structural theories to socialisation Flashcards
what is meant by the term socialisation?
what makes us human
we rely on early socialisation from the family (primary) to learn culture, norms and values that allow us to fit in with society
it does not stop, we are constantly being resocialised to adapt the needs of society
it makes interactions predictable and avoids chaos
what is Goffman’s study of Resocialistion?
studied mentally ill ppl. he argues psychiatric hospitals have their own subcultures where patients have to adapt to fit in.
they learn to act ‘mad’ and fit in with staff expectations.
:- makes it difficult for them to re-enter normal society.
what is meant by the social construction of identity?
identity is socially constructed - created by socialisation
the socialisation process differs for individuals dependant on ethnicity, gender and class.
ppls self identities and sense of self are formed thru observing and interacting with others and learn what to expect
what is meant by primary socialisation?
learning the basics like lang, walking and toilet training.
learn rights and wrongs and consequences and rewards
the family are role models and we imitate beh.
feedback through sanctions
what does Baumeister 1986 say about primary socialisation?
family socialisation provides children with an identity.
what does Morgan 1996 say about primary socialisation?
a great deal of socialisation is concerned with social control and encouraging conformity e.g. he suggests the function of toilet training is to teach the child some sense of bodily control.
cultural expectations demand different behaviours :- children will learn stereotypical gender roles
what is meant by secondary socialisation?
allows children to build a ‘secondary identity’ linked to their roles and achievements.
these are more fluid and changeable and change through life.
what is the structural approach to socialisation?
F,M AND F see individuals as lumps of clay to be formed into useful members of society.
they are seen with little free will, subject to social forces which shape their identities
what is the functionalist view of this approach?
it is positive, allowing social cohesion to develop
socialisation is like a glue bonding society together
what is the Marxist view of this approach?
socialisation is more negative, it is necessary but in capitalist societies it just maintains inequality
not value consensus, the proletariat are socialised into bourgeoisie
socialisation reproduces and justifies inequality through false class consciousness and controls proletariat
what is the feminist view of this approach?
socialisation is about patriarchy imposing its view.
male domination is reinforced and reproduced to control women and traditional gender roles.
what does Garfinkel criticise about the structural approach?
sees individuals as ‘cultural dopes’ who passively consume and accept norms .
he argues we actually have free will and can carve out our own identity.
with the mass media an important tool of socialisation, what issues can it impact on?
- gender
- identity
- political socialisation - most ppl get a political understanding from media
it can affect our beliefs about others and ourselves
what did Cottle 1994 find about ethnicity and socialisation?
studied news reports from 1960s-1980s and found black men were ‘criminalised’.
may have lead to police targeting these groups and young black males accepting this label :- SFP
what improvements did Abercrombie 1996 identify?
portrayal of black community improved
e.g. fresh prince of bel air.
what did Bagguley and Hussain 2008 say about new ‘folk devils’ ?
they were asian youths as they looked at reports of 2001 bradford riots and concluded asian youths were usually portrayed as aggressors and white youths and police and victims
what’s meant by the term ‘gatekeepers’?
journalists, editors and news reporters choose to highlight certain issues whilst ‘closing the gate’ on others.
they are ‘agenda setting’ which can shape public opinion when they portray certain behaviours as positive and negative.
what is the functionalist view on the link between press ownership and content?
they take a pluralist view and say there is no link
newspapers give the audience what they want, and people have free choice to what they read
what is the marxist and feminist viewpoint?
they take a conflict view arguing that all news outlets are owned or controlled by rich and powerful :- put across views that interest them.
press ownership has become increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few media barons
what are 3 theories about the importance of mass media to socialisation?
- hypodermic syringe: ppl passively accept what they’re told
- decoding: ppl use their judgements to interpret what they’re told (Abercrombie)
- uses and gratification: ppl use media to fulfil their needs (Mcquail)
