2.2 socialisation

What is socialisation

socialisation = the process of learning acceptable norms and values
Primary socialisation = Parsons, this is the first stage of socialisation. Learn particularistic values, the agents of socialisation are the parents
Agents of socialisation = the institutions, groups or people that are responsible for teaching individuals the socially acceptable norms
There have been studies of ‘feral children’, these are unsocialised children who have not been through the standard process of primary socialisation
Secondary socialisation = the second stage of socialisation. Learn universalistic values, the agents of socialisation are school, religion, the media

Case study: Oxana Malaya

when she was young her parents threw her out of the house and made her live with their dogs. After 6 years the police came to free her, but she had learnt to bark, walk on all fours, eat raw meet and sleep in a kennel. The other dogs had to be restrained because they thought one of their pack was at risk
Shows nurture is important and that how to socialise isnt something we are born with

Functionalist views

structural theory, complex systems work together to promote social solidarity and stability
For this to work society needs a consensus, the consensus is achieved by socialisation
Durkheims organic analogy - all institutions in society are connected and have a specific role, in a similar way to the human body. So for the ‘human body’ to work effectively, society must be organised through socialisation
Durkheim anomie - when socialisation has been ineffective and theres a lack of a value consensus. Typically due to rapid social change
Formal social control - the written rules and laws that are enforced by agents that have the power to punish
Informal social control - rules that are enforced by agents that have the power to control behaviour outside of legal action (e.g teachers or parents). They use positive sanctions (reward for conforming to expected behaviour) or negative sanctions (punishment for going against norms, to deter)
Merton - anticipatory socialisation. When an individual adopts the norms and values of a group before becoming a part of it. E.g person becomes emotionally and practically prepared to be a parent before having a child.

Link education

agent of secondary socialisation
Parsons argues that secondary socialisation is one of two main functions of education (other is meritocratic role allocation)
This process occurs by teaching the formal and hidden curriculum

Evaluation

Marxists - socialisation is used to maintain class inequalities. Feminists - socialisation is used to maintain the patriarchy
Postmodernists say society is too diverse to have one set of norms and values
Nature vs nurture. Are people born with behaviour or do they learn it

Conflict views on socialisation

Marxism

socialisation exists, but its used to maintain the dominant ideology but socialising individuals into a false class consciousness
They disagree with the way society is ordered, suggesting the need for rapid social change in the form of a revolution
Althusser suggested the working class is controlled through the repressive state apparatus (police) and the ideological state apparatus (schools)
Ideological - institutions that transmit the values of the state, reflecting the values of the ruling class. These pass on the view that capitalism is normal and inevitable and that theres no real alternative. Presenting a myth of meritocracy, that if you ‘work hard’ you’ll be rewarded
Gramsci - hegemony, the dominance of one social group, not by force, but by shaping cultural norms and values so that the ruling classes worldview becomes ‘common sense’

Link education

hidden curriculum teaches the dominant ideology, be quiet, follow directions. Formal curriculum teaches about kings and queens while ignoring revolutionaries
Bowles and Gintis - correspondence between school and work. Training students to become a passive, docile workforce
Willis - working class boys (‘the lads’) form an antischool subculture. This is to cope with the boredom of work by ‘having a laugh’

Feminists

socialisation exists, but its used to maintain the patriarchy
Radical feminists are similar to Marx, they argue women are brainwashed into traditional domestic roles

Ann Oakley - 4 main ways in which primary socialisation creates gender roles

Manipulation. Parents will encourage behaviour that is ‘normal’ for the gender of their child. E.g clothing or toys
Different activities. Taken to different clubs that are ‘normal’ for the gender
Verbal appellations. Girls rewarded for more passive/ docile behaviour ‘good girl’. Boys rewarded for cheekiness ‘boys will be boys’
Canalisation. Parents push children towards toys and activities that are deemed appropriate for their gender. This may also apply to careers (girls being pushed towards nursing rather than medicine)

Evaluation

assume people are passive
Out of date, postmodernists would argue that we learn about Marxism in school and are encouraged to be critical. Also these are less extreme gender roles, seeing more children playing with the same toys and going into different jobs
Nature vs nurture. Are gender norms biologically determined or a product of socialisation

Interactionist and postmodernist views

Interactionist

Herbert Mead agree that behaviour is learnt but people are active. Argues that in primary socialisation we imitate others, then we start to role play and develop roles for ourselves
Goffman developed the dramaturgical approach. Social life is like playing parts on a ‘stage’, so socialisation is about learning our role and how to play the part. So socialisation is not the same for everyone, as people choose different social roles
Goffman - resocialisation, process of tearing down and rebuilding an individuals role and sense of self to ‘become someone else’. So people can re-socialise

Postmodernists

people are socialised into a range of cultures and roles, then they can choose
Lyotard argues people can choose who to listen to and which cultures to be apart of, arguing people are able to resist socialisation
In a diverse and heterogenous society we create our own cultures and values and develop hybrid identities, so socialisation is ineffective in modern society

Evaluation