GCSE Sociology Revision List 2027

Zara is eight years old. At home her parents expect her to say please and thank you and to share toys with her younger brother; when she does this they praise her. At school her teacher expects her to line up quietly, put her hand up before speaking, and hand in homework on time. Identify which of Zara's experiences are examples of primary socialisation and which are secondary socialisation, and explain how her parents are using social control to encourage her towards the shared value of politeness.

1. Recall the definitions: primary socialisation happens in the family, usually in early childhood; secondary socialisation happens later, through agencies outside the family, such as school.
2. Sort Zara's home experiences: saying please and thank you and sharing with her brother, taught by her parents at home, are examples of primary socialisation.
3. Sort Zara's school experiences: lining up quietly, putting her hand up, and handing in homework on time, taught by her teacher, are examples of secondary socialisation.
4. Identify the underlying value being taught: politeness and respect for others is the value; saying please and thank you and sharing are the specific norms that express it.
5. Identify the mechanism of social control: her parents use a positive sanction, praise, when she behaves as expected, an informal reward that reinforces the desired behaviour and makes her more likely to repeat it.
6. Conclude: Zara's case shows primary socialisation in the family instilling a general value, which secondary socialisation in other agencies, such as school, then builds on with more formal norms and expectations.

Define culture.

The whole way of life of a society or group, including its shared norms, values, customs, beliefs, language and knowledge, passed from one generation to the next.