SocialisationG671 Sociology

Explain what is meant by ‘socialisation’ Identify six agents of socialisation

Learning Objectives

Socialisation is the process of learning our culture.

Through this, it is also the process by which we are raised to be functioning members of our society...

...And as a result of this process, our identities (of which we may each have more than one) are created and reinforced.

What is Socialisation?

Feral children demonstrate that we cannot socialise ourselves (into human societies/cultures). We require external influences to socialise us.

DISCUSS: What external influences shape

a human being?

What is Socialisation?

Family (‘Primary Socialisation’)

Mass Media Religion

Education Peer Group (‘Secondary

Socialisation’) Workplace

Agents of Socialisation

1. FamilyLO: Identify and explain ways in which children are socialised within the family.

What is a ‘family’? What is the purpose of a family?

On your mini-whiteboards, identify at least three different types of family present in the contemporary UK?

Family

How might the following have an effect on relationships in the family?

Work/life balance of parents Number/age/gender of siblings Increasing life expectancy Geographical issues (e.g. Where family live /

Distance family members live from one another)

Discuss (Pairs; 5 mins)

Family

Socialisation by the family is the foundation of all civilised behaviour. We learn:

Language Body control (e.g. Toilet training) Emotional control (e.g. “don’t hit your

sister”) Rules of public conduct (e.g. “don’t throw

your food”) Moral values (e.g. “lying is wrong”)

Discuss: How do we learn these things?

Role-Modelling (inc. Instilling basic norms and values)

Imitation (e.g. table manners)

Positive and negative sanctions (e.g. Punishments and rewards)

Gender roles (e.g. gender roles within the family)

Ensure you can clearly define each of the above.

How the family socialises us:

Copy and complete the table, identifying two ways in which the family socialises children to achieve each...

Quality Example 1 Example 2

To use a toilet Potty training; rewards to reinforce positive achievement

Imitation of adult use

To eat a balanced diet

To show thanks

To believe in free speech

To be a vegetarian

Paranoid Parents (Furedi; 2001) Traditionally, the parental role has been to

care for and stimulate their children. Nowadays, many parents see their role as

protecting their children from danger (accidents, paedophiles, terrorism etc)

Furedi believes parents have become paranoid; that the risk to children is exaggerated and the focus on protection unhealthy (e.g. The parents of Daniele Duval, who fitted her with a microchip so they could track her if she was ever kidnapped).

Written Task (10 mins)

Write a paragraph explaining how the process of socialisation works in a family. Include the following concepts:

Gender Sanctions Imitation Role-modelling

2. Mass MediaLOs: 1. Identify and explain two ways in

which the media socialises people.2. Describe three models of media

effects.

What do we mean by the term ‘mass media’?

What different areas of the mass media are there?

Calculate: How much of your day is spent engaging with the mass media?

Mass Media

The dominant agent of socialisation for young people in the UK.

The mass media is predominantly used for entertainment, communication and for accessing information.

The mass media is largely responsible for creating popular culture, subcultures, consumer culture and for globalisation.

Mass Media

Representation of social groups

How does the Media socialise us?

What do the following have in common?

Hypodermic Syringe ModelMedia images inject directly into the brain having an immediate effect on behaviour.

Cultural Effects ModelConstant repetition of media images having a gradual effect on attitudes and behaviour.

Uses & Gratifications ModelIndividuals seek out specific media content to fulfil specific needs.

Models of Media Influence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZkC_fNxmQk

Discuss (small groups):Could you live a month without all of the following?:

Mobile Phone Video GamesInternet FilmsTelevision NewspapersMusic

Media Influence

Research Online and find an example of a case in which the media has been accused of influencing behaviour (positively/negatively).

On your blog/as a written report, link to the case you’ve found and write a very brief (500 Word) summary of your views on it, referring to some of the concepts we’ve studied.

Due: Next Lesson

Homework

3. ReligionIdentify and briefly explain at least two ways in which religion socialises people.

In pairs, list a minimum of TEN religions present in the contemporary UK.

Religion

It provides written moral codes that reinforce the values of our society e.g.

Thou shalt not killThou shalt not commut adulteryThou shalt not steal

(from The Ten Commandments)

This means betraying society is also betraying a God/Gods.

How does Religion socialise us?

It provides authority figures who can act as role models.

The way it treats people by gender, sexuality etc. can impact society’s views on these issues.

It has strong links to ethnicity. Many people consider their religion to be a central part of their ethnic identity.

How does Religion socialise us?

Many sociologists believe that religion is losing influence in the UK (‘secularisation’)...

...Others believe it is still important but is becoming more privatised.

Early religious socialisation usually comes through the family, as part of primary socialisation.

For many people in the UK then, religion may not be as influential an agent as it once was.

However...

4. EducationLOs: 1. Differentiate between the formal and informal curricula.2. Identify and briefly explain two ways in which the school system socialises people.

In pairs, list as many different types of schools found in the contemporary UK as you can.

Ext:- What other institutions/areas of society are involved in educating

people?

School & Education

In school, we are socialised through two different social learning processes:

The Formal Curriculum (e.g. the subjects we study)

The Informal Curriculum a.k.a. The ‘Hidden’ Curriculum (e.g. The rules and regulations of school life)

What sorts of things might be part of the ‘informal curriculum’?

How Education socialises us

Punctuality Attendance Expectations Where to go during breaks/lunch (and

where not to go!) How far boundaries can be pushed (e.g.

School uniform policy) Valuing success

Etc.

The Informal/Hidden Curriculum

In small groups:

Design a ‘perfect’ formal curriculum for socialising young people. Consider the

following: Which subjects should be mandatory?

Which subjects should be optional/scrapped?

What new subjects could be added?

How Education socialises us

What we learn in our subject choices should help us learn the culture of our society.

The values and behaviours we learn at school should equip us for functioning in the wider world e.g.

1. If you don’t learn to turn up on time for lessons, you won’t last long in a job.

2. If you don’t appreciate the value of education for yourself, you won’t succeed and won’t pass this value on...therefore it may become lost from our culture.

How Education socialises us

5. Peer GroupsLOs: 1. Identify and explain two ways in

which peer groups socialise people.2. Define the concept ‘cultural comfort

zone’.

A peer group is a group of people who share a similar social status (and are usually of a similar age group).

Early peer interaction is usually monitored by parents, so just reinforces socialisation by the family.

From the age of 5-18, peer groups become particularly influential as agents of socialisation and can challenge the role of the family.

Peer Groups

Discuss: In what ways have you been influenced

by your peers throughout your life?

Is it possible to not be at all influenced by peers? Is that a good or bad thing?

Peer Groups

SubculturesDevelop around shared views, beliefs, tastes, styles etc.

Resistance/rebel groupsDevelop in opposition to the ‘norm’

These two are often interchangeable

Some special types of peer group

Peer Pressure

Bullying

Hierarchies/significant figures

Sense of belonging

How Peers socialise us

Used the concept cultural comfortzones to describe how peer groupsform around shared identities: We seek outpeople who we perceive as ‘like us’.

Sewell focused on ethnicity e.g. Noting how kids of the same ethnic origin ‘hang around’ with each other outside of class...

...But the term can equally be applied to factors like social class.

Case Study: Sewell (2000)

6. WorkplaceLOs: Identify and briefly explain two ways in which the workplace socialises people.

How do the following jobs influence the lives of those doing them:

The Workplace

Workplace The workplace resocialises people; it

teaches us new codes of behaviour. We undergo a process of resocialisation every time we change our job.

The influence of the workplace touches (nearly) everyone at some point in their lives.

The nature of work is changing; 9-5 is no longer the norm in the contemporary UK.

How the workplace socialises us Resocialisation Training programmes Written and unwritten rules Dress codes/uniforms Imitation, role-modelling and peer-

pressure.

Copy and complete the table: ‘Outline and evaluate two ways in which 6 agents socialise people into society/culture.

Agent 1st Way 2nd Way

Family

Media

Peer Group

Education

Religion

Workplace

Resocialisation Cultural Comfort Zone Hidden Curriculum Secularisation Hypodermic Syringe Model Positive & Negative Sanctions

Glossary Check: How many can you define (5 mins)

Write a short (500-1000 word) blog or essay on the following, incorporating concepts from your learning so far:

The most influential agent of socialisation in my life so far has been…

Due: This time next week

Homework