The agents of socialisation Flashcards
What are the 6 agents of socialisation?
- Family (primary)
- Peers (secondary)
- Workplace (secondary)
- Education (secondary)
- Religion (secondary)
- Media (secondary/primary)
What did OAKLEY say about gender role socialisation within families?
- Manipulation: parents encourage children to follow stereotypes
- Language: girls more likely to be called ‘pretty’, boys= strong’
- Canalisation: boys toys= manual labour, girls toys= beauty
- Gendered activities: boys= adventurous, risky. Girls= domestic, caring roles
What are the ways that family socialise their children into cultural norms?
- Imitation: copy language/behaviour
- Trial and error: receive rewards and sanctions for different behaviours
- Role models: look up to parents and copy behaviour
What does PALMER say about childhood socialisation?
Not as effective as it used to be:
- Commercialisation of childhood: being exploited by advertisers
- ‘Schoolification’- reduces independence
- Devices act as ‘electronic babysitters’
- ‘Toxic childhood’
What factors have an impact on family relationships?
- Family size
- Family member’s age
How do functionalists explain the role of family as an agent of socialisation?
Family is the teacher of basic norms and values of everyday life
How do marxists explain the role of family as an agent of socialisation?
Family encourage children to accept the capitalist system and continue the cycle of obedient workers
Why do children have to adapt norms and values when they start school?
Process of resocialisation- they are taught new norms and values surrounding school and education
What are the two main processes of social learning in schools?
- Formal curriculum (planned programme of: objectives, content, learning experiences, resources, assessments)
- Informal curriculum (teaches children rules and regulations of school life)
What are the ways that individuals are socialised through the education process?
- Content of lessons (learn about culture)
- School rules and policies
- Teachers as role models
- Hierarchy
What did BOWLES and GINTIS say about the education system?
It is a ‘giant myth-making machine’- people are taught to accept their place in society, and everything is based on meritocracy
How do functionalists explain the role of education in the socialisation process?
To be privately educated is the best. Meritocracy and deferred gratification (hard work now, reward later). Values: educational success, motivation, competition
How do marxists explain the role of education in the socialisation process?
Education system socialises children to learn to accept their lower place in the capitalist society. Students obey rules and accept hierarchy. ‘Giant myth making machine’. Values:hard work, obedience, respect for authority
How is peer group socialisation different from socialisation by adults?
Teaches new norms and values. Peers may contradict rules that derive from parental authority- resist and rebel authority
What are the ways that peer groups act as an agent of socialisation?
- Differing activities
- Resistance and rebellion
- Peer group pressure
- Recognising similarity
Why do interactionists criticize the process of socialisation?
The person you are is shaped by the people you are socialising with
How do peer groups operate to ensure conformity?
Peers exert pressure on one another- belonging and being part of a group are important to young people
What was SEWELL’S idea surrounding peer groups?
‘Cultural comfort zones’- people tend to join peer groups that include people from similar social backgrounds to themselves, e.g. social class, ethnicity, gender
What did SKELTON and LEES find in their research on peers?
SKELTON- children play with their own, gender specific activities
LEES- pressure on teen girls by peers (girls with lots of sexual partners= slags, boys with lots of sexual partners= masculine
What are the 2 purposes of mass media?
- Information (accessing news and current events)
- Communication (staying in contact)
What are the ways that the media acts as an agent of socialisation?
- Role models: socially acceptable behaviour (TV/books)
- Imitation: copying what one has seen/heard
- Gender roles: shows social groups changing
- Consumer culture: advertising brands
How do postmodern theories explain the influence of the media on shaping individuals?
YOUNG- bulimic society (media bombard us with images/videos, which we binge on)
BAUDRILLARD- we live in a ‘media saturated society’ (media informs our views/lifestyle)
What did FERGUSON and MCROBBIE say about media representation?
FERGUSON- women’s operate through a ‘cult of femininity’ (traditional gender roles and stereotypes enforced)
MCROBBIE- ‘slimblondeness’: you have to be slim and blonde to ‘get a man’
What is the hypodermic model?
Images enters brain straight away and you decide to buy it immediately
What is the drip drip model?
Media slowly puts the image in our heads, over time, slowly influencing us to buy products
What was MULVEY’S concept?
The ‘male gaze’
In TV, the camera ‘eyes up’ women, encouraging viewers to view female bodies and attractiveness
What did YOUNG say about media?
We live in a ‘bulimic society’- hunger and desire to binge on media and consumer culture
What is secularisation?
Norms and values of religion have changed over time- behaviour is no longer driven
What did VOAS and CROCKETT say about religion?
More believing than belonging- belief in religion, but less of a community aspect
What are the ways that religion acts as an agent of socialisation?
- Socialises people into a set of moral values
- Rituals/ceremonies bring people together- harmony and unity
- Moral code, which guides daily behaviour
What did BERGER and LUCKMANN say about religion?
It is becoming harder for religion to be a central part of culture that socialises individuals-
- No longer a single belief system- multiculturalism and cultural diversity
What did GHUMANN say about the influence of religion on gender identity?
Some religions have dress codes for men and women- e.g. Muslim women wear hijabs
What did MODOOD and BERTHOUD say about religion as an agent of socialisation?
Multi-faith nature of the UK means that religion socialises some groups more than others (e.g. Pakistanis and Bangladeshis)
How do functionalists explain the role of religion in the socialisation process?
Socialises individuals into society’s value consensus- values become moral codes. The ‘opium of the masses’- guides behaviour
How do marxists explain the role of religion in the socialisation process?
Acts as to socialise people into accepting their exploitation by the ruling class- exploitation made bearable by promise of afterlife
What is anticipatory socialisation within the workplace?
An individual researches the job role before they start to build up an idea of what to expect
What is resocialisation and how is this important in the workplace?
Learning a new set of norms and values- being socialised again. Occurs when starting a new job as norms/values differ from company to company
What are the ways that the workplace acts as an agent of socialisation?
- Role models (boss/co-workers)
- Use of positive and negative sanctions
- Anticipatory socialisation and resocialisation
What is the difference between formal and informal socialisation in the workplace?
Formal- learning code of conduct, dress code, behaviour, expectations. reinforced by positive and negative sanctions
Informal- colleagues teach you about the job, explain there will be sanctions
Which sociologist wrote about ‘canteen culture’ and what is it?
WADDINGTON- police officers learn norms and values of their role by speaking to other workers- forms stereotypes and racism
How do marxists explain the role of the workplace as an agent of socialisation?
RITZER- young people often get their first jobs as unskilled labour roles (‘McJobs’)- act like robots, no need to question authority
