CH 2.1_identifying self and society

Key Terms + Definitions

Define Culture

Culture is defined as societies whole way of life, including norms, values, customs, roles, leisure, work, appearance, language, religion and celebrations.

Define the term Society

Society is defined as a group of people organised through institutions (formal like legal systems & informal like families)

Define Identity

Identity is defined as a sense of who we are, shaped by self-perception and other’s feedback.

Define Norms

Norms are expected behaviours in a society for particular situations.

Give an example for a Norm

Greeting customs differ:

• in Hindu cultures it is expected to bow to elderly

• in European cultures it is expected to shake hands

What are customs?

Customs are widely accepted norms (norms over many societies)

Define Values

Values are standards of what is considered good or right, they guide ones thinking and behaviour.

Give an example for Values

The personal space of an individual is formed by ones own value, along with their form of privacy and respect.

How do Norms and Values depend on one another?

Norms are rules for behaviour that develop from shared values

For example, valuing respect is influenced by the norm of saying ‘please’ or ‘thank you’.

What do Symbols influence in a Society?

Symbold carry a culturally recognized meaning, for example, the cross, team jerseys or flags.

What do Languages influence in Societies?

Languages are systems of symbol, by which communication is governed by cultural norms.

Define Status on an Individual in a Society

Status is the position a person holds in a Society

State examples for Statuses Individuals could have

• Student

• Teacher

• Son/Daughter

• Teenager

Define an Ascribed Status

An Ascribed Status is given at birth, meaning you are born with a position.

For example, your gender and ethnicity.

Define an Achieved Status

An Achieved Status is earned or chosen, though dedicated work.

For example, your career path or education choices.

Define Role in a Society

Roles are norms and expectations associated with a status (with a position a person holds).

Give an example for roles an individual has in a society

the Status: Student

the role a student has is to attend classes, ask questions and learn.

Can Individuals choose how they perform their roles?

YES

Define Social Identity

Social Identity is how we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us.

What is role conflict/ when does it occur?

Role conflict is when norms from two or more roles clash.

For example, a parents may struggles to bala

Define Stereotypes

Stereotypes are oversimplified ideas about a social group or type of person.

• They are often taught through culture, media and socialisation.

  • They can be positive or negative, but usually misleading

Give an example for stereotypes

• UK media often portraying young people as disrespectful or reckless

• Russian civilization being symbolzed as rude and aggressive.

How and who do stereotypes influence

Stereotypes influence people lackin

How is social identity formed

Social Identity is formed through the interaction with others.

Give examples of identities

1. gender identity

2. family role

3. work role

4. social roles in a group

What does Identity link

Give an example of how Identity of an individual influences the perception of the link of one’s inner self to the roles they occupy within a society

A person with a disability may accept or challenge social perception.

Explain what the Nature-Nturture debate explores

The Nature-Nurture debat

Explain the two extreme positions when it comes to determing Nature or Nurture

1. Biological determinism argues that genes control behaviour.

2. Social determinism argues that society shapes behaviour through socialism.

What do sociologists focus on?

Sociolog

Define Feral Children

Feral Children are children which are left out by society and raised by a diverse species, showing that the behaviours of humans are influenced by the society they are surrounded by.

Give examples for cultural differences

• eating practices:

  • mealtimes and table manners; whether to eat with hands or with cutlery

  • foods eaten in certain cultures are not common in other cultures.

  • languages

  • dressing

What is the downside of globalisation

Globalisation increases the awareness of other cultures, threatening cultural diversity.

Define Socialisation

Socialisation is the learning of norms and values though interaction with others.

Explain the 3 ways in which socialisation can be introduced

1. Primary socialisation is within the family, is from birth on, where basics of culture and interactions are introduced.

2. Secondary socialisation is introduced through education, peers, media, religion, workplace, which is needed for new roles in life.

3. Resocialisation occurs when individuals must adopt completely new norms.

→ For example, in the military, prison or when emigrating.

List the 6 Key Agencies of Socialisation (key influences)

1. The Family

2. Education

3. Peer Groups

4. Media

5. Religion

6. Workplace

Explain the Agency of the Family when it comes to Socialisation

You should include the:

• Functions

• Types of Families

• Impact of family structure

• The Lifelong influence

The family is the primary agent of socialisation.

Function:

• Children learn language, behaviour and social norms from parents and other family members.

• Shape’s early identity and moral values

Types of family include nuclear, single-parent, step, adoptive and extended.

Sociologists argue that an unstable family environment lead to inadequate socialisation, potentially affecting behaviour (crime or mental health)

This unbalance influences individuals lifelong.

Explain the Agency of Education when it comes to Socialisation

You should include the:

• Role

• Formal & Hidden curriculum

• Pre-school and early education

• Impact of education on socialisation

Education is a secondary agent of socialisation, significant in shaping adult behavior.

• The formal curriculum is the academic knowledge learned in school, whilst the hidden curriculum teaches norms, values, hierarchy and the respect for authority figures.

• Pre-school and early educations begin with socialisation before the formal schooling.

The Impact of education on socialisation provides consistent norms and values across children, often more uniform than the family.

Define Peer Groups

Peer Groupd are a group of people with similar age and status.

Explain the Agency of Peer groups when it comes to Socialisation

You should include the:

• Role

• Functions

• Impact of family structure

• How peer pressure influences socialisation

The role Peer groups have on Socialisation is very influential during childhood and adolescence.

Functions:

• encourages conformity to norms and values

• provides social support and identity reinforcement

• can exert peer pressure, promoting accepted behaviours.

The impact that peer groups shapes behaviour alongside family and education, especially for young people.

Peer pressure is when people feel influenced by their friends or social groups to act, think or behave in a certain way.

Define peer pressure

Peer pressure is when people feel influenced by their friends or social groups to act, think or behave in a certain way.

Define media and what it includes

Media includes traditional media like TV, radio or newspaper and digital/social media.

Explain the Agency of Media when it comes to Socialisation

You should include the:

• Role

• Functions

• Traditional equivalent and its meaning

Media is the main agent of socialisation throught life.

Functions:

• provides information about society and other cultures

• shapes norms, values and attitudes through portrayal of social groups

• can reinforce stereotypes

Traditional equivalent is the oral storytelling in earlier society.

Explain the Agency of Religion when it comes to Socialisation

You should include the:

• Role

• Functions

• Effectiveness

The role of religion is to provide moral and ethical guidance, which can strongly influence values.

Functions:

• teach morals via holy texts, rituals and community norms

• formal membership can strongly shape behaviour.

The effectiveness religion has on socialisation declines in some societies due to secularisation, but remains strong in communities worldwide.

Explain the Agency of Workplace when it comes to Socialisation

You should include the:

• Role

• Functions

• Impact on socialisation

The role of workplace socialises adults into professional norms and worklpace cultures.

Functions:

• teaches role expectations and acceptable behaviour

• influences interpersonal behaviour though training and pee interactions

• canteen culture influences through informal workplace norms and developed through social interactions with collogues.

The impact workplace has on socialisation is that most adults spend significat time at work, making it a key agent for social identity and behaviour.

Define canteen culture

A workplace subculture (often linked to the police) where informal norms and values develop among workers, sometimes encouraging sexism, racism, or rule-breaking, and protecting colleagues from criticism.

What are Agencies of Socialisation used for?

They are used to transmit norms and values to individuals in order to encourage conformity and maintain social order.

What are the 7 processes used by Agencies of Socialisation

1. Imitation & Reinforcement

2. Role Modelling

3. Hidden Curriculum

4. Media Representations

5. Peer Pressure

6. Religious Teachings

7. Workplace Training

Define the process of Imitation & Reinforcement in Agencies of socialisation

Imitation refers to children copying behaviour of parents, peers and others.

Reinforcement means that children are more likely to repeat their behaviour if they are rewarded (positive sanctioned) or discouraged if punished.

Define Canalisation

Canalisation is when parents’ direct children into roles and activities based on their gender.

→ For example: Girls are sent to ballet; Boys are sent to football.

Define the process of Role Modelling in Agencies of socialisation.

• Include the sources & purpose

Role models are people admired or respected whose behaviour is imitated.

• Sources of role models can be family members, teachers, celebrities, sports players, influencers or media figures.

• The Purpose of Role Models is to help children learn socially acceptable behaviour and norms.

Define the process of Hidden Curriculum in Agencies of socialisation.

• Include examples & purpose/function

Hidden Curriculum is the lessons learned at school beyond the formal curriculum.

• For example: Respect, punctuality, conformity, hierarchy, social norms.

• The purpose of Hidden Curriculum is to shape attitudes, values and behaviour through everyday routines and interactions.

Define the process of Media Representations in Agencies of socialisation.

Include:

• Role

• Effects

• Critical point

• The role of media representation is to provide ideas about norms, values and acceptable behaviour through life.

• The effect it has on society is that it can influence:

  • behaviour

  • present stereotypes of groups

  • encourage social conformity vie likes/shares and online feedback

• The critical point of media representation is that People don’t just absorb media messages; family and peers influence how we interpret and respond to them.

Define the importance of Peer Pressure in Agencies of socialisation.

Include:

• importance

• how social media amplifies peer pressure in modern society

The importance of peer pressure is that strong influence during adolescence extends into childhood.

• Social media amplifies peer pressure through likes, shares, and comments.

What are the 2 types of Peer Pressure

1. Active: Direct encouragement or demand to behave in a certain way

→ bullying

2. Social conformity: Changing behaviour to fit in voluntarily with peer norms

Define the role of Religious Teachings in Agencies of socialisation.

Include:

• examples

• impacts

The role of religious teachings is to provide moral and behavioural guidance.

• For example: ten commandments (Christianity), Five Pillars of Islam

• The impact it has on Society is that it shapes values and norms for those engaged with religious institutions or teachings.

Define the role of Workplace Training in Agencies of socialisation.

Include:

• Methods

• Functions

The role of workplace training is to socialise employees into norms and expectations of a workplace.

• The methods used are induction courses, ongoing training, promotion-based learning.

• The functions workplace training has on employees is that it teaches work-specific skills, social norms, and appropriate interactions with colleagues.

Define Social Consensus

Social Consensus is a general agreement on values norms and beliefs, which leads to stability and harmony

Define Social Conflict

Social Conflict refers to major disagreements about wealth, status or power, which leads to instability. However, powerful groups may maintain upper control.

How do Interpretivists approach consensus and conflict?

Interpretivists focus on small-scale interactions (micro-level) rather than the overall conflict or consensus.

Define Functionalism

A theory that sees society as a system of interconnected parts, where each part (e.g., family, education, religion) works together to maintain stability and order.

→ For example: Schools teach skills and norms, helping society function smoothly.

What are the main functions of schools, families, and prisons in society?

1. Schools → teach skills for work

2. Families → socialise children into norms and values

3. Prisons → remove rule-breakers to maintain order.

Define why Socialisation is essential

Socialisation is essential for integrating individuals into society.

For example, Inadequate socialisation (like feral children) leads to social problems.

What is meant by social cohesion and value consensus?

Shared values create a sense of belonging, make behaviour predictable, and encourage people to follow social rules.

Define Marxism

A theory that sees society as divided by class, where the upper/wealthy class holds power over the working class, creating inequality and conflict.

What are the 2 classes under marxism

1. Bourgeoisie: owners of wealth and property, exploiting the working class.

2. Proletariat: Working class, which is paid less than the value of their labour.

How are working-class vs bourgeoisie children raised.

• Working-class children are raised by accepting low status when socialising

• Bourgeoisie children are raised to maintain privilege.

Define Feminism

A theory that focuses on gender inequality, arguing that society is patriarchal and gives men more power, status, and opportunities than women.

What are the 3 main strands of feminism and their focus? (the levels of severity)

1. Liberal feminism: Equality achievable through laws and reforms.

2. Radical feminism: Society is fundamentally patriarchal.

3. Marxist/Socialist feminism: Explains inequality through both gender and class.

Define Gender Role Socialisation

The process by which people learn the behaviours, attitudes, and expectations considered appropriate for their gender in society.

Example: Boys encouraged to play football, girls encouraged to play with dolls.

What methods did Ann Oakley identify for gender socialisation?

• Manipulation: Encouraging or discouraging behaviours (e.g., praising boys for rough play).

• Canalisation: Directing children into gender-specific activities (boys → football, girls → ballet).

• Verbal appellations: Using gendered language (e.g., “naughty” for boys, “pretty” for girls).

• Different activities: Assigning household tasks or hobbies based on gender.

How does gender socialisation operate in a modern context and what are its implications?

• Agents: Media, peer groups, education, and religion can reinforce or challenge gender roles.

• Sanctions: Deviating from gender expectations may lead to social penalties.

• Implications: Gendered socialisation contributes to ongoing inequalities in society.