Socialisation

• What is the nature vs. nurture debate?

  A debate over whether human behaviour is a product of ppl’s genetic makeup OR the social environment in which they live
• Where does primary socialisation start?

  Family
• What is primary socialisation?

  Initial socialisation into a society’s culture during childhood where they learn appropriate norms and values
• Which Functionalist thinker called the family a ‘personality factory’?


  Parsons
• Why did Parsons say that the family is a ‘personality factory’?


  Parents produce kids whose identities fit the society they live in
• Parents t_______ the cultural n+v’s kids need to fit into society.

  Transmit
• What do Functionalists believe will happen to those who are successfully socialised?

  Grow up into law-abiding citizens who conform to societal expectations
• Why do New Right sociologists say primary socialisation is becoming ineffective?


  Higher rates of divorce + more lone-parent families
• What do Marxists & Feminists think of socialisation?


  Means kids grow up accepting inequality
• What are some secondary agents of socialisation?

  • Religion
  • Education
  • Work
  • Media
  • Peer group
• What has secularisation prompted Bruce (2011) to say about religious socialisation?


  No longer influential
• Who DISAGREED with Bruce and argued that religion is still a major agent of socialisation because millions nationally still believe in God?

  Davie
• Media as an agent of socialisation: How did Postman say that media is affecting childhood?


  It’s blurring the distinction between child-/adult-hood because ppl are being exposed to images (e.g. sex, violence etc.) that they were previously sheltered from.
• Which sociologists argued there was a 'Hidden curriculum' in the education system?


  Neo-Marxists Bowles & Gintis
• What do Marxists believe is the role of the 'Hidden curriculum'?

  • Produces pupils who conform to the demands of schooling
  • Teaches the importance of obedience + respect for authority
  • Preps them for the workforce and fully integrating into society
• What is 'canteen culture'?


  N+v's that ppl working in a particular organisation are socialised into accepting
• In what organisation has ‘canteen culture' been viewed -vely?

  Police - racist culture means that some ppl who weren’t originally racist start thinking that way
• What 4 factors impact the way peer groups form?

  1. Age
  2. Gender
  3. Class
  4. Ethnicity
• During which life period is the peer group most influential?

  Adolescence
• What religion are UK morals, norms, and values based on?

  Christianity
• Modood & Berthoud found that __% of Pak/Bang youths thought religion was important V.S. _% of White British youths

  67% - 5%
• What did Skelton & Francis say about peer groups as agents of socialsation?


  Peer group play in primary school is gendered - boys dom. space and girls have their own seperate activities
• Which sociologist said:

  • peer press. is important in influencing behaviour
  • peers are more influential in shaping identities than parents 


  Judith Hariss
• Tony Sewell's research on peer groups

  • We associate w/ those similar to ourselves
  • African-Caribbean boys prefer to hang out w/ their peers instead of MC, white world of classmates/teachers
• How can media influence the way we think ab. diff. social groups?

  The way they are represented in the media can influence how we think ab. them
• What did Mulvey say about how media acts as an agent of socialisation?


  The way cameras are used to film in TV/film 'eye up' female characters & assess their appearance from a MALE perspective > 'MALE GAZE'
• Why does Jock Young say that the media is partly responsible for criminality?

  Media has contributed to a 'bulimic society' where people crave what they see in the media e.g. designer brands, status, luxurious lifestyle etc. but are 'systematically excluded from its realisation'