Topic 4 - how do agencies of socialisation pass on culture? Flashcards
Introduction?
While some agencies of socialization are more influential than others, all contribute to our understanding of societal culture and expected behaviors for fitting in.
Social control?
This concept suggests that society regulates individuals’ behavior and thoughts, making agencies of socialization also agents of social control that train people to conform to cultural norms.
Formal control?
This refers to the intentional training of individuals to adhere to established rules within social organizations. These codified rules ensure everyone is aware of them, and violations lead to formal sanctions, such as imprisonment for serious crimes like murder.
Informal control?
This involves adhering to unwritten rules like norms and values. Violating these can have serious consequences, though informal sanctions may be less apparent, such as social rejection for failing to maintain personal hygiene.
The family and children?
The family is the primary agency of socialization, teaching the fundamental rules of culture and remaining significant throughout life. While secondary socialization agencies may become more dominant later, the family’s role is foundational. Cultural traditions and child-rearing practices vary; for instance, some cultures disapprove of physical punishment, with Scandinavian countries banning it, while in Britain, some parents view smacking as acceptable discipline.
Peer pressure?
Peer Groups: Groups of individuals of similar age and status, often friends or classmates. They are influential, especially during adolescence, and help individuals develop independence from family.
Early Friendships: Children form friendships around age 3-4, creating group norms and behaviors distinct from family norms. Iona and Peter Opie showed that children have their own “street culture” separate from adults.
Education?
Education is a key agency of socialisation, shaping children both formally and informally. Schools prepare children for work, with functionalists viewing this positively, while Marxists criticize the curriculum for reinforcing social inequalities.
Formal curriculum?
Schools teach culture through structured lessons, often presenting facts that children cannot question. Marxist Althusser argued that education reinforces the idea that an unfair society is acceptable, teaching children to blame personal failure, not societal injustice.
Hidden curriculum?
The hidden curriculum refers to the unintentional lessons taught in schools, such as values and beliefs embedded in textbooks, rules, and daily school life. In the 1970s, feminists highlighted how textbooks often ignored or stereotyped women, reinforcing traditional gender roles for girls.
Religion?
Religion plays a significant role in socialisation, even for those who aren’t religious. British society and family laws, such as monogamy, are rooted in Christian traditions, though many people, including non-Christians, may come from cultures where different marital practices are accepted.
Collective conscience?
Durkheim argued that social life requires shared values and norms, which he called the collective conscience. He believed religion embodied this conscience, establishing the principles that maintain societal stability and order.
Parental faith?
Children in religious families are deeply influenced by their parents’ beliefs. Erikson noted that children adopt these beliefs through community practices, such as religious holidays, rites of passage (e.g., communion or bar mitzvah), and attendance at ceremonies or faith schools. Religious practices become seen as a normal part of life.
Media?
Sociologists and psychologists view the media as a powerful agent of socialisation. In the 1960s, psychologist Albert Bandura linked exposure to media violence with aggressive behavior in children. While his study faced criticism, it remains influential in suggesting that media can negatively impact children’s behavior.
Copycat behaviour?
Bandura argued that children imitate behavior seen in media, including violent actions. Some murderers have claimed to model their crimes after films. With increasing media content glamorizing violence, some countries have implemented strict laws regulating children’s television and video games.
Hyperdermic syringe model?
The Hypodermic Syringe Model, an early Marxist theory, suggests the media “injects” ideas directly into people’s minds, shaping their beliefs without question. It views children as especially vulnerable, unable to distinguish between reality and fiction. In children’s TV, violence is often portrayed as heroic, with problems solved through conflict rather than dialogue.
