Culture & Socialisation
Sociology: AQA GCSE, topic 1.1.2
Culture, Values and Norms
What sociologists mean by culture, values and norms.
Culture
- Culture refers to the whole way of life of a particular society.
- Culture includes society’s values, norms, customs, beliefs, skills, knowledge and language.
Values
- Values are ideas and beliefs about what is desirable and worth pursuing.
- For example, high exam grades or respect for others.
- Values provide general guidelines for behaviour.
- Values may differ from one culture to another.
Norms
- Norms provide guidelines on appropriate and expected behaviour in specific social settings (e.g. classrooms, restaurants or aeroplanes.)
- Norms are often enforced by sanctions (rewards and punishments.)
Variations in culture
- Culture varies in respect to:
- Place (where we are.)
- Time period (when we live.)
Differences in culture
- Something that may be common in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
- Something common in the twentieth century might have been unacceptable in the nineteenth century, such as same-sex marriage.
Socialisation
Socialisation is the process by which people learn the culture, values and norms of society.
Socialisation
- Socialisation is the process by which people learn the culture, values and norms of society.
- It includes primary and secondary socialisation.
Primary socialisation
- Primary socialisation is when babies and infants learn basic behaviour patterns (skills that they will need for life) through agencies of socialisation (usually families and parents).
Secondary socialisation
- Secondary socialisation is when older children learn society’s norms and values through agencies of secondary socialisation that include, peer groups, schools and the mass media.
Test yourself on Culture & Socialisation
Which is the agency of primary socialisation?
Which is NOT an agency of secondary socialisation?