Study unit 7: Socialisation

Question 1

define socialisation

Answer 1

The process by which human
beings learn the culture of their society and become adult members of that
society is called socialisation.

Question 2

what is the importance of socialisation

Answer 2

•• Socialisation teaches us the values and norms of our society.
•• Socialisation is the process through which we become skilled in the ways
of the culture into which we were born.
•• Socialisation teaches us how to live in society and what is regarded as
appropriate behaviour in different situations.

Question 3

explain agencies of socialisation

Answer 3

Agencies of socialisation are
social institutions that are responsible for transmitting the cultural values
and norms of society (Fulcher & Scott 2007:131). All socialisation occurs in
social contexts or in groups where individuals learn their values and norms

Question 4

who are the main agents of socialisation in our lives?

Answer 4

The family
During the early years of a child’s life, the family is the most important agency
of socialisation

the peer group
As the child gets older, other agencies begin to have a significant socialising
influence on him or her. One of these is the peer group. Peer groups are
friendship groups of children of similar age.

Mass media
The mass media, that is, newspapers, magazines, the internet and, most
importantly, television, are increasingly significant as agencies of socialisation.
Children, and adults, may model their behaviour on the examples they are
exposed to through the mass media, and their attitudes are often influenced in
the same way

School
Schools do not only teach subjects that appear in the formal curriculum such as
Mathematics. They also have a “hidden curriculum” which functions alongside
the formal curriculum. This hidden curriculum has a socialising function: It
teaches children discipline, respect for authority and even gender roles

Question 5

discuss social roles and socialisation

Answer 5

Social roles are seen as institutionalised social relationships
that are – for all intents and purposes – matters of constraint … [People] follow
the specific requirements and obligations that define their roles. Social roles are
blueprints or templates for action. Socialisation is, above all, the process through
which individuals learn how to perform social roles … Socialisation gives people
a knowledge of the particular cluster of roles that define them as individuals and
that gave them their identities … Peoples’ actions are seen as being determined
by the cultural definitions and expectations that they have learned during their
socialisation.

Question 6

distinguish between primary and secondary socialisation

Answer 6

Primary socialisation refers to socialisation in the
family context. Here the individual’s basic personality is formed and he or she
learns the most fundamental rules of society. Secondary socialisation consists
mainly of fitting the individual into specialised adult roles, such as preparing
people for the world of work. Secondary socialisation is also performed by the
school, the mass media, the church and peer groups

Question 7

define social identity

Answer 7

A social identity, then,
is a particular label that has been applied in order to indicate the type of
person that someone is. As a result of the label, that person may take on
the label and interact with others in terms of that identity

Question 8

discuss personal identity

Answer 8

A personal identity [on the other hand] marks someone out
as a unique and quite distinct individual. Central to a personal identity
is a personal name. Personal names are attempts to individualise and
so distinguish from all other people with whom a person may share one
or more social identity.