1. Socialisation This is the process of learning how to behave in a way that is appropriate and acceptable to your culture.

2. Primary socialisation This takes place in early childhood. It usually takes place in the home. It offers the basic norms and values of the family and the culture

3. Secondary socialisation This involves external agencies and modifies the primary socialisation. It teaches norms for specific situations and can be interpersonal (teacher and pupil) or impersonal (media to audience)

4. Agencies of Socialisation There are a variety of agencies of socialisation: –Family, –Peer group –Education –Religion –Mass media

5. Functionalists These are generally American thinkers. They say that the purpose of socialisation is to unite society in a set of shared norms and values. This is a ‘consensus’ sociology.

6. Marxists These people say that the purpose of socialisation is to control the weak and defenceless and to give them the ideas that the powerful promote. People are taught an ideology This is known as ‘conflict’ sociology.

7. Thus … Agencies of socialisation are also agencies of social control. Which viewpoint (Marxist or functionalist) you accept is your choice. Be certain you can support your view with evidence.

8. Conclusions You are taught the rules of your society throughout your life. You share cultural values with people around you. Socialisation gives you a social identity. You may or may not be experiencing mind control – but if you are, you are probably not aware of it.