What is Socialisation?

1. What is Socialisation? Learning Objective To analyse the things we consider to be norms in different aspects of our lives. Socialisation is the process of learning one’s culture.

2. Define Look at page 4-7 and define the following words: Values Norms Sanctions Social Control Culture Subculture Primary Socialisation Secondary Socialisation Ascribed Status Achieved Status

3. Sugar Paper Activity 4 Groups In groups of 3 or 4, discuss the following questions. Food Norms 1) Are there any things that other cultures consider to be food that your culture would not and vice versa? 2) What norms do our culture and others have governing: • How to eat? • What should be eaten when? Bus Norms 1) Make a list of all the norms you can think of that the bus driver, passengers and other road users will have to follow if you are to get to your destination safely and on time. • What norms govern whether or not we should sit next to someone else? • What norms govern the kind of communication permitted between passengers sitting next to one another? • Imagine you were taking a three year old on a bus. What sorts of things might they do that you wouldn’t dream of doing? What does this tell us about norms? Student Norms • Make a list of the norms you can think of that a teacher and students will have in a classroom situation if learning is to take place. • Imagine you brought a friend into a classroom and wanted him/her to be part of the lesson. If that friend had never been in that situation before what advice would you give him/her. • How do the norms in a Secondary school compare with the norms in a nursery. Employee Norms • Make a list of norms that are taken for granted in an interview situation. • How do you think norms may evolve as the relationship between employer and employee develops? • What things would never be considered a norm in an employment situation?

4. Does this mean we have no choices? If we consider the norms that we “have to follow” then this implies that we don’t have a choice what we do.

5. Two Views Structural View “macro” Social Action View “micro”

6. Plenary Shoplifting in Chicago – Read What does a ‘typical shoplifter’ look like? What does a ‘respectable’ person look like? Do we need norms in society or is it just another form of discrimination?