CULTURE, IDENTITY AND SOCIALIZATION

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY

SOCIOLOGY IS THE STUDY OF HUMAN BEHAVIOUR IN SOCIETY There are two groups of sociologists: structuralists (Functionalists, Marxist and Feminists) and interpretivist/social action perspectives (Max Weber, Interactionists)

• THE FUNCTIONALISTS SUCH AS DURKHEIM, PARSONS AND MERTON ARGUE THAT THE INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS THE FAMILY, RELIGION, EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM HAVE PARTICULAR FUNCTION TO PLAY IN SOCIETY. FOR EXAMPLE, FAMILY HAS THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF SOCIALISATION.

• THE MARXISTS ARGUES THAT SOCIETY IS GOVERNED BY THE CAPITALIST SYSTEM. IN SOCIETY, THERE ARE TWO MAIN SOCIAL CLASSES: UPPER CLASS (BOURGEOISIE) AND WORKING CLASS (PROLETARIAT). THE UPPER CLASS OWNS ALL THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION (LAND, CAPITAL AND ENTERPRISE). THE WORKING CLASS HAS ONLY THEIR LABOUR TO SELL. THERE IS A CONFLICT (DIALECTIC MATERIALISM) THAT OCCURS BETWEEN THESE TWO CLASSES TO OWN THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION THAT LEADS TO THE OVERTHROW OF CAPITALISM BY THE WORKING CLASS TO SET UP COMMUNISM. IN A COMMUNIST SOCIETY, THERE WILL NO CLASS OR PRIVATE PROPERTY.

• MAX WEBER CRITICISES KARL MARX FOR IGNORING THE MIDDLE CLASS. THE MIDDLE CLASS IS AN INTERMEDIATE CLASS BETWEEN THE UPPER CLASS AND THE WORKING CLASS. THEY HAVE NO PROPERTY AS THE UPPER CLASS BUT DO HAVE THE MARKET SITUATION (QUALIFICATION: ACCA). THE STATUS OF AN INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY IS NOT ONLY DETERMINED BY CLASS BUT ALSO BY THE ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS AND RACE.

• INTERACTIONIST BELIEVES THAT THE BEHAVIOUR OF AN INDIVIDUAL IS BUILT UP BY THE INTERACTION BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS. LABELLING AS PUT FORWARD BY ROSENTHAL AND JACOBSON IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN UNDERSTANDING ON HOW TEACHER TAGS STUDENTS. THIS LABELLING HAS A DIRECT EFFECT OF THE LEVEL OF SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF A STUDENT.

SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION Social constructions of individual identity: how the society build up the

social identity of a member in society. It tries to explain how behaviour is influenced by society.

Social identity: individual’s perception of themselves, based partly on ideas about how others see them (self-image, self-concept).

Culture is the way of life of individual in society.

Components of culture: norms, values, status, roles.

CONFORMITY AND NON-CONFORMITY

• Mainstream culture: society in general.

• Conformity: it is when an individual complies with the rules and regulation of society. Matching attitudes and behaviour of those of the group and society.

• Non-conformity: it is when an individual or group of individuals does not follow and abide to the rules and regulations of society.

• Coercion (force): An individual is coerced (forced) by society to follow its rules and regulations.

Social Control Social control is used to make the individual to comply with the rules and regulations of society. There are two types of social control: formal and informal.

The agencies of formal social control: police, legal system.

The agencies of informal social control: family, religion and peer group.

There are rewards and punishments used to make individual to the rules, norms and values of society.

Sub-cultures are usually non-conformists (Youth-subculture, religious sub-cultures). (Teddy Boy)

Social order: the ways in which societies and their institutions remain stable over time.

Theories on social order and social control • Functionalists argue that social control is good and beneficial for

society as it enables stability and social order to take place. Social order is the result of value consensus.• The Marxist argues that the agencies of social control are by the

upper class to oppress the working class in society. Social order is the result of the false class consciousness. • The interactionist believes that social order is the result of interaction

between individuals.

Diversity and cultural variation Difference between race and ethnicity

Diversity means that society is divided in many groups such as ethnic groups. Multiculturalism is when there are many ethnic groups in society (For e.g. Mauritius).

Cultural relativism: one individual uses the values present in his culture to evaluate other cultures. For instance, a French man will use French’s values to evaluate the British’s culture. Considering all cultures from a Western point of view.

Race discrimination

IS GLOBALISATION CREATING A GLOBAL CULTURE? Globalisation means that information, communication and travel have been

compressed. It is believed that the world has become a global village. Information technology has helped in creating a global culture.

Some sociologists argue the globalisation has makes all the culture all over the world to become one. It is called a global culture. Some say that the model of the global model is based western ones (American). This process of American modelling is called Westernisation.

It can be said that multiculturalism is the product of globalisation.

AGE AS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION

• TRIBAL SOCIETY –BAKUA TRIBES (CHILDHOOD TO ADULTHOOD)

• PRE-INDUSTRIALISED SOCIETY (CHILDHOOD/LITTLE ADULT/ ADULTHOOD)

• INDUSTRIALISED SOCIETY/MODERN SOCIETY (CHILDHOOD, ADOLESCENCE (PUBERTY), YOUNG ADULT, ADULTHOOD, AND OLD AGE).

• IN INDUSTRIALISED SOCIETY, AGE IS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION (THAT IS, BUILD UP BY SOCIETY AND LAW {E.G.: 18 YEARS OLD, ID CARD)

SOCIALISATION

Definition of socialisation.

Primary and secondary socialisation

Agencies of primary and secondary socialisation.

Nature (Biological, Instinct, biological inherited characteristics like the bees)

Nurture (Socialisation process)

Social identity is influenced by:

1. Role : the patterns of behaviour expected of someone because of his status in society

2. Age: the biological age of an individual

3. Ethnic group: the cultural characteristic of a group in society which are different from the mainstream culture.

4. Class: the occupation hold by an individual in society.

5. Gender : feminine and masculine