BASIC CONCEPTS: CULTURE,

NORMS AND VALUES AND

SOCIALISATION

Martha Loefler

Introduction.

In the introductory lecture I said that one of our aims

in sociology is to discover what is really going on in

society. Today we'll continue in the pursuit of that

theme by looking more closely at what society is

made up of.

Outline.

This session involves defining and explaining in

some depth some sociological terms (jargon) that

are used to describe society, because we need a

working knowledge of these terms in order to

discuss our society

Culture

People often think of culture as meaning the "higher"

things of the mind such as art, literature, music and

painting. Sociologists include these things but also

much more.

There are various definitions of culture, a useful one is

from Haralambos:

Culture- Haralambos

"The way of life of a society. The collection of

ideas and habits which they learn, share and

transmit from generation to generation."

Culture

Two important points to note from this definition are

that culture is learned and shared.

Since human beings have no instincts to guide their

actions, their behaviour must be based on guidelines,

which are learned.

Culture

In order for society to operate effectively, these

guidelines must be shared by its members.

So culture may be thought of as learned behaviour in

any particular society, (including ideas, techniques

and habits) which is passed on by one generation to

the next.

Culture

Giddens notes that our personalities and outlooks are strongly

influenced by the culture and society in which each of us happens

to exist.

Give some examples:

At the same time, in our day-to-day behaviour we actively re-

create and re-shape the cultural and social contexts in which our

activities occur.

Culture

So culture defines accepted ways of behaving for members

of a particular society, such definitions vary from society to

society. e.g. Courtship rituals cultures, i.e. the way men

behave towards women.

May lead to problems and misunderstandings in cross-

cultural situations.

Culture

It is important to be aware that cultures are not

homogenous so should avoid generalizations and also

that cultures are never static - they are constantly

changing.

Its also important to be aware that there are a wide

variety of different cultures.

Culture

It is wrong to see YOUR culture as the normal

culture and to measure all other cultures alongside

ours. This is known as ethnocentrism.

Components of culture- Norm

What are norms?

• "Standards of behaviour expected of individuals

by their social group."

Components of culture- Norm

• Specific guides to action, which define acceptable and

appropriate behaviour in particular situations.

• There are many norms governing our behaviour, e.g.

wearing clothes is considered appropriate and acceptable.

• Enforced by positive or negative sanctions. i.e.

Punishments or rewards designed to control behaviour.

Components of culture- Norm

• The normative behaviour of wearing clothes is

reinforced by negative sanctions against

nakedness, such as staring, laughter, shouts.

• Norms vary from culture to culture.

Components of culture- Norm

• How about norms in a particular cultural setting a

hospital ward. e.g. punctuality and dress.

• So norms provide specific directives for conduct.

Values

• Values on the other hand provide more general

guidelines -abstract ideals. May be defined as: A

belief that something is good and desirable. It

defines what is important, worthwhile and

worth striving for.

Values

• Many of our norms may be seen as reflections of

values and a variety of norms can be seen as an

expression of a single value. e.g. In Western

society -the value that life is precious.

Values

• Therefore many norms are concerned with

protecting life -from public safety, legal

settlement of disputes without taking life, rules

governing behaviour on roads. Like norms values

vary from society to society.

Role and Status

Role refers to patterns of behaviour expected of

certain people according to the position or

occupation they hold in society. e.g. doctor.

Role and Status

Status refers to the position of a person or social

role in society according to the amount of prestige

they receive from others.

Socialization.

• Norms and values are learned through the process of

socialization.

• "The process by which individuals learn the norms and

values of their social group."

• The most important part is that it is a learning process.

Socialization.

• Through the process of socialization human infants

develop into social persons, initiated into the beliefs and

ways of life of their social group and able to play their

own part in society.

• These ways of life and beliefs are learned rather than

instinctive.

Socialization.

Some writers distinguish between primary and secondary

socialization.

• Primary. Early socialization between the child and family

and peer group.

• Secondary. More formal socialization in later childhood

and adulthood in the school, workplace and outside world.

Socialization.

Its not a particularly important distinction and its sometimes

difficult to find cut-off points between primary and secondary

socialization, - what is important is to be aware that we are

continually being socialized in any given situation, and also

that it’s very much a process of interaction.

Socialization.

i.e. People learn how to behave by the reaction of other

people towards them. These reactions, in their simplest form

are approval or disapproval.

Agents of Socialization- The Family

The family is the main agent of primary socialization- its the

first human group a person usually belongs to.

Children learn basic behaviour patterns by responding to the

approval or disapproval of parents and by copying their

example.

Agents of Socialization- The Family

Parents may intentionally teach their children some

appropriate behaviour - such as eating with their mouths shut

and saying please and thank you - these are conventions that

they need to be aware of to be accepted in the outside world.

Agents of Socialization

They also unintentionally teach them very much more

observation.

e.g. Its in the family that children learn the ways in which

people in authority behave and the difference in the way that

men and women and behave.

Agents of Socialization

So it’s in the family that they usually learn what behaviour is

appropriate in the particular society in which they will live.

Although socialization is a lifelong process some of the most

significant developments occur during the highly

impressionable & formative period of early childhood.

Agents of Socialization

Hence the immense importance of the family and the quality

of family relationships.

Agents of Socialization- "peer group"

The 2nd important agency of primary socialization is the "peer group" -i.e. other

children with whom a child comes into contact - friends & playmates.

The peer group is probably the first means by which children encounter ideas and

ways of behaving different from those at home, they also learn to modify their

behaviour in order to seek peer approval.

This early socialization is characterized by close emotional ties, in which children

identify with "significant others", &, because they care about them & for them,

their influence is very strong and goes very deep.

Some overlap here with social psychology -

because children are developing their self.

We learn who we are through the reactions of

others towards us, and learn how to behave

through other people's approval or

disapproval – The looking glass self

Secondary Socialization

Secondary socialization usually happens in more formal

situations in later childhood and adulthood.

In order to function in a socially appropriate manner we have

to learn new rules when we enter any new and strange

situations

Secondary Socialization

Important agencies of secondary socialization are schools,

the mass media and occupations.

Schools - not just formally taught curriculum, also hidden

curriculum.

Secondary Socialization

Mass media - in all its forms -not quite the same as the other

agents we've mentioned because there is no interaction, but it

is influential in disseminating ideas & particular values and

beliefs.

Socialization is an important aspect of all human activity, a

subtle, complex and pervasive process.

SOCIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION

• Reading.

• Haralambos, M. (1995) Sociology, Themes and Perspectives. [Chapter 1 Theories of

Society.]

• Giddens, A. (1997) Sociology. [Chapter 21 Sociological Theory.]

• Bond, J. & Bond, S. (1994) Sociology and Health Care. [Chap 2 Perspectives in

Sociology.]

• Jones, L. (1994) The Social Context of Health and Work. [Chap 2 The Scope of

Sociological Enquiry.]

• Senior, M. & Viveash, B. Health and Illness [Chap.11 Perspectives in Health Care]

•