How Do We Learn Our Identity?
Overview
You were not born knowing how to greet an elder, when to laugh, what to wear, or which hand to eat with. All of this you learned, mostly without noticing, from the people and institutions around you. Sociology calls this lifelong lesson socialisation, and it is the single most important idea in this topic: the claim that the self you call yours was, to a large extent, built by your society.
This note takes you from the raw materials of culture (norms, values, customs, roles and status) to the great debate over nature versus nurture, and then through the six agencies that shape us: family, education, peer group, media, religion and the workplace. You will meet real studies, learn what canalisation and the hidden curriculum mean, and see exactly how CIE turns all of this into marks. By the end you will be able to explain not just what you believe, but how you came to believe it.
Objectives
- Culture.
- Norms.
- Values.
- Customs.
- Roles.
- Status (achieved/ascribed).
- Stereotypes (b) How these concepts influence individual behaviour and social identity.
- The nature-nurture debate.
- The relativity of culture.
- Socialisation.
- Norms and values.
- Key agencies of socialisation: family, education, peer group, media, religion, workplace.
- The effectiveness of each agency in the socialisation process.
- Canalisation.
- Hidden curriculum.
- Media representations.
- Peer pressure.
- Religious teachings.
- Role modelling.
- Workplace training.
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Mind map
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Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on How Do We Learn Our Identity?. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which of the following is a value rather than a norm? A. Shaking hands when you meet someone B. The belief that education is important C. Removing your shoes before entering a home D. Queuing for a bus Answer: B
- A status that is fixed at birth, such as being born into a royal family, is best described as: A. an achieved status B. an ascribed status C. a master status D. a role conflict Answer: B
- Which sociologist used the term canalisation to describe the channelling of children towards gender-appropriate toys? A. Talcott Parsons B. Charles Cooley C. Ann Oakley D. George Herbert Mead Answer: C
- The lessons schools teach without putting them on the timetable, such as punctuality and obedience, are known as the: A. formal curriculum B. hidden curriculum C. national curriculum D. correspondence principle Answer: B
- Cases of feral children are most often used as evidence for the importance of: A. nature over nurture B. nurture over nature C. ascribed status D. cultural relativity Answer: B
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