Culture, Socialization, and Mass Media Flashcards
What is culture
Culture is the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies as well as the beliefs, knowledge, laws, and customs that are learned and shared.
Culture as a system of norm
It tells us the way things should be
Cultural norms
Set of expectations of how a person should act
E.g. in South africa, it is a norm for a youngster to greet an adult or elderly person when meeting them.
Folkways
Informal norms that are shared and generally followed but not considered to be moral issues.
E.g. saying “please” and “thank you” when making requests and receiving something from someone else.
E.g. eating from the same plate brings unity.
E.g. shaking hands when meeting someone
Mores
Norms that are considered to be important moral and ethical issues. What I’d considered right or wrong by a certain group
E.g. obeying authority
Social institutions
Structured that help maintain the norms and values of the society.
E.g. family, education, government, and legal system
Laws
Set of rules that government behavior and are enforced by the government. They are based on mores of the society and are developed to protect the people and maintain social order.
Functions of culture
- Defines situations, attitudes, values, goals, myths, and supernatural
- Molds one’s identity
Socialization
Socialization is the process by which individuals are taught norms and values of their own culture
It begins at birth and continues throughout a person’s life.
At the earliest stage of socialization, infants are taught norms of their culture by interacting with their parents and caregivers.
Primary socialization
Occurs during childhood, children are taught basic norms and values of their society, such as the language they speak, the way they dress, the manner they should act, and religious beliefs.
It occurs within the family whereby children observe their surroundings.
Secondary socialization
Occurs during adolescent and adulthood. Individuals encounter new social groups and experiences that challenge their norms and values that they’ve learned during primary socialization.
Family
Children first learn about norms and values and develop a sense of identity at home.
The family is responsible for teaching children basic social skills such as sharing and communicating.
Education
Schools teach children the skills and knowledge they need to become successful in society.
In addition, they also teach social norms and instill a sense of discipline and responsibility .
Peer groups
People of one’s age, one can learn about things within the society.
E.g. drinking alcohol; one may be introduced or influenced to consume alcohol just because your peers are doing it
One may be exposed to different cultures, fashion or music
The mass media
TV, newspapers, radio,social media, etc. can influence people on how they think, act, or behave.
E.g. dressing according to an actor or model you saw on TV or magazine
High culture
Culture of the upper class, which is typically associated with education, wealth, and power
High culture is often associated with art and literature
Folk culture
Simpler, a more traditional form of culture that is typically found in rural communities
E.g. folktales told by elders at night
Mass culture
Dominant culture of majority of people in society
It is typically found in urban areas and is shaped by mass media
Popular culture
Most widely consumed or talked about aspects of society. Includes things like popular music,TV shows, movies, and other forms of entertainment
Subculture
A smaller culture within a larger society that has its own beliefs, values , and behaviors.
E.g. LGBTQ+ communities have their own language, art, and symbols.
Global culture
Commonalities that exist between cultures around the world
E.g. shared technology, media, and popular culture
Mass media
Mass media such as TV,movies, and social media play a huge role in society. On the other hand, mass media can be a powerful tool for education and information sharing. It can also be a source of entertainment and a way to connect with others around the world. Mass media can be a source of misinformation and can have a negative impact on society or individuals
E.g. the rise of social media has led to an increase in cyberbullying and other forms of online harassment .
Media can lead to unrealistic expectations.
Functionalist view of socialization
Functionalist perspective on socialization is seen as a way to promote order and stability in society. It is believed that through socialization, individuals learn norms and values of society and develop skills they need to fulfill their roles in society.
E.g. children are socialized to go to school, obey authority figures, and respect others to function as productive members of society
Talcott parsons believed that family is a primary agent of socialization and that it helps children for their future roles in society
Functions of family
- Socialize the infant
- Provide stability and support
- Teach norms and values
Ethnocentrism
Is the tendency to evaluate other cultures according to standards of one’s own culture, often leading to a belief in the superiority of one’s own culture. This hinders understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity.
E.g. someone from the Zulu ethnic group might believe that Zulu culture is inherently better than Xhosa culture.
Cultural relativism
Is the idea that a person’s beliefs, values, and practices should be understood based on that person’s own culture, rather than judged against the criteria of another culture.
E.g. understanding and accepting the significance of rituals and traditions in the Xhosa culture, even if they differ from those in Zulu culture.
Charles cooley’s the looking glass self
Charles Cooley’s concept of the looking glass self describes how individuals develop their sense of self through social interactions and the perceptions of how others perceive them.
The 3 step process
- We imagine how we appear to others
- How others evaluate us
- We develop our self-concept based on those perceptions
George Herbert Mead and the development of self
George Herbert Mead proposed that the self emerge through social interaction and communication, particularly through the process he called “the taking the role of the other.”
This means that individuals learn to see themselves from the perspectives of others, shaping their sense of self.
According to Mead, the self is not something we are born with;rather, it is developed through social interactions with others.
E.g. children engage in role-playing activities where they pretend to be someone else such as a parents,teacher or superhero
The me and the I
I: the unsocialized infant that has wants and desires.
Me: the socialized self
Imitation stage
Under 3 years old children imitate those around them.
Play stage
Above 3 years old children start to act out roles.
Game stage
From 8-9 years old children engage in organized games
David Cooper: the ideological conditioning
Cooper sees the family as an ideological conditioning device that conditions children to accept their own exploitation. The family comes up with norms and standards that children have to obey and submit to authority. This is the same way children will obey their superior at work in later stages of life.
Bowles and Gintis: the hidden curriculum
They argued that the structure of education mirrors the structure of the workplace, preparing students for obedience, conformity, and acceptance of authority. Education is perpetuating inequality and social stratification.
What is identity
Identity refers to the characteristics, beliefs,values,attitudes, and experiences that make individuals unique and distinguish them from others.
Social identity
Refers to the part of an individual’s self-concept that is derived from their membership in social groups.
Importance of social identity
Plays a significant role in shaping how individuals perceive themselves and others as well as how they interact with members of their own group and those from different groups.
Importance of social identity
Plays a significant role in shaping how individuals perceive themselves and others as well as how they interact with members of their own group and those from different groups.
