Socialisation Flashcards
What is socialisation?
The process by which someone learns the norms and values of a society.
What’s an example for the nature over nurture debate?
-
Bouchard: ‘twin studies’:
Researched identical twins who had been separated at birth.
One was raised in the Catholic faith and part of the Hitler youth. The other was raised in the Caribbean by his father as part of the Jewish faith.
When these twins were reunited as adults, he found there were profound similarities. - Holden found their mannerisms, temperament, favourite foods, and choice in clothes was strikingly similar.
What’s an example of a nurture over nature?
-
Feral children
without human contact. - Isabel the ‘chicken girl’: Since she was born she was left in a chicken coop. She could not speak, wasn’t toilet trained, and expressed emotion by beating her arms and drumming her feet. She was physically malformed.
- Kamala & Amala: Wolf children :They were discovered living with wolf’s in India. Their behaviour was seen to be ‘wolf-like’- howled, walked on all fours, and ate directly from their bowl into their mouths.
What is primary socialisation?
- The first and most important stage of learning.
- It is between the ages of 0-5
- Our family teaches basic norms and values
- Feral children did not experience this.
How do children learn through their parents?
- Imitation (the way they talk, table manners)
- Through trial and error. Parents may apply sanctions to negative behaviour and rewards for good.
(Social control)
What is secondary socialisation?
The continuation of learning norms and values
What are the agents of secondary socialisation?
- Family
- Peer group
- Education
- Media
- Religion
- Workplace
How do peer groups socialise people?
- Learn what is acceptable from peers often during ages of 5-18
- They have a desire to fit in (conformity)
- They can be a source of rebellion, like youth subcultures (CCCS)
Who says peer groups can be more influential than the family in shaping children’s identity?
Harris
How can education socialise us?
The curriculum is based on the language and culture of society, reflecting its values. E.g English, maths, and science are highly valued, history is mainly from a British perspective, and teachers are often women.
Who talks about the ‘hidden curriculum’?
Marxists Bowles and Gintis
What do Marxists Bowles and Gintis discuss about Education?
- Agreed the hidden curriculum exists.
- Argued the education system was a ‘giant myth-making machine’ which brainwashed children through the hidden curriculum into obedience and unquestioning attitude that they would need in work.
- Pupils are taught to accept their place in society and their failure/ achievement is based on their own making.
What is seen as the most important agent of socialisation?
The media
How are we socialised by the media?
- Women are presented in very stereotypical ways, which may affect how women see themselves and how others see them.
- Violence in the media has been blamed for violence in people who consume media.
Who talks about the ‘male gaze’?
Mulvey
What is the male gaze?
Cameras film female characters, encouraging viewers to assess their attractiveness and bodies.
How is religion an agency of socialisation?
- UK’s laws, morals, and customs are based on the Christian religion.
- Attitudes towards laws (like divorce, homosexuality, abortion, and euthanasia) are influenced by religious views.
How may religion seem a less important factor?
- It is on the decline, and the UK is becoming more secular.
- Globalisation has led to multiculturalism meaning religion may be more fluid and individualistic.
What did Modood and Berthoud’s survey show on religion?
67% of Pakistanis and Bangladeshis saw religion as ‘very important.’ 5% of white British youths said the same.
- So those brought up in a Muslim, Hindu, or Sikh family may feel religion is an important influence.
How is the workplace a key agent of socialisation?
The concept of resocialisation has been used to refer to a new set of norms and values people learn when starting a new job.
What two types of socialisation are present in the workplace?
- Formal
- Informal
What are examples of formal socialisation in the workplace?
- Learning the code of conduct
- Dress codes
- Enforced by formal sanctions like being fired or a warning.
- Positive sanctions include a pay rise
What are examples of informal social control in the workplace?
- Colleagues making it clear what is expected
- ‘Silent treatment’ is an informal sanction
What is ‘canteen culture’?
Norms and values people accept when people work in a particular organisation.
How has canteen culture been used in a critical way?
To describe the culture of racism within the police, where individual police officers who are not racist will start behaving and thinking in ways that they are as they are socialised a certain way.
Who uses the term ‘canteen culture’?
Waddington
What is social control?
How our behaviour is controlled
What is formal social control?
- Mechanisms: police, courts, government and military
- They pass and enforce laws to directly control the population.
- Military used in NI or times of civil unrest .
- Education system and the workplace can also operate the same way
- Explicit and obvious
What are examples of sanctions used by formal social control mechanisms?
- Warnings from police
- Sentences from court
- Dismissal from work
- Exclusion from school
What is informal social control?
Control behaviour subtly through peer groups, religion, family and the media
What sanctions are used informally by social control?
- Socially excluding someone from a friend group
- Disappointed reaction from parents
- Celebs being criticised by the media
What does Harris say about the comparative influence of parents and peer groups?
Peer groups can be more influential than the family in shaping children’s identities due to the desire to conform. This can be stronger than the overt pressure/bullying of the peer group.
What sociologists discusses how play was very gendered when studying peer groups?
Skelton and Francis
What does Skelton and Francis say about peer groups?
Play was very gendered, with boys dominating the space and girls taking part in sperate activities like skipping.
Who talks about double standards put on women by peers?
Lees
What does Lees say when studying peer groups?
There is pressure put on women, for example, how double standards are applied to girls’ and boys’ sexual behaviour such as the term ‘slag’ used to control behaviour.
Who talks about ‘cultural comfort zones’?
Sewell
What does Sewell say about peer groups?
- Used the concept of ‘cultural comfort zones’ to describe the way in which we like to associate with those who are similar to ourselves.
- He links this particularly to African-Caribbean boys who preferred to hang around in gangs with peers than to be in the white middle class world of teachers and school, which is an alien environment.
What sociologists discuss peer groups?
- Skelton & Francis
- Lees
- Harris
- Sewell
