Which agency carries out primary socialisation?

the family. It comes first, in early childhood.

What is the hidden curriculum?

the norms and values learned at school without being formally taught. Punctuality and obedience are examples.

What is canalisation?

channelling children towards toys and activities seen as right for their gender. Dolls for girls and footballs for boys.

How do the media socialise people?

through the ways they represent groups, and through role models. Representations shape what audiences see as normal.

Why might the peer group have more influence than the family on a 15-year-old?

teenagers spend much of their time with peers and badly want their acceptance. The wish to belong is strongest in the teenage years.

Agencies of socialisation · Cambridge IGCSE Sociology

In plain words

You were not born knowing how to behave at a funeral, in a classroom or in a job interview. Somebody taught you, mostly without either of you noticing. Sociologists call the teachers "agencies", and there are six of them.

8 things to know

Primary socialisation takes place in early childhood, in the family. Children learn language, basic norms and values, and how to behave. Secondary socialisation comes later and outside the family, and it carries on through life.
The family teaches through praise and punishment and through role modelling, where children copy their parents. Canalisation is the channelling of children towards toys and activities thought right for their gender.
Education teaches the subjects on the timetable, and also a hidden curriculum: the norms and values pupils pick up without being formally taught them, such as punctuality and obedience.
The peer group is made up of people of a similar age and position. Peer pressure pushes members to fit in with the group's norms, in dress, speech and behaviour.
The media socialise through media representations, the ways in which groups of people are shown. Celebrities and influencers act as role models.
Religion socialises through religious teachings, which give rules for right and wrong and guidance on how to live.
The workplace socialises through workplace training, and through colleagues who show a newcomer how things are done.
Effectiveness. The family comes first and has the strongest emotional hold. In the teenage years the peer group and the media can matter more. Religion has less influence where fewer people are religious.

Worked example

A four-year-old girl is given a doll and praised for "being a good little mother". Her brother is given a football. Identify the agency and the processes at work.

The agency is the family, and this is primary socialisation.
Giving different toys to girls and boys is canalisation.
The praise is a positive sanction, which encourages her to repeat the behaviour.
Both children are learning the gender roles expected in their society.

Tips and tricks

For each agency, learn one process with its name: family and canalisation, school and the hidden curriculum, peers and peer pressure, media and representations.
Asked which agency is most effective, argue for one and then against it with another. There is no fixed right answer.

5 questions, about 2 minutes.

It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.

Agencies of socialisation: 5 questions and answers

These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.

Which agency carries out primary socialisation?
- the family (the answer)
- the workplace
- the media
- the peer group
It comes first, in early childhood.
What is the hidden curriculum?
- the subjects on the timetable
- the norms and values learned at school without being formally taught (the answer)
- secret exam questions
- lessons taught at home
Punctuality and obedience are examples.
What is canalisation?
- copying a role model
- pressure from friends
- learning a religious rule
- channelling children towards toys and activities seen as right for their gender (the answer)
Dolls for girls and footballs for boys.
How do the media socialise people?
- through the ways they represent groups, and through role models (the answer)
- through face-to-face punishment
- through workplace training
- through the timetable
Representations shape what audiences see as normal.
Why might the peer group have more influence than the family on a 15-year-old?Stretch
- peers control pocket money
- families stop socialising children at 10
- teenagers spend much of their time with peers and badly want their acceptance (the answer)
- peers make the law
The wish to belong is strongest in the teenage years.

5 questions

Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.

Worksheet

3 questions, 10 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.

Agencies of socialisation

Cambridge IGCSE Sociology 0495 · 10 marks · papermunch.org

Name ______________________________ Date ______________

What is meant by the term "primary socialisation"?[2]
Show answerHide answer
The first stage of socialisation, in early childhood, when children learn basic norms and values from the family.
I got this one
Describe two ways in which the family socialises children.[4]
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Any two, each described: role modelling, where children copy the behaviour of parents; canalisation, where children are channelled towards gender-appropriate toys and activities; sanctions, where behaviour is rewarded with praise or punished.
I got this one
Explain how the peer group socialises young people.[4]
Show answerHide answer
The peer group has its own norms about dress, music, speech and behaviour. Members want to be accepted, so they feel peer pressure to conform. Those who fit in are rewarded with approval, and those who do not may be laughed at or left out.
I got this one

Answers: Agencies of socialisation

1. The first stage of socialisation, in early childhood, when children learn basic norms and values from the family.
2. Any two, each described: role modelling, where children copy the behaviour of parents; canalisation, where children are channelled towards gender-appropriate toys and activities; sanctions, where behaviour is rewarded with praise or punished.
3. The peer group has its own norms about dress, music, speech and behaviour. Members want to be accepted, so they feel peer pressure to conform. Those who fit in are rewarded with approval, and those who do not may be laughed at or left out.