Culture and Socialisation Key Terms

Component 1 (Questions 1a, 1b)

**Norms**

==Unwritten rules== of ==behaviour== for specific social situations.

**Values**

==Beliefs== that are seen as important and worthwhile in society.

**Culture**

The shared, ==learned way of life== of a ==social group==. Based around shared norms and values.

**Social Construction**

What is ==meaningful== to people is not natural but instead ==agreed== **on** by people. Culture is a product of the ==society== within which we live.

**Value Consensus**

According to %%Durkheim%%, a shared set of norms and values is crucial to a ==healthy==, ==functioning society==.

**Anomie**

%%Durkheim%% suggested that when people in society are ==unsure== of what norms and values they are expected to ==have== it leads them to become ==emotionally distressed==.

**Cultural Transmission**

Another way of saying ==learning== a society's ==culture==. This happens through ==socialisation==.

**Cultural Diversity**

There can be different subcultures within societies. There are also ==different cultures== in societies ==around the world==.

**Subcultures**

These share many ==aspects== of the ==wider culture== that dominates a society. However, they will also have some of their ==own== norms and values that are ==different==.

**Deviant Subcultures**

==Groups== with ==norms and values== that go ==against== those held by the rest of society.

**Anti-School Subcultures (ASSCs)**

==Groups== of ==students== who misbehave and ==resist== the norms and values taught in ==schools==.

**Socialisation**

The ==life long process== of learning the culture of society. A person will learn the norms and values of their society through ==six agents of socialisation.==

**Primary Socialisation**

%%Parsons%% argued the ==first stage== of learning society's norms and values occurs in the ==family==. This helps society to ==function smoothly.==

**Secondary Socialisation**

%%Parsons%% argued the ==second stage== of learning society's norms and values happens through agents of socialisation like ==education, peers, the media, religion and the workplace.==

**Agents of Socialisation**

The ==institutions== of society where the ==norms and values== of society are ==learnt== and culture is passed on.

**Nature/Nurture Debate**

Argument whether ==behaviour and identity== are mainly ==inherited== (genetic) or ==acquired== (learned).

**Feral Children**

Human ==children== who have lived ==isolated== from ==human contact== during their early years (==0-5== years old).

**Instinctive Behaviour**

==Feral children== are reduced to ==natural, innate actions== like eating, sleeping and drinking because they don't experience primary socialisation.

**Social Change**

The shared ==norms and values== people in society hold usually ==shift== over time.

**Instrumental Role**

According to %%Parsons%%, the ==male== parent in the family is more suited to fulfilling the ==financial needs== of the family through work.

**Expressive Role**

According to %%Parsons%%, the female parent in the family is more suited to fulfilling the ==emotional needs== of the family by looking after the children, keeping the household clean and cooking.

**Roles/Social Roles**

The ==part== or ==function== a person plays in a situation, organisation or group. ==Different roles== will have ==different expectations and responsibilities== that come with them.

**Role Conflict**

When the ==demands== and expectations of ==one role== ==clash== with those of ==another==. The individual must decide which roles' expectations they will prioritise as they ==cannot fulfil both==. E.g. Choosing between role of a parent in family and role of a manager in the workplace.

**Adult Roles**

The part or ==function== that individual ==adults== have in society. Often these are influenced by ==gender socialisation== so are linked to ==gender roles==. Examples include occupations (jobs), being a mother or father, or a husband or wife.

**Status**

A person's ==social position== or standing in ==society==. Different roles will have different amounts of this attached to them.

**Ascribed Status**

This is ==fixed from birth== or given involuntarily.

**Achieved Status**

This is ==earnt== by an individual.

**Social Mobility**

In societies based on ==achieved status== this exists as people will have opportunities to ==move up and down== the levels of hierarchy/ the social scale in society.

**Gender Roles**

The norms and values that ==men== and ==women== are ==expected== to have.

**Gender Role Socialisation**

The process by which ==girls and boys== ==learn== the ==norms and values== they are ==expected== to follow and believe.

**Masculinity**

==Norms, values and roles== that are ==associated with men and boys==. Sociologists believe this is, to a large extent, socially constructed.

**Femininity**

==Norms, values and roles== that are ==associated with women and girls==. Sociologists believe this is, to a large extent, socially constructed.

**Canalisation**

According to %%Oakley%%, this is a process where ==parents== channel their children into ==use of toys and activities== seen as the ==norm== for their ==gender==.

**Verbal Appellations**

According to %%Oakley%%, ==parents== speak to children in a way that ==reinforces gender roles==, such as saying 'pretty girl' or 'brave boy'.

**Media Stereotypes of Gender Roles**

%%Butler%% argues these are so powerful that it is very ==difficult== to ==avoid== ==gender role socialisation==.

**Social Identity/ Identity**

A sense of ==self== developed through ==social interactions with others==.

**Gender Identity**

How people see themselves in terms of society's ==expectations== of ==men and women==.

**Class Identity**

A person's perception of their ==position in society==, particularly in the respect of their ==income== and ==occupation==.

**Ethnic Identity**

How an individual is ==influenced== by the ==history, traditions and beliefs== of their ==culture==, often passed down by ancestors.

**National Identity**

How an individual is ==influenced== by the ==place(s)== in which ==they were born/grew up==.

**Three Key Processes of Socialisation**

==Imitation and Role Models==, ==Rewards and Sanctions==, ==Formal and Informal Social Control==.

**Imitation and Role Models**

A person that someone ==looks up to==. If they ==admire== that person and want to be like them, they will ==copy their behaviour==.

**Rewards**

A ==positive outcome== that encourages an individual to ==repeat== a behaviour.

**Sanctions**

A ==negative outcome== that ==stops== a behaviour.

**Formal Social Control**

The use of ==clear rules== or laws to ==manage== people's ==behaviour==.

**Informal Social Control**

The use of ==unwritten rules== and ==social pressure== to ==manage== people's ==behaviour==.