Socialization: One-Way Process
TITLE
‘Socialisation is a one-way process.’ Using sociological material, give one argument against this view.
ESSAY
Title: Understanding Socialisation as a Two💥way Process
Introduction
💥 Socialisation is often perceived as a one💥way process where individuals passively accept and internalise societal norms and values.
💥 However, sociological perspectives offer a more nuanced understanding, highlighting the active role individuals play in shaping their identities and interpreting cultural messages.
People Actively Participate in Learning Culture
💥 People do not simply absorb and accept cultural messages but actively engage in interpreting and evaluating them.
💥 Media messages, for example, can be actively interpreted, leading to varying understandings among individuals.
Interactionists Reject the One💥way Process View
💥 Interactionists, such as George Herbert Mead, argue that socialisation is a dynamic process where individuals actively construct their social selves through interactions with others.
💥 Mead's concept of the "social self" emphasizes the role of social interaction in shaping identity, rejecting the notion of a one💥way socialisation process.
Conflict Among Agents of Socialisation
💥 Different agents of socialisation, such as family, school, religion, and media, may impart conflicting values to individuals.
💥 This highlights the complexities of socialisation and the active role individuals play in navigating diverse value systems.
Resistance to Norms and Values
💥 Individuals may resist or deviate from the norms and values taught through socialisation for various reasons, such as social resistance or marginalisation.
💥 This resistance underscores the agency individuals possess in determining their beliefs and behaviours, challenging the idea of a deterministic socialisation model.
Potential for Oversocialisation
💥 The concept of being oversocialised suggests that individuals may internalise societal norms to an excessive degree, hindering their ability to think critically and act independently.
💥 This notion further supports the argument that socialisation is not solely a one💥way process but involves active engagement and negotiation by individuals.
Conclusion
💥 In conclusion, the sociological perspective challenges the simplistic view of socialisation as a one💥way process.
💥 By emphasizing the active participation of individuals in shaping their identities and interpreting cultural influences, sociological theories provide a more comprehensive understanding of the complexities inherent in the socialisation process.
SUBJECT
SOCIOLOGY
LEVEL
A level and AS level
NOTES
Socialisation is a one💥way process. Using sociological material, one argument against this view is that people actively participate in learning culture and don’t simply accept what they are told. For example, media messages can be interpreted in an active way, indicating that they are not simply absorbed and accepted. Interactionists, such as Mead's concept of the 'social self', reject the idea that socialisation is a one💥way process, emphasizing that individuals shape their own identity through social interaction. Different agents of socialisation, like religion and subcultures, may reinforce conflicting values. Additionally, people may resist or deviate from the norms and values they are taught, for reasons like social resistance or marginalisation. This challenges the notion of a deterministic model and the concept of being oversocialized.