Section A: SOCIALISATION

Question 1

Nature

Answer 1

Refers to the impact biology has on our ability to pick up aspects of social norms and values.

Question 2

Nurture

Answer 2

Refers to the impact society has on our social development.

Question 3

Agencies of socialisation

Answer 3

Aspects of society that influence social norms and values such as media, education and peer groups.

Question 4

Primary socialisation

Answer 4

Socialisation within the family unit

Question 5

Secondary socialisation

Answer 5

Socialising outside of the family unit.

Question 6

Tertiary socialisation

Answer 6

The maturity phase of socialisation, generally seen in adult activities such as the workplace.

Question 7

Socialisation

Answer 7

The process whereby people learn the attitudes, values and actions appropriate for individuals as members of a particular culture.

Question 8

Social class

Answer 8

A group of people who share a similar economic situation.

Question 9

Sociological perspective

Answer 9

Involves a set of theories which influences what is looked at when studying society.

Question 10

Social control

Answer 10

Refers to the regulation of human behaviour by society. The way in which deviant or abnormal behaviour is deterred and conformity to norms is reinforced. It is the means of ensuring that individuals conform to the norms of society.

Question 11

Formal social control

Answer 11

Police, criminal justice, security services, military, government use sanctions to encourage/ discourage behaviour.

Question 12

Informal social control

Answer 12

Family, peer groups, media, religion, education, the workplace.

Question 13

Role of agencies on gender identity

Mulvey

Answer 13

Used the term male gaze to illustrate the idea that the camera in certain films eyes up female characters and encourages viewers to assess female characters based on their attractiveness.

Question 14

Roles of agencies on gender identity

Bechdel test

Answer 14

A measure of representation of women withing fiction. To pass the Bechdel test, a piece of fiction must feature at least two female characters that at some point have a conversation about something other than a man. Only 50% of films pass the bechdel test.

Question 15

Ethnicity, identity and secondary socialisation

Modood and berthoud

Answer 15

This survey found that 67% of young people in Pakistani and Bangladeshi families saw religion as very important. In contrast 5% of white British youths surveyed said that religion was very important to them.

Question 16

Ethnicity, identity and tertiary socialisation

Waddington

Answer 16

Used the term canteen culture to describe the set of norms and values that people who work in a particular organisation will be socialised to accept. It can be used in a negative sense when we look at racism within the police.

Question 17

Functionalist approach to socialisation

Answer 17

As a result of socialisation, most children grow up to he law abiding citizens who generally conform to society’s expectations- they go to work, they get married, they treat other people with respect and so on.

Question 18

New right ideas on socialisation

Answer 18

They argue that socialisation in modern society is becoming less effective as a result of increasing trends such as divorce and absence of a father in many one-parent families.

Question 19

Feminist/marxist approach to socialisation

Answer 19

They rogue that the function of socialisation in the family is to make sure children grow up to accept inequality, particularly based on social class and gender as a natural fact of life. Socialisation is therefore about working class boys and girls learning conformity and subordination.

Question 20

Interactionist theory

Answer 20

They argue that socialisation in families is a two way process because it is negotiated. Parents/careers also learn from their child. Moreover, socialisation is not a universal process shared by all but rather experienced in different ways based on social class, ethnicity, religion and so on.

Question 21

Peer group

Answer 21

Peer groups are important to socialisation particularly during school years as we learn a lot from them due to our desire to fit in. They can sometimes be a source of rebellion (subcultures).

Question 22

Education

Answer 22

This is an important agent of socialisation as we learn the language and the culture of society. In the uk everyone learns the formal curriculum. Students also learn the hidden curriculum of how to behave.

Question 23

Media

Answer 23

The influence in current society cannot be overstated and us arguably the most important source of secondary socialisation but more and more the media might he seen as having an impact on primary socialisation. If the media has a bug of an impact on socialisation as sociologists assert then surely representation within the media will have a big impact on our identities.

Question 24

Religion

Answer 24

The importance of religion as an agent of socialisation is largely viewed as being in decline die to the more secular nature of society. However, many of the norms and values of the uk society can be based on Christianity. Laws and attitudes towards issues such as divorce, homosexuality, abortion… are influenced by Christian views. As a result of the uk being a multi-faith society, some in the uk are influenced by religion more than others.

Question 25

Workplace

Answer 25

They workplace is a key agent of socialisation for adults. It is an important part of resocialization. Within a workplace it will be made clear what is appropriate and not appropriate by other workers.
There are two different forms of socialisation within the workplace:
1. Formal- code of conduct, dress code, behaviour etc.
2. Informal- unspoken, unwritten rules.