Chapter 6: Socialization
Complete the following statement by choosing the correct alternative given and rewrite it.
The process whereby an individual learns to conform to the norms of society is called ______.
OPTIONS
assimilation
socialization
cooperation
SOLUTION
The process whereby an individual learns to conform to the norms of society is called socialization.
Family is a _________ agency of socialization.
OPTIONS
primary
secondary
tertiary
SOLUTION
Family is a primary agency of socialization.
School is a/an ______ agency of socialization.
OPTIONS
primary
secondary
tertiary
SOLUTION
School is a/an secondary agency of socialization.
Television is a/an _______ medium of communication.
OPTIONS
audio
visual
audiovisual
SOLUTION
Television is a/an audio-visual medium of communication.
Correct the incorrect pair and rewrite it.
OPTIONS
Language, behaviour - family
Social values like friendship - peer group
Teamwork, discipline - neighborhood
To build opinion - mass media
SOLUTION
Teamwork, discipline - Workplace
Identify the appropriate term from the given options in the box and rewrite it against the given statement.
Takes place in the early years of life.
OPTIONS
Internet
Peer group
Childhood socialization
SOLUTION
Takes place in the early years of life. - Childhood Socialization
Global impact in today’s world.
OPTIONS
Internet
Peer group
Childhood socialization
SOLUTION
Global impact in today’s world. - Internet
Correct underlined word and complete the statement.
Radio is an audiovisual medium.
SOLUTION
Radio is an audio medium.
Peer group is an example of an authoritarian agency.
SOLUTION
School is an example of an authoritarian agency.
Write short note.
Formation of ‘self’ according to Mead.
SOLUTION
1. George Herbert Mead has elaborated on the process of building social self.
2. According to him, the self does not exist at birth. It emerges through communication and interactions with others as well as through our understanding of others’ responses.
3. He asserted that formation of self occurs in three distinct stages as follows:
Stage 1: Imitation: In this stage, children imitate behaviour of adults without understanding it.
Stage 2: Play stage: In this stage, a child internalises the attitudes of others who are significant to him through enacting their roles.
Stage 3: Game stage: As children mature and as the self gradually develops, one internalises the expectations of a large number of people. They develop the ability to take the role according to the perception of others. A child also understands that ‘role play’ in each situation involves following a consistent set of rules and expectations.
4. Socialisation, in this sense, is a process of self-awareness. It involves learning to behave according to expected norms and patterns.
Agencies of socialization.
SOLUTION
There are different social groups which can be seen as agencies of socialization.
Family: Family is the main agent of socialization. The child learns language and other basic behavioural patterns in family. Socialization through family is varied because there is no single, uniform pattern to do so. A child brought up in nuclear family will undergo different pattern of socialization. Patterns of child rearing vary across families with different caste, class, and ethnic backgrounds.
Peer groups: Peer groups are friendship groups made up of people of similar age. In peer groups, the interactions are reasonably egalitarian as there is a greater amount of give and take, when compared to family or school. Peer groups use informal sanctions including positive sanctions like approving gestures or laughing at your jokes, and negative sanctions like disapproving jokes, labeling or rejecting your company.
Schools: Schooling and education are considered as secondary agencies. School involves learning values and norms at a step higher than those learnt in a family. Skills and values like team work, discipline, conformity to authority are learnt in schools and this helps prepare students for the adult world.
Mass Media: One of the significant forces of socialization in modern culture is mass media. Mass media are the means for delivering impersonal communication directed to a vast audience. Mass media includes traditional print media like newspapers and magazines, electronic media like radio and television and current IT enabled media and social media. Television has an influence on children from a very young age and affects their cognitive and social development. Modern technological advancements have strengthened and changed the role of mass media. Technology has certainly increased the spread of mass media.
Neighbourhood: A neighbourhood community is an important agency of socialization. A neighbourhood is a geographically localized community within a larger city, town or suburb. Neighbourhoods are formed through considerable face to face interaction among members often living near one another. A neighbourhood community provides the base for an individual to extend social relations and interactions beyond the narrow limits of the home.
Workplace: Socialization is a life long process. Adult socialization indicates this continuous process of learning. One of the significant agents of adult socialization is the workplace. Adult individuals spend significant amount of time at the workplace. Socialization through work place involves acquiring new skills, knowledge and behaviour patterns suitable to the requirements of the job.
Resocialization.
SOLUTION
Resocialisation is the process of unlearning old norms, roles, values, and behavioural patterns and learning new patterns.
Sometimes an individual is caught in a situation where he has to break away from earlier way of life and internalise radically different norms and values. It involves complete alteration of the earlier lifestyle and thinking.
The new way of life is not only different but also incompatible with the earlier one. So, he has to completely re-engineer one’s sense of social values, beliefs and norms. The basis of resocialisation is to unlearn and then relearn.
Severity of resocialisation depends on the context in which it is carried out. Resocialisation in total institutions is severe and difficult.
E.g. When an individual is in prison, he must accommodate with the norms of living there. He has to learn new values, attitudes, and skills defined as adequate, according to the norms of prison.
Hence, resocialisation involves a process of tearing down and rebuilding an individual’s role and socially constructed sense of self.
Resocialisation is often a deliberate and an intense social process.
Primary socialization
SOLUTION
Primary socialization: The most critical process of socialization happens in the early years. This learning in the early years is termed as primary socialization. Primary socialization takes place in infancy and childhood and involves intense cultural learning. A child gets acquainted with values, customs, behavioural norms and manners. It is an informal process.
Example: Family is the main agent of primary socialization. Peer group and neighbourhood is also seen as a primary socializing agency.
Secondary socialization
SOLUTION
Secondary socialization : Socialization as a process is lifelong. The learning which extends over the entire life of a person is known as secondary socialization. It is a formal process of socialization.
Example : Schooling and education are considered as secondary agencies of socialization. What we learn through a formal curriculum with specific subjects and skills. Schooling involves learning values and norms at a step higher than those learnt in family.
State whether the following statement is True or False with reasons.
Socialization is a life-long process.
OPTIONS
True
False
SOLUTION
This statement is true.
Reason: Socialisation involves learning new things continuously from different agencies. The modern world is complex and diverse in terms of knowledge, skills and values. Hence, an individual needs to adapt and cope with new situations and environment by learning new things or sometimes even by unlearning the previous ones.
Advertisements influence consumer behaviour
OPTIONS
True
False
SOLUTION
This statement is true.
Reason: The use of colours, words, music, images, videos influence our behaviour and persuades us to take action. Advertisements through mass media has wider approach.
Complete the concept map.
SOLUTION
Agencies of socialization
Family
Peer group
School
Mass media
Neighbourhood
Workplace
Give your personal response.
‘Breaking News’ tends to create panic or emotional responses. Why do you think this happens? Give relevant examples to illustrate.
SOLUTION
Many newspapers as well as some private news channels very frequently transmit news of murders, accidents, stealing, dacoity, beating, rape, economic cheating, fraud, scams, etc., as breaking news. Constant hearing of such news affects the minds of the people and it weakens the faith in ideals and values of life. This happens because breaking news get much more viewers than normal news.
Answer the following question in detail. (About 150 words)
You belong to a generation that has been exposed to internet. Discuss how Internet has brought about positive and negative results.
SOLUTION
Modern technological advancements have strengthened and changed the role of mass media as an agent of socialization. Technology like internet has certainly increased the spread of mass media. People spend most of their time in touch with the world. Internet has enhanced communication and social connection. It has also increased political and civic participations. Social media allow students to learn outside of their class rooms. 'School in the cloud' is yet another example of how the internet and social media can help to improve global education. Internet has helped to transmit information and create awareness about a wide range of issues and events among members of the society. It influences attitudes, values and molds public opinion and acts as an effective way to change the society. Through the internet we can access onlinc educational courses or training. lnfact any type of information from any part of the world can be accessed through the internet.
There are also negative impact of internet on society as - Youth access the internet and indulge in chatting, emailing, watching restricted site that leads to cyber crimes instead of creating interest in reading and creative activities. Sometimes internet may not give accurate information hence the validity and accuracy of the messages must be considered. Internet reaches the masses in developing countries, but there are many tribal, rural and poor urban people having no access to any kind of information. Communication technologies are expensive and need maintenance. Thus internet may help to develop knowledge and spread information but it also has adverse effects on society and has promoted values like individualism and materialism.
Sociology 11th Standard Balbharati Solutions Maharashtra State Board
Balbharati Solutions for Sociology 11th Standard Maharashtra State Board Chapterwise. These Balbharati Solutions for Sociology 11th Standard Maharashtra State Board will help students understand the concepts better.
• Chapter 1: Introduction to Sociology
• Chapter 2: Contribution of Western and Indian Sociologists
• Chapter 3: Basic Concepts in Sociology
• Chapter 4: Social Institutions
• Chapter 7: Social Stratification
Balbharati Solutions for Class 11th Standard FYJC Maharashtra.
Organisation of Commerce and Management (OCM)
