Cambridge International Exams (CIE)
International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE)
SOCIOLOGY (0495)
STUDY NOTES
UNIT 2 - CULTURE, IDENTITY, AND SOCIALISATION
2.2 HOW DO WE LEARN TO BE HUMAN?
Reference:
Blundell, Jonathan. Cambridge IGCSE© Sociology Coursebook. Cambridge University Press, 2014.
All information in the study notes are cited from the CIE endorsed book.
1
,IGCSE Sociology 2.2.1 Primary and Secondary Socialisation
2.2.1 Primary and Secondary Socialisation
Socialisation happens throughout our lives.
During that the most important period is Primary Socialisation. It takes place mainly in family and from birth
to infancy.
In that period, children learnt basic interaction with other people - e.g. how to smile
In early childhood, they also learn the norms and values of the culture they’re in - e.g. how to eat
THe main agencies secondary socialisation are also agencies of social control - school, religion, workplace,
the media and peer groups.
New norms and values are learnt everytime one is in a new role or situation - e.g. getting married, new job.
Socialisation is not a simple process of absorbing ideas and messages.
We are actively involved in our own socialisation - thinking about how the messages apply to us and about
how we can or should amend our behavior and about how others see us.
We can also reject some of the messages, they differ from different agencies of socialisation (ref. 2.2.3)
Page 2 of 17
, IGCSE Sociology 2.2.1 Primary and Secondary Socialisation
2
2.2.2 Processes through which Children Learn Social Expectations
Children learn social expectations through processes like manipulation and exposure to the hidden
curriculum.
From a young age, children learn to conform to social expectations from their parents and others.
Imitation and Role Models
One main way is Imitation.
Imitation is when young children see someone doing something and copy
it.
Children will be more likely to imitate such actions if they’re positively
sanctioned - this way the children learns what behaviour is approved of in
the society.
Older Children and Adults that the children learn from are called Role
Models.
Role models can also be seen in school, or the media - e.g. celebrities
Feminist Views (Ann Oakley)
Feminist Sociologist Ann Oakley argues that childrne learn their social expectiation that go with their sex
roles in four main ways:
1 Manipulation
how some parents and others encourage some behaviour, and discourage other behaviours
e.g. boys may be praised for taking part in a hazardous physical activity while girls might be discouraged
from even trying
2 Canalisation -
when parents channel children towards activities that are considered appropriate for them
e.g. boys might be encouraged to play football while girls might be encouraged to take up ballet dancing.
3 Verbal Appellation
the ways in which parents address their children
e.g. the word ‘naughty’ might be used more often with boys than with girls;
‘pretty’ for girls and ‘handsome’ for boys
4 Activities
there are different activities that boys and girls take part in
e.g. girls helping their mother cook; boys help their father with DIY tasks.
Oakley developed these ideas to explain how we are socialised into sex roles but the idea can be applied
widely - children learn from their parents about what are considered appropriate regardless of their sex role.
Page 3 of 17
International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE)
SOCIOLOGY (0495)
STUDY NOTES
UNIT 2 - CULTURE, IDENTITY, AND SOCIALISATION
2.2 HOW DO WE LEARN TO BE HUMAN?
Reference:
Blundell, Jonathan. Cambridge IGCSE© Sociology Coursebook. Cambridge University Press, 2014.
All information in the study notes are cited from the CIE endorsed book.
1
,IGCSE Sociology 2.2.1 Primary and Secondary Socialisation
2.2.1 Primary and Secondary Socialisation
Socialisation happens throughout our lives.
During that the most important period is Primary Socialisation. It takes place mainly in family and from birth
to infancy.
In that period, children learnt basic interaction with other people - e.g. how to smile
In early childhood, they also learn the norms and values of the culture they’re in - e.g. how to eat
THe main agencies secondary socialisation are also agencies of social control - school, religion, workplace,
the media and peer groups.
New norms and values are learnt everytime one is in a new role or situation - e.g. getting married, new job.
Socialisation is not a simple process of absorbing ideas and messages.
We are actively involved in our own socialisation - thinking about how the messages apply to us and about
how we can or should amend our behavior and about how others see us.
We can also reject some of the messages, they differ from different agencies of socialisation (ref. 2.2.3)
Page 2 of 17
, IGCSE Sociology 2.2.1 Primary and Secondary Socialisation
2
2.2.2 Processes through which Children Learn Social Expectations
Children learn social expectations through processes like manipulation and exposure to the hidden
curriculum.
From a young age, children learn to conform to social expectations from their parents and others.
Imitation and Role Models
One main way is Imitation.
Imitation is when young children see someone doing something and copy
it.
Children will be more likely to imitate such actions if they’re positively
sanctioned - this way the children learns what behaviour is approved of in
the society.
Older Children and Adults that the children learn from are called Role
Models.
Role models can also be seen in school, or the media - e.g. celebrities
Feminist Views (Ann Oakley)
Feminist Sociologist Ann Oakley argues that childrne learn their social expectiation that go with their sex
roles in four main ways:
1 Manipulation
how some parents and others encourage some behaviour, and discourage other behaviours
e.g. boys may be praised for taking part in a hazardous physical activity while girls might be discouraged
from even trying
2 Canalisation -
when parents channel children towards activities that are considered appropriate for them
e.g. boys might be encouraged to play football while girls might be encouraged to take up ballet dancing.
3 Verbal Appellation
the ways in which parents address their children
e.g. the word ‘naughty’ might be used more often with boys than with girls;
‘pretty’ for girls and ‘handsome’ for boys
4 Activities
there are different activities that boys and girls take part in
e.g. girls helping their mother cook; boys help their father with DIY tasks.
Oakley developed these ideas to explain how we are socialised into sex roles but the idea can be applied
widely - children learn from their parents about what are considered appropriate regardless of their sex role.
Page 3 of 17
