What is Socialisation? | Introduction to A-Level Sociology

Summary

This introduction to sociology video delves into socialization, the process by which individuals learn societal norms and values. It's facilitated by social institutions like family, education, media, and religion, teaching behaviors through modeling and instruction. The video distinguishes between primary socialization, instilling family-specific norms, and secondary socialization, which conveys universal societal values. It also touches on gender socialization, ethnic background's influence, and subcultural norms. Theoretical perspectives from functionalism, Marxism, and feminism offer varied views on socialization's role in maintaining social order or perpetuating dominance.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Socialization is the process of learning society's norms and values.
• 👪 Primary socialization is usually performed by the family, teaching particularistic norms and values.
• 🏫 Secondary socialization is carried out by other social institutions like education, media, and religion, teaching universal norms and values.
• 👥 We learn social behaviors through modeling and are rewarded or punished for adhering to or deviating from social norms.
• 👶 Gender socialization starts from an early age, with different expectations for boys and girls.
• 🌈 Contemporary society is moving towards gender-neutral socialization, challenging traditional gender roles.
• 🌟 Ethnic background plays a role in socialization, with different cultural norms being passed down through families and reinforced by social institutions.
• 🎭 Subcultural norms and values are learned from peer groups and can be based on various aspects like social class, interests, etc.
• 🔍 Structural theories like functionalism view socialization as positive, helping individuals understand societal norms.
• 🤔 Conflict theories, such as Marxism and feminism, see socialization as a form of social control, perpetuating the norms of dominant groups.

Q & A

What is socialization?

Socialization is the process through which we learn society's norms and values, including how to behave in different social situations such as greeting people, standing in a queue, or eating with a knife and fork.

What are the social institutions that teach us socialization?

Social institutions that teach us socialization include our families, the education system, media, and religion.

How do we get rewarded or punished during the socialization process?

We receive rewards such as praise or social acceptance when we copy behaviors that align with social norms and values. Deviations result in punishments ranging from disapproval to imprisonment.

What is primary socialization?

Primary socialization is usually performed by the family and teaches us particularistic norms and values, which are specific to our family unit.

Can you provide examples of particularistic norms and values learned through primary socialization?

Examples include behaviors expected in the home, such as not wearing shoes indoors or not having screens at the dinner table, family events or traditions, and expectations of behavior like bedtimes and curfews.

What is secondary socialization and how is it different from primary socialization?

Secondary socialization is performed by social institutions other than the family, such as education, media, and religion. It teaches universal norms and values that apply to all members of society, rather than just a specific group.

How does gender socialization differ from other forms of socialization?

Gender socialization is the process of learning norms and values appropriate to one's gender, often starting from an early age with gender-specific clothing, toys, and books.

What is the current trend in gender socialization?

In contemporary society, there is a greater emphasis on gender-neutral socialization, such as removing labels on toys and creating books that move away from stereotypical gender roles.

How does socialization vary based on an individual's ethnic background?

Socialization based on ethnic background involves learning cultural norms around food, interactions, family gatherings, celebrations, and language, which may be reinforced by families, education, religion, and peer groups.

What is subcultural socialization?

Subcultural socialization is learning norms and values from peer groups that are separate from those of mainstream society. Subcultures can be based on social class, gender, ethnicity, music, film, and other shared interests.

How do structural theories view the process of socialization?

Structural theories like functionalism, Marxism, and feminism see social institutions as instrumental in socialization, but they have differing views on what types of norms and values people are socialized into.

What is the difference between functionalist and conflict theories' views on socialization?

Functionalism sees socialization as having a positive effect, helping individuals understand shared norms and values for societal functioning. Conflict theories, such as Marxism and feminism, view it as a form of social control, passing on norms and values of dominant groups to maintain their position in society.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Understanding Socialization

This paragraph introduces the concept of socialization in sociology. Socialization is defined as the process through which individuals learn society's norms and values, and how to behave in various social situations. It is facilitated by social institutions such as family, education, media, and religion. These institutions guide individuals through modeling or direct instruction, reinforcing behaviors with rewards like praise or acceptance, and punishing deviations through formal or informal means. The paragraph also distinguishes between primary socialization, which is family-based and teaches particularistic norms, and secondary socialization, which is performed by other institutions and teaches universal norms applicable to all members of society. Gender socialization is highlighted as a specific type of socialization that teaches gender-appropriate behaviors from an early age, though contemporary society is moving towards more gender-neutral socialization. The paragraph also touches on ethnic socialization, which involves learning cultural norms related to one's ethnic background.

05:01

📚 Socialization and Sociological Theories

The second paragraph delves into how sociologists view socialization through different theoretical lenses. Structural theories like functionalism, Marxism, and feminism are mentioned, each with its own perspective on the role of social institutions in socialization. Functionalism sees socialization as positive, helping individuals understand societal norms for effective social functioning. In contrast, conflict theories like Marxism and feminism view socialization as a form of social control, perpetuating the norms and values of dominant groups to maintain their societal position. For Marxists, this means the values of the ruling class, while for feminists, it's the values of patriarchy. The paragraph also mentions how other social institutions and peer groups can reinforce ethnic norms and values. Additionally, it discusses subcultural socialization, where individuals learn the norms and values of a subculture, which can be based on various aspects such as social class, gender, ethnicity, music, film, and shared interests.

Keywords

💡Socialization

Socialization refers to the process through which individuals learn the norms, values, and behaviors of their society. It is central to the video's theme as it explains how people develop the skills necessary to function within social structures. The script illustrates this through examples such as learning to greet people, stand in a queue, or eat with utensils.

💡Norms

Norms are the unwritten rules that govern behavior in a society. They are a key part of socialization as they dictate how individuals should act in various situations. The video mentions norms such as not wearing shoes indoors or having specific bedtimes, which are taught through primary socialization within the family.

💡Values

Values are the principles or standards of a person or society. They are integral to socialization as they guide individuals' beliefs and actions. The script discusses how values are upheld and taught through social institutions, with rewards for adherence and punishments for deviation.

💡Social Institutions

Social institutions are established organizations or patterns of behavior that maintain social order. The video emphasizes their role in socialization, such as families, education systems, media, and religion, which guide individuals on appropriate behaviors and values.

💡Modeling

Modeling is a social learning process where individuals learn by observing and imitating the behavior of others. It is highlighted in the video as a method through which social institutions teach behaviors, with individuals copying these behaviors and receiving rewards such as praise or social acceptance.

💡Primary Socialization

Primary socialization occurs during early childhood within the family and focuses on teaching particularistic norms and values. The video gives examples such as family traditions and expectations, like not having screens at the dinner table or bedtime routines.

💡Secondary Socialization

Secondary socialization happens outside the family and involves learning universal norms and values applicable to society at large. The video explains how institutions like education, media, and religion contribute to this process, teaching behaviors that are expected in broader social contexts.

💡Gender Socialization

Gender socialization is the process of learning gender-appropriate norms and values. The video discusses how this is done from an early age, with examples like dressing boys in blue and girls in pink, and the shift towards gender-neutral socialization in contemporary society.

💡Ethnic Socialization

Ethnic socialization involves learning the cultural norms and values specific to one's ethnic group. The script mentions that these norms can include food, interactions, family gatherings, and language, and are often reinforced by social institutions beyond the family.

💡Subcultural Norms and Values

Subcultural norms and values are those that are specific to a group separate from mainstream society. The video explains that subcultures can form around various aspects like social class, gender, ethnicity, or shared interests, and that these norms are learned often through peer groups.

💡Structural Theories

Structural theories like functionalism, Marxism, and feminism are mentioned in the video as frameworks for understanding socialization. These theories view social institutions as instrumental in the socialization process, with differing views on the types of norms and values that are passed on.

Highlights

Socialization is the process through which we learn society's norms and values.

Socialization teaches us how to behave in different social situations.

Social institutions such as family, education system, media, and religion guide our social behavior.

Modeling and direct instruction are common methods of socialization.

Rewards and punishments reinforce learned behaviors and values.

Internalizing norms and values enables functioning in society.

Primary socialization is performed by the family and teaches particularistic norms and values.

Secondary socialization teaches universal norms and values applicable to all members of society.

Gender socialization is the process of learning gender-appropriate norms and values.

Contemporary society emphasizes gender-neutral socialization.

Ethnic background influences socialization with unique cultural norms.

Subcultural norms and values are learned from peer groups and shared interests.

Structural theories like functionalism view socialization as positive for societal functioning.

Conflict theories such as Marxism and feminism see socialization as a form of social control.

Marxism associates socialization with passing on norms and values of the elite ruling class.

Feminism links socialization to the perpetuation of patriarchal values.

Socialization is instrumental in maintaining the status quo according to conflict theories.

Transcripts

welcome to this tutor to you

introduction to sociology topic video

looking at socialization

one of the key concepts you need to

learn in sociology is socialization

but what is socialization

socialization is the process through

which we learn society's norms and

values

it's how we learn how to behave in

different social situations for example

how we learn to greet people how we

learn to stand in a queue or how we

learn to eat with a knife and fork

we learn these things and many more

through the process of socialization

and this is taught

to us through the use of social

institutions

what sometimes are referred to as

agencies of socialization

but how are we socialized

these social institutions for example

our families the education system media

and religion

provide us with guidance on how we

should act in different social

situations or what values we should

uphold

this is often done through modelling

such behaviors or through direct

instruction

when we copy those behaviors we receive

rewards

usually in the form of praise or social

acceptance

when we deviate from those norms and

values we are punished either through

formal or informal means

but this can be a broad spectrum from

disapproval of our actions to

imprisonment

eventually we internalize these norms

and values and this enables us to

function in society

there are however different forms of

socialization

primary socialization is usually

performed by the family and this teaches

us particularistic norms and values that

is the norms and values of a specific

group in this case our family

each family unit will pass on their

norms and values to the next generation

and this can include behaviors expected

in the tone for example not wearing

shoes indoors or not having screens at

the dinner table

it can be through family events or

traditions that are unique to your

family how you celebrate birthdays or

holidays may differ from family to

family but will have their own norms it

can also include expectations of

behavior such as bedtimes and curfews

which once you've left the family unit

will no longer apply

it can also be done through customs and

habits

however these particularistic values are

often only applicable in your family

unit and so we also need to learn the

norms and values of wider society

and this is achieved through secondary

socialization and is performed by other

social institutions for example

education the media and religion

and these teachers universal norms and

values those values that apply to all

members of society rather than just a

specific group

for example while being late for an

event in the family may earn you

disapproval of other family members your

family would usually wait for you

in education being late not only means

more formal punishment but it also means

missing out

as it is unlikely the teachers will wait

for late comers to start a lesson

similarly at work if you're late for a

shift everything proceeds without you

universal values are the norms and

values of wider society and they are

what all individuals are measured

against

they are the expectations of everybody

and rarely are there exceptions

another important form of socialization

that you will encounter in your studies

is gender socialization

gender socialization is the process of

learning the norms and values that are

appropriate to your gender this is done

from an early age with boys being

dressed in blue and girls in pink the

separation of boys and girls toys and

books a process described as

canonization

to try and shape individuals into their

gender appropriate roles

over the last 50 years or so this has

become more and more contentious with a

greater emphasis on in contemporary

society on gender neutral socialization

such as removing labels on toys for boys

and girls or creating books that move

away from stereotypical gender roles

such as girls doing domestic work and

boys being unemotional

gender socialization however is an

important concept when looking at the

difference between males and females in

society

socialization can also take different

forms based upon an individual's ethnic

background

different ethnic groups will have

different cultural norms around food

interactions family gatherings

celebrations and language

while this form of socialization may be

carried out by families

other social institutions such as

education religion and peer groups may

reinforce these norms and values

a final form of socialization can be

into subcultural norms and values

a subculture is a group with its own

norms and values that are separate from

those of mainstream society when people

learn these norms of values from their

peer groups

subcultures can be based upon many

different aspects such as social class

gender and ethnicity

but also based upon music film and other

shared interests

so how do sociologists view the process

of socialization

the process of socialization is often

the focus of structural theories like

functionalism marxism and feminism that

see the role of social institutions and

instrumental in the process of

socialization

however they have differing views on

what types of norms and values people

are socialized into

functionality socialization as having a

positive effect on individuals helping

them to understand the value consensus

that is the shared norms and values of

society

in order for them to be a functioning

member of society

on the other hand conflict theories such

as marxism and feminism see the process

of socialization as being a form of

social control

passing on the norms and values of

dominant groups in order to make sure

people do not challenge their position

in society

for marxists these norms and values are

those of the elite the ruling class

for feminists they are the values of

patriarchy that is male-dominated

society

that concludes this tutor to you

introduction to sociology topic video on

socialization

thanks for watching