- agents of socialisation = “ideological superstores” > transmits ruling class ideology + justifies inequality, maintaining the false class consciousness which prevents revolutionary activity > social cohesion
Hegemony meaning
Ruling class (bourgeoise) dominance
What doesMarxist GRAMSCI believe about socialisation (hegemony)
- Gramsci introduced the concept of hegemony, where the ruling class establishes “common sense” values that are widely accepted by society > the ruling class convince people their system is common sense so that they don’t have to deploy their RSA
What does Marxist ALTHUSER believe about socialisation (adding to gramcsci’s theory)
- RSA and ISA are agents of socialisation that transit bourgeois ideology
What is the RSA (Marxist)
Repressive state apparatus
(Army)
What is the ISA (Marxist)
Ideological sate apparatus
- institutions (family, education, media) that spread ruling class ideology, maintaining the false class consciousness of the proletariat
What do feminists believe is the function of socialisation
- people are socialised to believe that that the patriarchy is normal + men should occupy society while women occupy lesser, subjugated roles in society
- women are socialised to accept patriarchy
- radical feminists: women are brainwashed into believing they want to perform traditional domestic roles
What does feminist ANN OAKLEY believe about primary socialisation
There are 4 main ways primary socialisation perpetuates gender roles:
1.manipulation (parents encourage/ discourage behaviour / interests that are “normal” for their gender(bedroom culture))
2. different activities
3. Verbal appellation (the way parents talk to/ about their children
4. Canalisation ( gendered toys)
Why is having a global culture a positive thing
- created interconnectedness
- cultural diversity can be celebrated
- multiculturalism in societies
Why is having a global culture a negative thing
- cultural homogeneity means there is a decrease in cultural diversity
- takes over local businesses (mcdonaldification)
- idealisation of western culture
What do internationalists believe about socialisation
- interaction where outcomes are determined by the ‘social actors involved’
- norms + values are more like guidelines that help us understand the world but there is flexibility in how we respond
What does interactionalist MEAD’s “self concept” tell us about socialisation
- we play an active part in socialisation by interpretations symbols in society by taking the role of the other
- we develop the ability to interpret these meanings through social interactions and shared symbols
What are the 3 stages of the self according to interactionist MEAD
- Predatory stage - imitating people around them
- Play stage - become more aware of social relationships and start ‘role talking’
- Game stage - several tasks / relationships simultaneously
What for interactionalist COOLEY’s “looking glass self” tell us about socialisation
People base how they see themselves based on how others see them
What for interactionalist GOFFMAN’s “dramaturgical approach” tell us about socialisation
The world is a stage and everyday life is about playing parts on stage therefore socialisation is about learning your role ( learning norms and values)
What does the structuration theory of ‘the reflexive self’ tell us about socialisation (+ key thinker)
Giddens:
An individuals identity is formed and developed through a process of reflecting on their own identity as they interact with others (agents of socialisation) and ones perception of their responses
What does the postmodernist theory of ‘ hybrid/ pick n mix identities’ suggest about socialisation (+ key thinker)
Lyotard:
- people have the free will to resist socialisation and choose which culture / identity the want to adopt
- this because in a modern society there is not a single institution which has monopoly on the values society is taught
