Week 4- Culture and Socialization Flashcards
(28 cards)
The family
No universal definition of family that fits the reality of all cultural groups & historical periods
“perfect body”
North America(tall, skinny) vs. West Africa(chubby, fat camps)
Culture!
a set of values, norms, and behaviors shared by a social group. Can be: formal and informal
Formal ( culture)
systems, policies, rules and regulations put in place- easy to change
Informal ( culture)
Informal norms and behavior patterns. Status and power systems, communication network, work arrangements. harder to change (highly patterned) encapsulates the way of life for a certain social group.
Elements of culture
non- material and material
Non- material culture
values, norms, symbolic
Values
ideals that a society holds ABOVE all others. General & abstract standards defining what a society (group) considers good
Norms
informal rules that guide what people do & how they live. basic rules of social conduct- teach people what to do or not do in certain situations. Norms are reinforced through sanctions, which are positive (rewards) and negative (punishment)
Material culture
artifacts that reflect/ reinforce culture: clothes, homes, cars,technology, toys even weapons.
Symbolic Culture
symbols are ascribed meanings because of the social situation in which they occur. example- size and placement of office= symbol of prestige, only when attached to status (ministry of education)
Cultural Variation
culture varies both across & within societies. Whats “normal” in one society might not be within another society. Even within the same society, the DOMINANT values and norms change over time.
Socialization
The process whereby people Learn culture, attitudes, values and actions deemed appropriate within a certain society.
Primary socialization
occurs during childhood. Influences self-concept
Secondary socialization
learning that occurs throughout LIFE, these people have already gone through primary socialization
Nature versus Nurture
Sociologist agree largely that the social environment interacts with biology, yet RESIST the fact that genetics pre-determine an individuals social life and potentialities
evidence for nurture
children raised in isolation, infants born/ raised in prison nurseries and orphanages. All three prove that socialization is essential to physical well-being & social competence of infants and development of self
Agents of socialization
Family, school, peer groups, mass media & technology, and workplace
1.Family
social institution- may have the greatest influence on socialization (no longer the dominant form of socialization) . Teaches children how to relate with others, express intimacy, resolve conflict and how to become self- regulating in their behavior. Socialization of the family is AFFECTED by: social class of parents, parenting styles, parents preparedness for the role, psychological health of parents and family type.
2.School
Importance: reinforces child’s self- concept, provision of social life, filtering of occupational choices. Builds character through the formal and hidden “informal” curriculum’s (historically schools have been asked to communicate social values to students)
3.Peer groups
development of a frame of reference not based on adult authority. children, formed highly by accident of association, later on you choose your peer groups.
4.Mass media and technology
transmits and reflects values, behaviors and definitions of social reality. May inadvertently perpetuate stereotypes, but the affects of this are difficult to measure.
- Workplace
learning to behave appropriately within occupational setting. professional schools (medical) teach both technical skills and how to behave (like a doctor)
Socialization throughout life:
Milner’s thesis
NOT immaturity or biology that fuels a particular culture but its social conditions.
school: age-graded, mandatory. little economical power and political teens have power and autonomy ONLY to create informal social “worlds”
