Socialization is a process whereby individuals learn the norms, beliefs, values and roles within a particular society. Primary socialization occurs at home, this is where you learn acceptable forms of behavior from your family or relatives. Secondary socialization occurs outside of home, for example school, through friends, college, work, university etc.…
Socialization is the human process of learning to become a member of our society, and how each individual learns to fit into a group (Jureidini & Poole, 2003, p123). Jean Piaget (1896-1980) a Swiss psychologist described childhood and development in terms of distinct psychological stages and how these stages influence socialization and enculturation (see Jureidini & Poole, 2003, pp124 ¡V 127). Other important theorists to look at are George Herbert Mead (1863-1931) and Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934).…
Functionalists emphasise positive aspects of schools, this is the idea of a ‘consensus’ perspective; where there is an agreement about what is valued within a society. These are like Emile Durkheim's social facts or moral regulation in that they govern behaviour, and while they are coercive, they are also generally agreed upon where ‘The function of education is to transmit society’s norms and values’ . According to functionalists education performs a wide range of roles for society; these roles include purpose and the passing on of values which contribute to a smooth running society. It is believed that education presents formal curriculum by creating a skilled, literate, hard-working workforce to meet the economic needs of society done by the National Curriculum. Another form of curriculum that is included is informal curriculum which is the hidden aspect of school this involves secondary socialisation such as teaching students obedience, ethos and norms and values. Talcott Parson a former functionalist claims that status is ascribed in that it is fixed by birth; in modern societies status is largely achieved, the usual example being occupational status. Behaviour is measured against school rules; their achievement against performance in tests. This is applied to all students regardless of their background. However could be argued that occupation reflects education and if ascribed a poor background can be given fewer life chance which relate to equality of opportunity. This is referred to as a meritocracy - success is achieved through individual merit. This links with functionalist’s views are that ascribed class can be changed by hard working and that social mobility can lead to adult meritocracy for which education is the bridge between. These are all roles of education for which functionalists agree upon.…
One perspective that supports this is the functionalist view that secondary socialisation prepares children for work later on in life. They believe secondary socialisation does this as in a school environment you learn the norms and values of authority figures, for example, the teachers. Functionalists therefore believe that this can then later be applied in the work place as the norms and values are carried on however the authority figure role changes from Teacher to Boss.…
Functionalism is a structuralized theory which says the individual is less important compared to society. They say we’re a part of a complex system where various parts work together to benefit the whole. E.g. The human body; there are some organs more important than others but they all work together to help the human body function properly. Functionalists say there are three main roles of education; social solidarity, role allocation and specialist skills. Social solidarity is promoted by socialising children from one generation to the next the core norms and values of society; the two most important said by Durkheim was equal opportunity and value of achievement. This means we all have the same chances to succeed or not and we should all value doing well in education to achieve a higher position in society. Durkheim also says that these norms and values will allow social order and cohesion which will help society work smoothly. Functionalists describe the education system as a microcosm which is like a mini society; this prepares us for the ‘real world’ and work after we leave. It teaches us how to live in a hierarchy and to obey the rules given to those of higher authority. Primary and secondary socialisation is used to help prepare us for family and work life. As Parsons says, education acts as a bridge between family and society. One example of social solidarity in schools is the teaching of the academic subject history as it teaches students about previous battles and wars of a united group and for us to be less selfish. We should work together as a unit and view society as more important than individuals which history encourages. Another function that education promotes is role allocation. This says that school is a meritocratic system which means those who put the most effort in, have motivation and have the most talent…
In sociology, functionalism is known as a structural theory. Functionalists see society as a whole being structured like the anatomy of a human body with many interconnected systems that function together to sustain a healthy body. Functionalists argue that in order to have a strong society, each individual must obey the social norms and standards of the society. Each person is socialized into obeying these “social norms” that are at the core that makes up the social structure. Society needs to convey social coherence and education plays a vital role in working to accomplish this.…
Emile Durkheim proposed an explicitly functionalist explanation of the role of education in society. The major function/task of education was, according to Durkheim, the transmission of society 's norms and values. Durkheim considered that all societies must have means of passing on their norms and values to the young. If they did not, they could not continue. Such transmission then is a "functional prerequisite", and it is the educational system which has the job of carrying it out. Or at least this is so for modern industrial societies, says Durkheim. (In "traditional" societies - in pre-industrial societies, where no formal educational systems existed, this transmission was carried out by the family).…
From a sociological mind, there are four main perspective that the people of society fall into. There are the functionalist, who thrive to see the productivity of everything, the conflict theorist who believe the system is always against them and there will always be a hierarchy, the feminist who believe in the patriarchy, and the interactionist who think our communication is the thing that holds us all together. These four perspectives have very different believes when it comes to one of the most important aspects of our society, education. The functionalist perspective states that education is a primary act in society and serves several functions in society. These include socialization, social integration, social placement and social/cultural…
‘The value of the Functionalist approach to education lies mainly in the emphasis that it gives to the links between the education system and aspects of the wider social structure.’ (ITEM A) Functionalism is the view that education is used a one of the many institutions in society to socialise the young and teach them norms and values through formal and informal education and the hidden curriculum which is not taught and accumulated over time through the acceptance of school rules and hierarchy with the education system. Formal education takes place in schools and college and is tested by exams whereas the informal education is learned as we live our lives and not tested by exams.…
Theorist Talcott Parsons (in The Three Stages of Socialisation) theorised that there are ‘three steps of socialisation’, primary, secondary and tertiary, each step takes place at different stages of one’s life. The socialisation process begins at birth and continues until we die. Sociologists refer to the process of socialisation in early childhood as ‘’Primary Socialisation’’. This occurs mostly within the family and home. Children learn from their parents, but also from other family members. The family therefore plays a significant and defining role in the primary stage. This process includes such things as a child learning to walk and talk as well as values between right and wrong depending on one’s culture. Socialisation occurs as parents teach their children the basic rules of society.…
Socialization plays a key and vital role in a child’s everyday life. Children interact and are influenced by peers, the media, school, religion, and the government. A child's main unit of socialization is their family. A family influences a child positively and negatively in many different ways including: by the way they teach the child, by the value they place on education and the family activities they choose. During socialization, a child learns the language of the culture they are born into as well as the roles they are to play in life. For instance, girls learn how to be daughters, sisters, friends, wives, and mothers. Without socialization a child may become afraid of the real world -afraid of talking to peers or parents, afraid to take initiative, and afraid to move on with his or her own life. Socialization is key in building a child’s personality, emotions and helps them develop into a mature adult. Without socialization, one may feel confused or may not know one’s true identity.…
There are a range of agencies of socialisation which influence our identity and status in society. Primary socialisation is the first stage in a lifelong process. The family, particularly the parents, are seen as central to primary socialisation. Baumeister (1986) said that family socialisation provides children with a sense of identity, in that they learn to be part of a family and have pride in a family name. Parents can use sanctions to reinforce acceptable behaviour and to punish unacceptable behaviour and these help children to learn the difference between right and wrong and to respect laws and rules, by encouraging the development of a conscience. Parsons, a functionalist,…
Having attended public schools throughout my childhood and adolescence, I never was familiar with the term functionalism and its many elements. After observing and analyzing my field placement classroom I have come to understand the concept of functionalism to some extent. In general, functionalists “see schools as serving to socialize students to adapt to the economic, political, and social institutions of that society” (Feinberg, p.6, 2004). They also theorize that in order for societies to survive, they must carry out vital functions such as, attaining fundamental knowledge and acquiring essential skills and proficiency, acknowledging certain norms and values within their community, and recognizing authority figures. It is also believed that social solidarity and role differentiation are the primary aspirations for a society and is achieved by means of the educational system. I can recall instances from my schooling experience, where functionalist aspects were taught and are presently being utilized in the classroom I observed. Some of the various features of functionalism that I identified within the classroom are hidden curriculum, role differentiation and specificity, which I will be addressing, more in depth throughout this paper.…
Functionalists believe that everything in society has a function in order for it to run smoothly. They also believe that society is based on a consensus; an agreement that we are all brought up on, with certain norms and values. Functionalists specifies 3 main function of the education system these include: economic function, allocation function and as a socialising function. The education system fulfills the economic function by giving the student the qualifications and through the hidden curriculum prepares young people into their roles in society as loyal adult citizens; this links to Durkheim’s argument that the education system teaches specialist skills and knowledge. The allocation function is when schools allocate roles to pupils based on ability. Parsons argued that this allocation of positions within the school is based on a meritocracy, rewards are achieved through own efforts and abilities. The socialising function within the education system is seen as creating social solidarity, a collective conscience. Durkhiem argued: “To become attached to society, the child must feel in it something is real, alive and powerful, which dominates the person and to which he owes the best part of himself.” So school acts as a ‘miniature society’ preparing us for life in wider society.…
The social institution referred to as Education is comprised of the school system and it is in the school system where knowledge and skills are developed along with cultural and social values and norms. Additionally, through the school system culture and society continue and further those social values and norms thus fulfilling a need prescribed by society. The purpose of this paper is to examine how the theories of functionalism, conflict, and interactionism perceive the social institution of education. As the functionalism theory states, each social institution exists in order to fulfill a social need in addition without the social institution in question, social order would falter. The conflict theory states, a social institution creates and/or furthers social inequalities and assists in maintaining an ascribed social status in the social order however, as the social order is continuously in flux, the social order tries to find a balance in and for society. The interactionism theory tries to understand why individuals who maintain a presence within a social institution act and/or react to each other under certain stimulations (Vissing, 2011). The social institution of education is comprised of what we term as schools therefore throughout this paper the terms education institution, schools, and the school system will be used interchangeably and accordingly. Each individual within a society is introduced to and educated in a system of values and norms pertaining to their particular society beginning at an early age and continuing through the individual’s lifetime additionally, the school system plays a large part in that education as the youth of that particular society develop into adults. The instructors or teachers within the school system act as role models to elicit proper behavior and strengthen cultural and societal norms (Beaver, 2009). Along with the academic curriculum taught in schools, schools also act as a large…