Working-class values passed on through primary socialisation

Fatalism

• A belief that individuals have little control over their lives or circumstances

  • M/c- you can change your position through your own efforts

• No effort put into achieving in school

  • Belief you cannot improve your situation

    • May disengage from education entirely

      • Cycle of underachievement and perpetuated disadvantage in the workplace

        • Lower earning potential in comparison to m/c people who put in effort in education to get a better job and make their life better in the long-term

Collectivism

• Valuing being part of a group more than individual success

  • M/c- individuals should not be held back by group loyalties

• Stunted personal growth and achievement

  • Overemphasis on collective identity

    • Lack of motivation to pursue personal goals and aspirations

      • Low educational achievement

        • View being held that individual success is less important than the success of the group as a whole

          • Comparison to m/c people who work for themselves and not for a group, leading to personal growth and achievement

Immediate gratification

• Emphasis on short-term pleasure as opposed to making sacrifices now in order to be rewarded in the future

  • M/c- deferred gratification means sacrifices now for reward later

• Can result in not trying at school

  • Plans to leave school early to start earning

    • Sacrificing a higher level of education for higher earning in the short term

      • Earning less in the long term as having A-Levels or a degree dramatically increases your earning potential

        • Low educational achievement in comparison to m/c people who are willing to sacrifice their short-term earning in order to earn more in the long term.

Present-time orientation

• Present is more important than the future, so don’t have long-term plans

  • M/c- future-time orientation sees planning for the future as important

• People from lower socioeconomic backgrounds do not have plans for their future career

  • Do not prioritise educational achievement

    • Believe it will not be helpful

      • Lower educational achievement than middle class people who plan for the future and see education as a stepping stone to a good career