Unit 2 : Culture, Identity And Socialisation

Front 1

What is culture?

Back 1

The way of life of a society

Front 2

What is beliefs?

Back 2

Statements that people hold to be true

Front 3

Example of culture

Back 3

Media, fashion. Advertising - also known as popular culture

Front 4

Examples of culture

Back 4

In everyday speech. It refers to things like art, music and literature

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A broader way- the whole way of life of a society

Back 5

Every aspect of human life is influenced by culture because we constantly refer, consciously or unconsciously, to our society group for guidelines about how to think and behave.

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Elements of culture

Back 6

Norms, values, roles and beliefs

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5 elements in human culture

Back 7

Symbols example, a cross worn on a chain

Language

Values- standards share by members of a culture and used to judge whether behaviour is right or wrong

Norms- the behaviour that societies expect of their members in particular situations

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2 types of norms

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Mores ( norms that are widely observed and carry more of a sense of what is right and Wrong)

Folkways ( are norms for routine, casual social interaction)

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What is social interaction?

Back 9

Any situation in which two or more people have social contact with each other

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Custom

Back 10

Norms in particular society that are widely accepted and carry on over time

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Norms are given extra weight by being used as the basis for rules, regulations and laws.

Back 11

Law- rules that are given force by being formalized by governments.

Norms are usually enforced by informal means, laws by formal means

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Elements of culture , norms, values, roles and beliefs

Back 12

Values , beliefs and norms (including mores and folkways) are not always easy to separate in reality.

They all provide for how people should behave but they differ in how specific or general they are.

Norms can usually be traced back to an underlying belief or value.

Values and norms vary between societies so they are social constructions.

For example, in some societies people stand closer to each other when talking than is normal in modern industrial societies.

Norms and values also change overtime in a society.

In modern society, there are more norms that cover more areas of life.

Because, norms and values are different in different societies around the world and differ in different periods of history. We can say that they are socially constructed.

They are made by societies not by individuals.

Because people in a society share values and norms, most of the time social life is orderly and predictable.

Not everyone shares all the values or conforms to all the norms but societies have ways of expressing disapproval of those who break the norms and of encouraging or forcing people to conform (as individuals we are obliged to follow the values and rules of society otherwise will be rejected or we will not be accepted to in the society.)

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Elements of cultures, status, role and identity

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Most norms are associated with status, which is the position someone has in a society.

For example, in your family your status is a son or a daughter.

In traditional societies, most status were ascribed, that is, they were decide their status for themselves.

In modern industrial societies, some status are now achieved.

Individuals make decisions or follow courses of action that lead to particular statuses.

With each status goes a set of norms called a role.

At this stage, it is helpful to think about what is meant by society and culture.

They are very closely related and sometimes interchangeable terms, but they are different.

Culture and societies cannot exist without each other.

Society is made up of institutions, both formal ones such as the legal and educational systems and informal ones as families.

Culture is about how these institutions worn setting norms and expectations about the roles people should play.

At the macro level, we talk about culture and society, at the micro level about individuals and identities.

Identities refers to our sense of who we are, how we see ourselves and the ways in which we think we are similar to and different from other people.

An inescapable part of this is about how other people see us and judge us.

The norms and values of our culture are part of our identity, because if we conform we will be seen as good and will see ourselves as good.

Our social identity or image is therefore formed through interaction with others- 'no man is an island'

Identifying ourselves as male or female in our gender identity.

Identities connect individuals to the macro level in the sense that through our identity, we can see ourselves in the context of our culture, lining our inner selves (who we think we really are)with the roles we occupy in society.

We also have more roles and sometimes there is more uncertainty about what these roles involve.

Front 14

Elements of cultures, status, role and identity

Back 14

Most norms are associated with status, which is the position someone has in a society.

For example, in your family your status is a son or a daughter.

In traditional societies, most status were ascribed, that is, they were decide their status for themselves.

In modern industrial societies, some status are now achieved.

Individuals make decisions or follow courses of action that lead to particular statuses.

With each status goes a set of norms called a role.

At this stage, it is helpful to think about what is meant by society and culture.

They are very closely related and sometimes interchangeable terms, but they are different.

Culture and societies cannot exist without each other.

Society is made up of institutions, both formal ones such as the legal and educational systems and informal ones as families.

Culture is about how these institutions worn setting norms and expectations about the roles people should play.

At the macro level, we talk about culture and society, at the micro level about individuals and identities.

Identities refers to our sense of who we are, how we see ourselves and the ways in which we think we are similar to and different from other people.

An inescapable part of this is about how other people see us and judge us.

The norms and values of our culture are part of our identity, because if we conform we will be seen as good and will see ourselves as good.

Our social identity or image is therefore formed through interaction with others- 'no man is an island'

Identifying ourselves as male or female in our gender identity.

Identities connect individuals to the macro level in the sense that through our identity, we can see ourselves in the context of our culture, lining our inner selves (who we think we really are)with the roles we occupy in society.

We also have more roles and sometimes there is more uncertainty about what these roles involve.

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Conformity and Non-conformity

Back 15

Nearly all people conform to most norms in society. People internalized the norms and values of their culture through socialisation process. When people in a society agree on shared values and to the norms, there is value consensus.

Societies need to have ways of ensuring social conformity- acting in accordance with norms and social expectations. As such, societies make their members conform to the norms and this is achieved by system of sanctions.

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2 types of sanctions

Back 16

* positive sanctions(rewards)

*negative sanctions (punishments)

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Social control

Back 17

Social control refers to the ways in which members of society are made to conform to norms and values.

Front 18

2 types/forms of social control:

Back 18

Formal social control - social control imposed by a person or organisation who has the authority to implement rules or laws, for example, police and criminal justice(courts, fines, sentences, prisons), school(teachers), workplace.

Informal social control- refers to the ways of controlling behaviour imposed by people without a formal role to do so, i.e family , religion, peer group.

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Informal social control

Back 19

It is exercised by individuals and groups who do not have any official power to do so.

For instance, it includes any way in which you might not approve of something your friends have done. As such, you might pass on negative comments about them or refuse to speak with them until they apologies.

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One common form of social control in peer groups of young people

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Ostracism or social rejection, that is an individual is excluded from the group.

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Types of informal social control

Back 21

Shame

Critism

Sarcasm

Ridicule

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Where can we use formal social control?

Back 22

It maybe used when informal social control does not work- it is done by someone who has authority in that situation such as teacher, employer or police officer.

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What are the examples of formal social control?

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Police and the criminal justice. They impose a wide range of formal sanctions, such as fines and imprisonment. They can be used to enforce laws, police forces are able to use coercion(force), to control behaviour in the society.

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Agencies of social control

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Agencies of socialisation (institutions in which people are socialised )They pass on norms and values which also make people to conform in society.

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2 types of socialization

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Primary socialisation (the first and most important period of socialization in which the individual learns the basic norms of behaviour)

Secondary socialisation (later socialisation, usually involving learning specific norms for particular statuses and roles).

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Primary socialisation

Back 26

Family

Features-( learn basic norms and values)

(Help to set up gender roles)

(Agency of informal social control)

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Secondary socialisation (institutions/ agencies)#1

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1. Education/ school, (learn norms and values beyond the family unit.)

(Learn through official curriculum)

( Agencies of formal and informal social control)

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Official curriculum

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Knowledge and skills

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Hidden curriculum

Back 29

Punctuality , discipline , rules and regulations

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Secondary socialisation (institutions/ agencies)2#

Back 30

2) peer group (peer pressure, behaviour approved by peers, agencies of social control)

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Secondary socialisation (institutions/ agencies)#3

Back 31

Mass media( Newspapers, radio, internet, television, magazines)

Stereotypical images and messages

Imitate role models

Newspaper and reports influenced ideas of society

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Secondary socialisation (institutions/ agencies)#4

Back 32

Religion ( moral codes through rules and commands)

(Sanctions to encourage certain behaviour (social control)

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Secondary socialisation (institutions/ agencies)5#

Back 33

Workplace(rules and regulations to adopt at the place of work)

(Agencies of formal and informal social control)

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Anomie

Back 34

It happens when individuals lack the guidance of norms and values and are unable to regulate their behaviour so that the bond between individual and society runs down.

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Theories of social control

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One way of viewing social control is to say that it is most effective when it involves persuading people to conform by convincing them that this is the right thing to do.

That is, people internalize the norms and values of their society, thereby maintaining order.

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Functionalist view on social control

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The process of social control is essential and positive so as to have stability in the society.

For Durkheim, societies need a set of a shared values to hold them together as functioning societies and in order to prevent anomie.

Durkheim argued that societies need a collective conscience shared by all.

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Marxist view on social control

Back 37

Althusser- refer to the institutions such as schools, media and religion as the ideological state apparatus, which make people believe that it is right to conform.

However, the norms and values they conform to are those that suit the ruling class and keeping them in power. For example, a working class, might believe that people who are born into a high status should be respected and obeyed, ultimately deserving their status. This is infact a condition of false consciousness by accepting beliefs that are against its own interests.

Front 38

Examples of rewards and sanctions in different societies and organisations #1

Back 38

Family#1

(Positive sanctions)- praise and gifts

(Negative sanctions)- confiscating mobile phones , stay in the room

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Examples of rewards and sanctions in different societies and organisations #2

Back 39

School

PS- verbal praise, positive comments, prize giving day.

NS- Detention, warning, rustication, or even expel, confiscating mobile phones

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Examples of rewards and sanctions in different societies and organisations #3

Back 40

Work place

PS- promotion at work, increasing in salaries

NS- demoted, fired and disciplinary hearing

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Examples of rewards and sanctions in different societies and organisations #4

Back 41

Peer groups

PS- positive praise or hug pat on the shoulder

NS- shame, ridiculed,humiliation and critism

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Examples of rewards and sanctions in different societies and organisations #5

Back 42

Traditional societies

PS- gift or verbal praise

NS- ostracism (excluding someone from the community or group), physical punishments.

Front 43

Sub cultures

Back 43

Are groups of people in a culture whose norms and values are different in some ways from the overall culture. This may show in their different value systems, different value systems, different behaviour and different style of dress and appearance.

They have their own culture and according to the wider society, people in the subculture may appear not to be conforming but on the other hand, they do conform, to the norms and values of the sub-culture.

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Sub cultures

Back 44

Are groups of people in a culture whose norms and values are different in some ways from the overall culture. This may show in their different value systems, different value systems, different behaviour and different style of dress and appearance.

They have their own culture and according to the wider society, people in the subculture may appear not to be conforming but on the other hand, they do conform, to the norms and values of the sub-culture.

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Youth sub cultures

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Refers to the group of young people who adopt a style and culture that is different from mainstream culture. They are usually distinguished by their style, dress and music preferences.

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Examples of sub-cultures:

Back 46

Beatniks

Mods and rockers

Skinheads

Hippies

Punks

Goths

Emos

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Youth sub cultures

Back 47

Clothing, music, appearance and speech can act as symbols of these sub-cultures. Infact, these youth sub-cultures were identified as threats by the main culture because their values and behaviour were seen as deviant. Therefore, they were subject to sanction.

I.e A student might be excluded from class for dressing in the style of sub culture.

Front 48

Functionalist views on the formation and existence of sub cultures.

Back 48

Sub-cultures- offer a kind of safety-valve,.young people need to develop a sense of autonomy and independence from their parents and so they turn to be the support of their own age group.

Within, this groups, the norms and values, of the young people may be different to some extend from those of the rest of the society.

This period during which individuals are less dependent on their parents then in childhood is functional both for the individual and the society.

The sub-cultures the young people, a group in which they can win status and respect. It gives such people and alternative opportunities structure.

Sub cultures carry out various functions.

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Marxist views and interactionist views on the formation and existence of sub cultures.

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They refer to the youth sub-cultures. According to them, there was not one, but many youth sub-cultures, all with different styles.

Marxist approaches, tried to explain while different groups of young people adopted different sub cultures.

Marxist saw the youth sub cultures as rebellious by working class youth against capitalism. The young group were reaching against a system that seemed to offer them little.

Middle class, did not rebel in the same way because they could see that they could be successful by getting academic qualification and a career.

This approach is different from the marxist one because they lay emphasis on young people fighting themselves in the economic system and class structure.

Therefore, Marxist see youth sub-culture as one way in which deep conflicts within society become visible.

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Diversity

Back 50

Where there are many differences ; cultural diversity refers to the wider differences between human cultures.

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Multicultural society

Back 51

A society in which many different cultures or sub-cultures exist alongside each other.

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Advantages of multicultural society

Back 52

It allows smaller cultures to maintain their language and cultural norms.

It encourages greater tolerance and understanding of difference between culture is seen as something to be protected and celebrated.

Brings diversification in cultural products, so there is greater cultural diversity in foods, drinks, dress , music and this enriches society as a whole.

It has historically brought a variety of skills.and knowledge into one country which may lead to increase "entrepreneurialism" and trading opportunities.

Cities such as London, are culturally diversed and they are popular, tourist destination may find the diversity enriching.

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Disadvantages of multiculturalism

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Too idealistic (unlikely that very different cultures can co-exist harmoniously if they have radically different norms and values.

Lead to conflict- some argue that minority cultures are given too many rights.

Lead to language barriers- if ethnic minorities, continue to speak their own language, it may hold back their chances for social mobility or their children's chances of doing well in education which means that inequalities continue from generation to another.

Forced multiculturalism example, due to colonisation - lead to conflict, racism of between different ethnic communities.

In some countries, multiculturalism, has led to increased nationalism, based on asserting the primacy of one culture.

Countries in the west, experienced high level of immigration - now using citizenship tests to ensure that people understand the core culture, laws, and history.

Minorities cultures, stay too separate, from the host community, there is a little integration resulting in a defensive mindset and possibly to extremism.

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Globalisation

Back 54

It is often described as involving changes in politics, economics and culture.

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Global culture

Back 55

Is a rapid global movement of cultural ideas, styles and products that can be picked up , disgarded and adapted to fit the needs of different cultural groups.

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Globalisation of culture- is made, possible by economic and political changes. Examples of culture globalisation are:

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Mass media(films, musics, news)

Clothing and appearance (t-shirts, jeans and caps)

World information systems (internet, email, satellite communication)

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Global culture of multicultural society

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For:

* Westernization

* Increased sense of homogeneity

*Technological advancement- media encouraged globalisation through internet, satellite email and telecommunication.

*Emergence of a global economic- lead to spread of employment and wealth

* Global tourism

Globalisation - spread value about human rights, freedom and gender.

Examples: ( english- has become a global culture)

(A western style- dress, t-shirts with jeans become a uniform)

(Western food- such as McDonalds, KFC - popular)

Globalisation - lead to cultural imperialism.

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Global culture of multicultural society #2

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*People and society - adapt to cultures existing alongside each other.

*USA- "melting pot"; with different immigrants all over the world.

*Assimilation of culture- lead to multi-cultural society (ex, Mauritius)

*Increased diversity pluralism ( ex, Mauritius)

Examples; (although some languages are dying there is still thousand of languages.)

(Many people- still value traditional style of dress, such as Dhoti and Sarees in India.)

F(oods from other parts of the world- popular in many countries with many restaurants offering Chinese, Indian, and other food of different cultures.)

(Some conflict result from diversity)

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The social construction of childhood

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The ideas- we have about childhood are created by society rather than determined by biological age.

'Childhood is socially constructed'- mean that the ideas about childhood are created by society, rather than being determined by the biological age of a 'child'.

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Examples of the social construction of childhood

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The idea of children- innocent and in need of care.

The belief that children- need the freedom to express themselves and development as much as possible.

A sense - that children should be educated, and should not be responsible for working and earning money.

Being 'family-friendly' or creating products , goods , services and experiences aimed specifically at children.