socialisation- culture and identity

What is socialisation

The lifelong process through which individuals learn the norms, values, behaviours and social skills needed to function in their society.

Primary vs Secondary Socialisation

Primary- early childhood mainly taught by parents or guardians, includes basic behaviours like walking, talking and understanding right from wrong

Secondary- continues through life, involves learning from various agents like schools, peers, media, religion

Talcott Parsons on primary socialisation

Believed primary socialisation is when children first learn the values of their family and immediate community, rather than broader societal norms. The family is the key agent during this phase, shaping the childs basic understanding of how to behave.

Feral children and the importance of nurture

Case studies of ‘feral children’ show what happens without proper socialisation. These children, often victims of extreme neglet, lack basic social skills.

Example - oxana malaya, girl raised by dogs, developed some human like behaviour later on

Agents of socialisation

The groups or institutions responsible for teaching individuals the norms and valuesof society.

Primary agents- parents/family

Secondary agents- teachers, peers media etc

Mores vs morals

While morals imply universal, unchanging rules of right and wrong, mores refer to culturally specific norms and taboos.

Socialisation helps individuals understnd and follow the mores of their society, which can evolve over time

Functionalist view of socialisation

Functionalism is a structural, consensus theory that sees socety as a system working together to promote stability and cohesion. Socialisation is central to this view as it teachers shared norms and values, creating value consensus, essential for social order and unity.

Durkheims organic analogy

Durkheim compared society to a human body. Just as organs work together in the body, societies institutions must function together. If one fails, it affects the whole system.

Durkheim and Anomie

When socialisation breaks down and theres no shared values system, society experiences anomie- a state of normelessness and instability.

Anomie often occurs after major changes or upheaval, where people are unclear about the rules, leading to increased deviance and disorder.

Social control in functionalism

Functionalists believe in social control- both formal and informal- reinforces social norms and values.

Formal social control- enforces by institutions like the police or courts through laws and punsihments.

Informal social control- enforced by parents teachers or peers through unwritten rules and sanctions

Sanctions- positive and negative

Negativ sanctions- punishments for breaking norms used to deter deviant behaviour

Positive sanctios- rewards for conforming to norms that encourage good behaviour and obdeience.

Merton- anticipatory socialisation

Where individuals learn and adopt the norms of a role or group they plan to join.

Examples- a person preparing for parenthood or and employee mimickng managerial behaviour to earn a promotion

Education as an agent of socialisation

For functionalists, the education system plays a vital role secondary socialisation. Children enter school with the norms and values learned from their families. At school, they begin to learn the universal values of the wider society, helping to integrate indivuals into the broader social system.

Parsons on education

Parsons argued that one of the main functions of educations is to support secondary socialisation. This process helps maintain a stable society by instilling shared norms ad values.

The formal curriculum

National curriculum in. The UK outlines the subjects all students mus study, maths science english. Also promotes values, history can build indentity and belonging

Hidden curriculum

Refers to the informal, unwritten lessons learned in school, scuh as respect for authority, timekeeping, obedience and cooperation. These are not part of official lesson but are learned through everyday schools.

Functionalists see this as positive- teaches important values that support social order and cohesion

Functionalist view vs others

Functionalists beliv the hidden curriculum promotes social harmony and smooth functioning of society, marxism and feminism are more critical. They argue the hidden curriculum reinforces inequality and dominant ideologies.

Marism and socialisation

Marxismough socialisation sees society shaping individuals through socialisation. However, functionalists value social stability, marxits oppose the capitalist system that maintains it. Marx argued that capitalism benefits the ruling class (bourgeosie), who own the means of production, while exploiting the working class (proleterait). Socialisation is seen byh marxists as a tool used by the ruling class to maintain control and prevent revolution, promoting what they call bourgeois.

Althusser: ideological state apparatus

Argued that social instituions like education, religion, the family and media are part of the ISA. These institutions transmit ruling class ideology, making capitalism seem unantural and inevitable. This promotees the myth of meritocracy- the belief that success is based on hard work and ability rather than social class- leeading to false class consciousness amoung the working class, who accept inequality as fair

Gramsci: hegemony

Introduced the concept of hegemony to explain how the ruling class maintains power not through force,but by securing the consent of the majority. He believed the working class accepts dominant values as ‘common sense’, though counter- hegemonies can exist.

This helps explain why the ruling class doesnt need constant repression- the masses self regulate by internalising dominant values.

Education and marxism

Marxists argue that the education system is part of the ideological state apparatus. Bowles and Gintis developed the correspondence principle, which suggests that schools mirror the workplace by producing passive, obedient workers through the hidden curriculum. Paul Willis, however, found that some working-class boys reject school rules and form anti-school subcultures.

Despite this, he concluded their behaviour still prepares them for working-class jobs by teaching them to cope with boredom and authority.

Feminism and socialisation

Feminists, like marxists, see socialisation as maintaining inequality- but instead of class inequality, its patriarchy.

They argue that society teaches both men and women to accept male dominance as normal. Radical feminists argue that women experience a form of false consciousness, being socialised into domeestic roles and believing they geniunley want them

Anne oakley: gender role socialisation

4 ways which parents shape children into gender roles during primary socialisation:

Manipulation: encouraging gender approapiate behaviour

Different activities: boys and gilrs directed to do different activities

Verbal appellatons: gendered language reinforces behaviour

Canalisation: steering children towards gender appropiate toys and career apriations

Secondary socialisation and media

Feminists highligh the role of secondary socialisation, especially mass media, in reinforcing gender roles, tv, magazines and films promote traditoonal feminity and masculinity.

Media teaches children what is normal for their gender, shaping their aspirations and reinforcing gender scripts that support patriarchal norms.

marxist and feminist views on socialisation

A major criticism of conflic theories like marxism and feminism is that they treat individuals- especially women and the working class- as passive recipients of dominant ideology.

Critics argue this is patronising, especially when it dismissees personal choices as false consciousness. Postmodern feminists argue that such choices can be vaild expressions of agency and femininity itself ca be empowering when freely chosen

Are marxism and feminism outdated?

Critics suggest that both marxist and feminist are somewhat outdated. In modern education, pupils are often encouraged to be critical thinkers and even taught theories like marxism.

Theres also been significant change in gender roles, with many boys and girls sharing activities and interests. Modern media portrays strong female leads.

Sociobiological critique

Some sociobiologist challenge the view that gender norms ar purely social constructs. They argue that biological factors play a role in shaping social roles.

However, this is disputed by anthropoligal evidence from cultures with very different gender norms, suggesting that biology does not entirely dictate behavior

Interacionist view of socialisation

Interactionists like george herbert mead, see individuals as active participantsin the socialisation process. Mead believed that while behaviour is learned, its done actively through imitation, role play and eventually role development.

Key aspects include learning symbols and empathy - understanding others perspectives. For mead, socialisation is central to the creation of the self

Goffman: dramaturgical approach

Developed the dramaturgical approach, comparing social life to acting on a stage. Socialisation, thn, is learning how to perform roles. He introduced the concept of resocialisation- a deliberate process of adopting a new identity.

Goffman argued that people construct ther own identities depeding on the social role they chose to perform

Postmodernist view of socialisation

Postmodernists argue against the idea of one unified culture or set of values. Jean francis lyotard claimed people now have multiple sources of influence and can choose what culture of values to adop. In a diverse society, socialisation becomes more fragmented.

People develop hybrrid identities, mixing influenxes from different cultures, classes and backgrounds. This underminds traditional notions of socialisation as a unifying process.

Interactionist and postmodern views

While interactionist and postmodern views allow for more individual agency, thhey are often criticsed for downplaying social strucutres. Critics argue that class, gender and institutions still excert strog influence.

A more balanced approach is found in giddens theory of stractuartion which combines both structure and agency, acknowledging that social forces and individual actions interact to shae behaviour.