Culture, Socialization, and Mass Media

Question 1

What is culture

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

Culture as a system of norm

Answer 2

It tells us the way things should be

Question 3

Cultural norms

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

Folkways

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Mores

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Social institutions

Answer 6

Structured that help maintain the norms and values of the society.
E.g. family, education, government, and legal system

Question 7

Laws

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

Functions of culture

Answer 8

1. Defines situations, attitudes, values, goals, myths, and supernatural
2. Molds one’s identity

Question 9

Socialization

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

Primary socialization

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Secondary socialization

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

Family

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

Education

Answer 13

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 .

Question 14

Peer groups

Answer 14

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

Question 15

The mass media

Answer 15

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

Question 16

High culture

Answer 16

Culture of the upper class, which is typically associated with education, wealth, and power
High culture is often associated with art and literature

Question 17

Folk culture

Answer 17

Simpler, a more traditional form of culture that is typically found in rural communities
E.g. folktales told by elders at night

Question 18

Mass culture

Answer 18

Dominant culture of majority of people in society
It is typically found in urban areas and is shaped by mass media

Question 19

Popular culture

Answer 19

Most widely consumed or talked about aspects of society. Includes things like popular music,TV shows, movies, and other forms of entertainment

Question 20

Subculture

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Global culture

Answer 21

Commonalities that exist between cultures around the world
E.g. shared technology, media, and popular culture

Question 22

Mass media

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

Functionalist view of socialization

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Functions of family

Answer 24

1. Socialize the infant
2. Provide stability and support
3. Teach norms and values

Question 25

Ethnocentrism

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

Cultural relativism

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

Charles cooley’s the looking glass self

Answer 27

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.

Question 28

The 3 step process

Answer 28

1. We imagine how we appear to others
2. How others evaluate us
3. We develop our self-concept based on those perceptions

Question 29

George Herbert Mead and the development of self

Answer 29

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

Question 30

The me and the I

Answer 30

I: the unsocialized infant that has wants and desires.
Me: the socialized self

Question 31

Imitation stage

Answer 31

Under 3 years old children imitate those around them.

Question 32

Play stage

Answer 32

Above 3 years old children start to act out roles.

Question 33

Game stage

Answer 33

From 8-9 years old children engage in organized games

Question 34

David Cooper: the ideological conditioning

Answer 34

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.

Question 35

Bowles and Gintis: the hidden curriculum

Answer 35

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.

Question 36

What is identity

Answer 36

Identity refers to the characteristics, beliefs,values,attitudes, and experiences that make individuals unique and distinguish them from others.

Question 37

Social identity

Answer 37

Refers to the part of an individual’s self-concept that is derived from their membership in social groups.

Question 38

Importance of social identity

Answer 38

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.

Question 39

Importance of social identity

Answer 39

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.