Eduqas GCSE Sociology: Key concepts and socialisation overview

Key concepts and socialisation is the foundation topic on Component 1 of Eduqas GCSE Sociology (C200). It teaches the vocabulary and the theories used everywhere else in the course: what culture is, how we learn it, and the four perspectives sociologists use to explain society. This overview maps the topic and links to the dot-point answer pages.

The key concepts

Sociologists use precise terms to describe a way of life. Culture is the whole way of life of a society: its shared beliefs, customs, norms and values. Norms are the specific rules of behaviour in a situation; values are the general beliefs about what is important. A role is the behaviour expected of a position, and status is the position itself. Sanctions are the rewards and punishments that enforce norms, and a subculture is a group within society with some of its own norms and values. See key concepts: culture and values.

Socialisation and its agencies

Socialisation is the lifelong process of learning the culture of your society. Primary socialisation happens in early childhood through the family; secondary socialisation continues through education, the peer group, the media, religion and the workplace. These agencies shape a person's identity, including gender, ethnicity, class and nationality. See socialisation and identity.

Nature versus nurture

The nature versus nurture debate asks whether behaviour is inborn (nature) or learned (nurture). Sociologists stress nurture, and the strongest evidence is feral children, raised without socialisation, who could not speak, walk upright normally or follow social norms. Cross-cultural differences add support, since behaviour varies between societies. See nature versus nurture.

The consensus and conflict perspectives

Functionalism is a consensus theory: society is held together by shared values (Parsons), with each institution performing a function. Marxism is a conflict theory: society is divided into the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, with institutions serving capitalism and the ruling class. See functionalism and Marxism.

Feminism and interactionism

Feminism is a conflict perspective focused on gender, arguing society is patriarchal, with liberal, Marxist and radical strands. Interactionism is a small-scale perspective focused on meaning and labelling (Becker). Together with the structural theories, they give you a toolkit for every topic. See feminism and interactionism.

How to revise the key concepts topic

1. Learn the definitions cold. Short describe questions test culture, norms, values, roles, status and patriarchy directly.
2. Master all four perspectives. Functionalism, Marxism, feminism and interactionism are applied to every other topic; learn what each says and how they criticise one another.
3. Use feral children precisely. Tie the case explicitly to the nurture side of the debate.
4. Practise evaluation. Set consensus against conflict and reach a judgement for the discuss questions.

Test yourself with the key concepts and socialisation quiz.