Key Concepts - Socialisation Norms Values and Culture
Socialisation, Norms, Values and Culture
Sociology is the study of society, social institutions and social relationships. Before diving into specific topics, you need a solid grasp of the foundational concepts that underpin every area of the AQA GCSE Sociology specification.
What is Culture?
Culture refers to the whole way of life of a group of people — their shared norms, values, beliefs, language, customs and traditions. Culture is learned, not biological. It varies between societies and changes over time.
- High culture — activities associated with the upper classes, such as opera, ballet and fine art
- Popular culture (mass culture) — activities enjoyed by the majority, such as social media, reality TV and pop music
- Subculture — a smaller group within society whose members share distinct norms and values that differ from mainstream culture (e.g. goth, skater, religious communities)
- Cultural diversity — the variety of cultures found within a society, shaped by ethnicity, religion, social class and region
Key distinction: Culture is not the same as identity. Identity is how individuals see themselves and how others see them. Identities can be based on gender, ethnicity, age, class and religion.
Norms and Values
| Concept | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Values | Beliefs and ideals that a society regards as important and worth striving for | Privacy, fairness, equality, achievement |
| Norms | Unwritten rules and expectations about how people should behave in particular situations | Queuing, shaking hands, not talking during exams |
| Formal norms | Written rules backed by legal sanctions | Laws against theft, speed limits |
| Informal norms | Unwritten expectations enforced through social disapproval | Saying "please" and "thank you", dress codes |
Exam tip: Always illustrate norms and values with specific examples. A common mistake is defining them without showing you understand the difference.
Socialisation
Socialisation is the lifelong process by which individuals learn the norms, values, customs and behaviours expected by society. It is how culture is transmitted from one generation to the next.
Primary Socialisation
Primary socialisation occurs in the early years of childhood, mainly within the family. It is the most important stage because it shapes the child's basic personality, language and understanding of the world.
- Parents teach children right from wrong through sanctions (rewards and punishments)
- Children learn gender roles — Oakley (1974) identified manipulation (e.g. dressing girls in pink), canalisation (directing children to gender-typed toys), verbal appellations ("good girl") and different activities
- Parsons (1955) argued the family is a "personality factory" — primary socialisation moulds children to fit society's needs
Secondary Socialisation
Secondary socialisation takes place outside the family through agencies of socialisation:
| Agency | How it socialises |
|---|---|
| Education | Teaches formal knowledge, discipline, obedience to authority; Durkheim called school a "society in miniature" |
| Peer group | Friends influence behaviour, fashion, attitudes; can conflict with family values |
| Media | TV, social media and advertising transmit norms about beauty, gender, success and consumption |
| Religion | Moral codes, rituals and community belonging shape values (e.g. the Ten Commandments) |
| Workplace | Professional norms, hierarchies, dress codes and time-keeping |
Feral Children — Evidence for Socialisation
Cases such as Genie (1970) — a girl isolated in a room for 13 years — demonstrate that without socialisation, children cannot develop normal language, social skills or emotional bonds. This supports the view that socialisation, not biology, makes us "human" in the social sense.
Social Control
Social control refers to the ways in which society regulates people's behaviour and ensures conformity to norms.
- Formal social control — enforced by official agencies with the power to punish (police, courts, schools, prisons). Uses negative sanctions like fines, detention and imprisonment.
- Informal social control — enforced by people around us through approval or disapproval (family, friends, community). Uses gossip, praise, ridicule and exclusion.
Functionalists (Parsons) see social control as essential for maintaining social order and value consensus. Marxists argue it benefits the ruling class by keeping workers obedient. Feminists argue it reinforces patriarchy — controlling women's behaviour more than men's.
Evaluation Points
Strengths of the socialisation concept:
- Explains cultural differences between societies (e.g. gender roles vary globally)
- Supported by evidence from feral children and cross-cultural studies
- Recognises that behaviour is learned, not fixed
Weaknesses:
- Can be deterministic — implies people passively absorb culture with no choice
- Ignores biological influences on behaviour (nature vs nurture debate)
- Postmodernists argue that in today's diverse, media-saturated society, socialisation is fragmented — people pick and mix identities
Exam Technique
For a 12-mark question on socialisation, structure your answer: define the concept, explain primary and secondary socialisation with named agencies, use at least two sociological perspectives and one named study, and finish with a brief evaluation. Always use the command word — if it says "discuss", you must give arguments for AND against.