Sociology – Paper 1 – Socialisation and identity | e-Consult
Paper 1 – Socialisation and identity (1 questions)
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Answer:
- Primary socialisation occurs in early childhood and is the first stage of learning the basic norms, values and behaviours of society.
- Agents: family, close relatives, and sometimes early childcare settings.
- Influence: Parents teach language, basic etiquette, gender roles (e.g., expectations about chores), and foundational moral concepts such as honesty.
- Secondary socialisation takes place later, as individuals encounter new social contexts beyond the family.
- Agents: schools, peer groups, media, workplaces, religious institutions, and community organisations.
- Influence: Schools introduce formal knowledge and the hidden curriculum (e.g., punctuality, competition), peers shape attitudes toward fashion and leisure, media disseminates cultural stereotypes, and workplaces reinforce professional norms.
The transition from primary to secondary socialisation marks a shift from learning the core cultural framework to adapting that framework to varied social settings, allowing individuals to develop a more complex and situationally appropriate identity.