Key concepts and socialisation: a complete overview for WJEC GCSE Sociology (Component 1)

What this covers

The key concepts and socialisation strand is the foundation of Component 1 of WJEC GCSE Sociology, and the ideas here run through the whole course. This overview ties the dot points together: the key concepts (culture, norms, values, roles and status), primary and secondary socialisation, the nature versus nurture debate, identity, and social control. Learn these precisely, because every later topic, from families to crime, uses them.

The key concepts

Sociology starts with a shared vocabulary. Culture is the whole way of life of a society, learned not inherited. Norms are the unwritten rules of behaviour, and values are the deeper beliefs behind them. A role is the expected behaviour of a position, and status is a person's standing, either ascribed (fixed at birth) or achieved (earned through effort).

Socialisation

Socialisation is how people learn the culture of their society. Primary socialisation happens in early childhood, mainly in the family. Secondary socialisation happens later, through education, the peer group, the media, religion and the workplace. Every agency uses positive and negative sanctions to encourage acceptable behaviour.

Nature versus nurture and identity

The nature versus nurture debate asks whether behaviour comes from biology or society. Sociologists stress nurture, using the evidence of feral children and cross-cultural differences. Identity, the sense of who we are, is formed through socialisation and shaped by gender, ethnicity, class, age, nationality and religion, and it can change over time.

Social control

Social control keeps behaviour in order. Formal control comes from official agencies (police, courts, law); informal control comes from everyday agencies (family, peer group, media). Both work through sanctions.

Check your knowledge

1. Define culture and explain why it is learned, not inherited. (3 marks)
2. What is the difference between a norm and a value? (2 marks)
3. Explain the difference between ascribed and achieved status. (2 marks)
4. Name three agencies of secondary socialisation. (3 marks)
5. What do feral children suggest about human behaviour? (2 marks)
6. Identify three sources of identity. (3 marks)
7. Explain the difference between formal and informal social control. (4 marks)
8. What is the difference between a positive and a negative sanction? (2 marks)