Socialisation

• Identity is how individuals or groups see and define themselves and how others see and define them
• Personality is fixed, while identity is more fluid and changeable
• Lawler states that through identity, we mark out similarities with and differences from others
• Mead explains that we are not born with a self; we develop the self through social experience
• Individuals may not always freely choose their identity; social factors like social class, gender, and ethnicity can influence identity
• Master status (Becker) is a dominant status that overrides other aspects of identity
• Multiple identities can exist, with different identities according to context and circumstances
• Identities may change over time
• Identities are socially constructed and formed during the socialization process
• Giddens and Sutton mention that identities consist of individual/personal factors and social influences
• Lawler emphasizes that the formation of identity is a social and collective process
• Giddens and Sutton differentiate between primary and secondary identities
• Primary identities, formed during early childhood, include gender and ethnic identities
• Secondary identities, linked to secondary socialization, are formed through roles and are more fluid
• Bauman's postmodernist perspective suggests that formerly fixed identities have become fluid and unstable
• Individual or personal identity includes individual and unique aspects
• Woodward explains that it involves how we define ourselves and what is important to us
• Examples include one's name, nickname, signature, and personal documents like a passport
• Social identity defines individuals in relation to the groups they belong to
• Offers little choice and may arise from the social roles individuals play
• Collective identity involves personal choice as individuals actively choose to be identified with a group
• Examples include being a fan of a sports club, an eco-warrior, biker, and supporting a political party
• Multiple identities mean individuals have several identities that change according to social context
• Stigmatised or spoiled identities involve stigma, a physical impairment, or social characteristic perceived as abnormal
• Goffman explains that stigmatised identity leads to negative social consequences
• Individuals with a stigmatised identity try to present an alternative identity, but these attempts usually fail, resulting in a spoiled identity
• Socialisation is the process through which we learn culture and norms to operate in society
• Socialisation is a life-long process
• Resocialisation involves learning or relearning norms and values to adapt to a new social environment
• Resocialisation can be mild (e.g. adapting to new work environments) or drastic (e.g. joining the army)
• Resocialisation can be voluntary (e.g. marrying) or involuntary (e.g. imprisonment)
• Moving to other societies involves learning new norms and values, which can lead to culture shock
• In total institutions like prisons and the military, resocialisation can be dramatic and problematic
• Nature refers to biological make-up, while nurture refers to socialisation and upbringing
• Human behaviour is a mixture of both nature and nurture
• Identity is socially constructed through the socialisation process
• Primary socialisation occurs during early childhood and helps individuals adapt to society
• Secondary socialisation is a life-long process that takes place beyond the family and close community
• The peer group and workplace are agencies of secondary socialisation that contribute to socialisation
• The education system and media are also agencies of secondary socialisation that influence culture and identity