Culture and Socialization: NBSE Class 11 Sociology notes

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Get summaries, questions, answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDF and guide of chapter 4, Culture and Socialization: NBSE Class 11 Sociology textbook, which is part of the syllabus for students studying under the Nagaland Board. These solutions, however, should only be treated as references and can be modified/changed. 

Summary

Culture is the way of life in a society. People learn it and share it with others. It is not something we are born with. Culture includes everything that makes up a way of life. It changes slowly over time. Sociologists and anthropologists explain culture in different ways. E.B. Tylor says culture includes knowledge, beliefs, art, morals, laws, and customs. Bronislaw Malinowski calls it the work of humans to achieve their goals. Ralph Linton describes it as the way of life passed from generation to generation.

Culture has small parts called culture traits. These are simple acts or objects. They only make sense when connected to other parts. For example, exchanging rings in marriage or rules in a football game are culture traits. When these traits come together, they form a culture complex. A culture complex is a system of traits working as one unit. Examples include the joint family, monogamy, schools, and cars.

Cultural diversity means having many cultures in one society. Early societies were similar and had one culture. Modern societies have many cultures because of migration, globalization, and colonialism. India is known for its cultural diversity. It has many tribes, castes, religions, and languages.

Culture has key features. It is learned through socialization. It is shared by group members. Culture is passed down through generations. It includes ideas, both abstract and concrete. Culture fulfills human needs. It is an integrated system where all parts work together. Changes in one part affect others. Culture keeps changing over time.

Culture is divided into material and non-material types. Material culture includes physical objects made by humans. These are tools, buildings, clothing, and machines. Non-material culture includes values, ideas, and knowledge. These are customs, traditions, and laws. Both types are connected and depend on each other.

When material culture changes faster than non-material culture, it creates a gap called cultural lag. This happens because non-material culture takes longer to adapt.

Socialization is the process of becoming a social being. A baby is born as a biological individual but learns to live in society. This process starts in the family and continues throughout life. Socialization helps individuals learn roles, norms, and values. From the societal view, it passes on culture to new members.

Scholars like C.H. Cooley, George Herbert Mead, and Sigmund Freud explain socialization differently. Freud divides socialization into four stages. These are oral, anal, Oedipal, and adolescent stages. Each stage has specific tasks and challenges. Adolescence is a time of change and learning adult roles.

Agents of socialization are groups or individuals who help in this process. Family is the first agent. Parents introduce children to culture. Peer groups influence behavior and choices. Schools teach discipline and social roles. Religious groups pass on spiritual values. Mass media shapes ideas and opinions. The state also plays a role in guiding behavior through laws.

Textbook solutions

Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. Define culture. (’06, ’14)

Answer : Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities acquired by man as a member of society. It refers to the way of life found in a society, which is learned and not biologically inherited, and is shared by the members of a society.

2. Explain culture traits.

Answer : Culture traits are the simplest identifiable units of a culture. According to Linton, they are the “individual acts and objects, which constitute the overt expression of a culture.” Culture traits do not hold significance by themselves but become meaningful only in relationship with other units. For example, exchange of rings in marriage, or rules of kicking the ball in a football game, are culture traits that have significance only in the context of marriage or a football ceremony.

3. What is meant by material culture?

Answer : Material culture refers to physical objects which are man-made and found external to man. It includes aspects such as tools, machineries, instruments, buildings, dams, radio, clothing, schools, factories, tools, cities, furniture, books, roads, bridges, etc. Material culture consists of technical and material equipment like printing presses, telephones, and televisions.

4. Give one example of material culture.

Answer : One example of material culture is buildings.

5. What is non-material culture?

Answer : Non-material culture consists of non-physical abstract ideas, values, and knowledge. It means ‘what we are’ and is internal to man. It includes customs, traditions, morals, ideas, values, religion, laws, etc. Non-material culture cannot be easily understood, measured, or transferred, and its nature is inexhaustible.

6. What is socialization? (’14)

Answer : Socialization is the process of moulding an individual into a social being. It makes a human individual a social being by teaching ways of behaving in society. It involves owning, adopting, and initiating the newborn stage by stage in the family, community, and society. From the individual’s viewpoint, it consists in developing human and social potentialities, learning roles, norms, and values, and essentially learning the culture of one’s society. From the societal point of view, socialization consists in transmitting culture and inducting new members into society.

7. What is meant by agency of socialization? (’09)

Answer : Agencies of socialization refer to the individuals and groups involved in the socialization of an individual. These include the family and parents, peer group and playmates, school and teachers, the church or one’s religious group, mass media and literature, and the state.

8. What is oedipal stage?

Answer : The Oedipal stage is the third stage of socialization according to Sigmund Freud. It begins at the end of the third year and usually concludes at puberty. During this stage, a boy develops the Oedipal complex, which consists of feelings of love towards the mother and feelings of jealousy towards the father. A girl, on the other hand, develops the Electra complex, which includes feelings of love for the father and jealousy for the mother. An important element at this stage is the development of sex consciousness, and children begin to associate with others of the same sex and learn roles proper to their gender.

9. What is Electra stage?

Answer : The Electra stage is part of the Oedipal stage during the third stage of socialization as described by Sigmund Freud. In this stage, a girl develops the Electra complex, which consists of feelings of love for the father and jealousy for the mother. This stage occurs alongside the development of sex consciousness and the learning of gender-appropriate roles.

10. What are the four stages of socialization according to Sigmund Freud? (’10)

Answer : According to Sigmund Freud, the four stages of socialization are:

(i) The oral stage, which begins at birth and continues till about the end of the first year.
(ii) The anal stage, which begins at the end of the first year and goes on till the end of the third year.
(iii) The Oedipal stage, which begins at the end of the third year and usually concludes at puberty.
(iv) The adolescent stage, which begins with puberty and ends with the assumption of adult roles.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. Define culture. What are the two types of culture?

Answer : Culture is defined as that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities acquired by man as a member of society. The two types of culture are material culture and non-material culture.

2. Discuss any four features of culture. (’12)

Answer : The four features of culture are:

(i) Culture is acquired: Culture is not innate but learned through the process of socialization. It is a deliberate process where individuals internalize cultural contents to develop their personality.
(ii) Culture is social: Culture is the social heritage of man, inclusive of the expectations of group members. It is shared by the group and is more a social product than an individual product.
(iii) Culture is transmissive: Culture is transmitted from generation to generation. Parents pass on cultural traits to their children, with language playing an important role in this transmission.
(iv) Culture consists of ideas: Culture includes both abstract and concrete ideas, such as the concept of God (abstract) and the concept of manufacturing an aeroplane (concrete).

3. What are culture traits and culture complex? (’06)

Answer : Culture traits are the simplest identifiable units of a culture, consisting of individual acts and objects that constitute the overt expression of a culture. They hold significance only in relation to other units, such as exchanging rings in marriage or rules in a football game. A culture complex, on the other hand, is an integrated and patterned system of culture traits that functions as a unit in society. Examples include joint families, monogamy, religious worship, school education, and automobiles.

4. Explain cultural diversity in the context of India.

Answer : Cultural diversity refers to the vast variety in culture in a society. Indian society is known for its high degree of cultural diversity. There are several tribal communities, thousands of castes and sub-castes, several religious communities, and groups of people with different languages. All these communities form India’s glorious multi-cultural character.

5. Give the meaning of material and non-material culture with one example each. (’06)

Answer :
Material culture consists of physical objects that are man-made and external to man, such as buildings, dams, radio, clothing, schools, factories, tools, cities, furniture, books, roads, bridges, etc. For example, a building is part of material culture.

Non-material culture consists of non-physical abstract ideas, values, knowledge, etc., which are internal to man. It includes customs, traditions, morals, ideas, values, religion, laws, etc. For example, religious beliefs are part of non-material culture.

6. Differentiate between material and non-material culture with one example each. (’08)

Answer : Material culture refers to the external, mechanical, and utilitarian objects that can be touched or seen, such as tools, machineries, instruments, etc. For example, a tool is part of material culture.

Non-material culture, on the other hand, refers to abstract ideas, values, and knowledge that cannot be easily understood, measured, or transferred. For example, religious values are part of non-material culture.

7. What is meant by cultural-lag? (’07)

Answer : Cultural-lag refers to the imbalance in the rate of speed of change between material culture and non-material culture. It arises because changes in material culture occur quickly, while changes in non-material culture are slow, leading to a gap between the two.

8. Define culture. Explain Ogburn’s theory of cultural lag. (’10)

Answer : Culture is defined as the way of life found in a society, which includes knowledge, beliefs, art, morals, laws, customs, and any other capabilities acquired by man as a member of society.

Ogburn’s theory of cultural lag explains that both material culture and non-material culture undergo change, but the change in material culture is quicker compared to non-material culture. Non-material culture cannot keep pace with the speed of change in material culture, resulting in a gap or imbalance between the two, which is referred to as cultural lag.

9. Explain the concept of cultural-lag using suitable examples. (’12)

Answer : Cultural-lag refers to the imbalance in the rate of speed of change between material culture and non-material culture. According to W.F. Ogburn, material culture changes quickly, while non-material culture changes slowly, leading to a gap between the two. For example, advancements in technology, such as smartphones or the internet, are part of material culture and evolve rapidly. However, non-material aspects like social norms, values, or laws related to privacy or digital communication take longer to adapt, creating a cultural lag.

10. Discuss the role of family as an agent of socialization. (’09)

Answer : The family plays a crucial role as an agent of socialization. The process of socialization begins in the family, with parents, particularly the mother, playing an essential role. Parents are the first individuals to introduce the child to the culture of their society. Other family members, especially siblings, also contribute significantly to the socialization of the child. The family helps the child internalize cultural traits, learn roles, norms, and values, and develop human and social potentialities.

11. Discuss peer group as an agent of socialization.

Answer : Peer groups or groups of equals play an important role in socialization, not only in one’s childhood days but also in adult life. A child learns many things from its playmates and friends. The aspects of culture learnt from peer groups are different from those which the child learns from the parents and elders. Often peer group culture and peer group pressure influence the life and behaviour of an individual.

12. Explain briefly why adolescent stage is a difficult stage?

Answer : Adolescence begins with puberty and ends with the assumption of adult roles. Puberty brings about several biological and psychological changes in the individual. Adolescents experience various tensions. They want to be independent of parental control, but they continue to depend on their parents. Hence there is often rebelliousness. Boys and girls begin to show interest in persons of the opposite sex. At first this is a general interest, but in course of time, it narrows down to one individual of the opposite sex. The individual also learns the roles he or she will have to play in adult life and internalises the norms related to those roles.

Essay Type Questions

1. What is culture? Explain the characteristics of culture. (’13)

Answer : Culture is defined as the way of life found in a society. It includes everything that constitutes the way of life in a society and is learned, not biologically inherited. It is shared by the members of a society and undergoes changes, though such changes may be slow.

The characteristics of culture are:

• Culture is acquired: Culture is not innate but learned through the process of socialization. Man internalizes cultural contents and develops his personality.
• Culture is social: Culture is the social heritage of man and is inclusive of the expectations of the members of the group. It is shared by the group members and is a social product rather than an individual product.
• Culture is transmissive: Culture is transmitted from generation to generation. Parents pass on cultural traits to their children, and language plays an important role in transmitting these traits.
• Culture consists of ideas: Culture includes ideas that are abstract or concrete, such as the concept of God (abstract) or the manufacture of an aeroplane (concrete).
• Fulfilment of needs: Culture fulfils human needs, whether social or personal. Human needs, urges, desires, and aspirations are satisfied according to culture.
• Integrated system: Culture is an integrated system where diverse elements like knowledge, ideas, beliefs, norms, values, and institutions are found in a unified system. Changes in one element bring changes in other elements.
• Dynamic: Culture is always changing. The direction and rate of change vary from society to society and from time to time, leading to cultural growth and development.

2. Define culture. How are cultural traits different from cultural complex? (’09)

Answer : Culture is defined as the way of life found in a society. It includes everything that constitutes the way of life in a society and is learned, shared by members of the society, and dynamic as it undergoes changes over time, though such changes may be slow.

Cultural traits are the simplest identifiable units of a culture. According to Linton, they are the “individual acts and objects, which constitute the overt expression of a culture.” Cultural traits do not hold significance by themselves but become meaningful only in relation to other units. For example, exchange of rings in marriage or rules of kicking the ball in a football game are culture traits that have significance only in the context of marriage or a football game.

A cultural complex, on the other hand, is an integrated and patterned system of culture traits that functions as a unit in society. It consists of more than one culture trait and forms an organization or institution. Examples of cultural complexes include the joint family, monogamy, religious worship, school education, and automobiles.

3. What is socialization? Explain the agencies of socialization. (’06, ’08)

Answer : Socialization is a process of owning, adopting, and initiating the newborn, stage by stage in the family, community, and society. This process can be seen from two viewpoints. From the individual’s viewpoint, socialization consists in the development of his human and social potentialities, learning his roles, norms, and values, and in brief, learning the culture of his society. As such, socialization is a lifelong process for the individual. From the societal point of view, socialization consists in the transmission of culture and is the process of inducting new members into society, making it a never-ending process.

The agencies of socialization are:

• Family and parents: The process of socialization begins in the family. The role played by the parents is of utmost importance, particularly the role of the mother. The parents are the first persons to introduce the child to the culture of their society. Other members of the family, particularly the siblings, also play an important role in the socialization of the child.
• Peer group and playmates: Peer groups or groups of equals play an important role in socialization, not only in one’s childhood days but also in adult life. A child learns many things from its playmates and friends. The aspects of culture learnt from peer groups are different from those which the child learns from the parents and elders. Often peer group culture and peer group pressure influence the life and behaviour of an individual.
• School and teachers: Schools and educational institutions are important agents of socialization. They provide learning situations and environment to the child, thereby making it easier to impart discipline to the individual and inculcate in him the qualities to develop his personality. They enable him to discover his own needs and those of the group to which he belongs, disciplining himself in congruity with the norms set by the school and institution.
• The church or one’s religious group: Membership of a church or religious group has an influence on socialization. A child learns religious values and ideas from such a group. Religious values and ideas have a lasting influence even in later life.
• Mass media and literature: As a person grows, he or she is influenced by the books and literature he or she reads. A person is also influenced by films, radio, TV, and the newspapers. In modern times, the role of the mass media in shaping the ideas of people and in forming public opinion is very great. Often people accept as true whatever the media communicate or present.
• The state: We live in society. All our actions and behaviours are governed by different rules and regulations. No one can act independently with complete disregard to society and social patterns of life. The action and behaviour should be commensurate with traditions, customs, and other rules and regulations prescribed by the society. If individuals living in a society follow the rules and regulations as are applicable and act strictly in accordance with them, they are rewarded; else they are punished for their deviant behaviour.

4. Discuss the stages of socialization.

Answer : Sigmund Freud distinguishes four stages in the process of socialization. These stages begin at birth and continue till adulthood.

(i) The oral stage : This stage begins at birth and continues till about the end of the first year. Before its birth, a child is warm and comfortable in its mother’s womb. At birth, the infant faces its first crisis. It must breathe and exert itself. It is susceptible to cold, hunger, and other discomforts. The infant cries a great deal to make its needs known. Thus, by means of crying, the infant establishes its oral dependency. In this stage, the infant is involved with its mother who satisfies its needs. For the other members of the family, the infant is only a ‘possession’. Some of them may satisfy its needs, but when they do so, they play the role of the ‘mother’. During this stage, the infant probably internalizes two roles: its own and that of its mother. The infant is passive in relation to its mother, except that it establishes dependency.

(ii) The anal stage : It begins at the end of the first year and goes on till the end of the third year. During this period, the child learns to take some care of itself in the form of toilet training. Hence, the term anal stage is applied to this stage. During this stage, the child internalizes two roles: its own role, and that of its mother. The child receives care and love from the mother or from the person who fulfills the role of the mother. In return, the child learns to give its love to the mother. The child also learns the distinction between ‘correct’ and ‘incorrect’ actions. It receives rewards for ‘correct’ actions and punishment for ‘incorrect’ actions. The child also learns to control itself, particularly with regard to toilet. It also begins to take care of its personal belongings.

(iii) The Oedipal stage : It begins at the end of the third year and usually concludes at puberty. According to Freud, during this stage, a boy develops the Oedipal complex. It consists of having feelings of love towards the mother and feelings of jealousy towards the father. During this stage, a girl develops the Electra complex which consists of feelings of love for the father and jealousy for the mother. Many do not accept this interpretation given by Freud because they say that a child is not capable of understanding the meaning of sex. However, an important element at this stage is the development of sex consciousness. During this stage, pressure is brought on a boy to behave like a ‘boy’ and on a girl to behave like a ‘girl’. Children begin to associate themselves with other children of the same sex and learn the roles that are considered proper to their sex. A boy imitates the father, and a girl imitates her mother.

(iv) The adolescent stage : It begins with puberty and ends with the assumption of adult roles. Puberty brings about several biological and psychological changes in the individual. Adolescents experience various tensions. They want to be independent of parental control, but they continue to depend on their parents. Hence, there is often rebelliousness. Boys and girls begin to show interest in persons of the opposite sex. At first, this is a general interest. In the course of time, it narrows down to one individual of the opposite sex. The individual also learns the roles he or she will have to play in adult life and internalizes the norms related to those roles. They learn to play the roles of parents, workers, and citizens.

Problem Solving

1. The School is an important agent of socialisation. But many children drop out of school or cannot go school. What suggestions do you have for helping them to have proper socialisation?

Answer: Children who drop out or cannot attend school may miss out on vital aspects of socialisation. To help them, alternative community-based learning centres can be set up to provide both basic education and social interaction. Vocational training programmes can be introduced to equip them with skills while encouraging teamwork and discipline. Involving them in youth clubs, sports, cultural activities and local organisations can also foster social values. The role of families, peer groups and media should be strengthened to provide positive influence and guidance. Providing financial assistance, flexible schooling options, and awareness campaigns can further encourage school participation and support proper socialisation.

Think and Answer

1. Culture is defined as the way of life found in a society. List some of the dimensions or aspects of social life and point out the elements of culture found in them.

Answer: Some key dimensions of social life and their cultural elements include:

• Family life: Customs, traditions, language, and values passed from parents to children.
• Religion: Beliefs, rituals, festivals, and moral values.
• Education: Knowledge, discipline, behaviour norms, and social roles.
• Recreation and leisure: Games, sports, music, dance, and other forms of entertainment.
• Economic activities: Occupations, tools, work ethics, and trade practices.
• Dress and food habits: Traditional clothing styles and cuisine.
• Communication: Language, gestures, symbols, and media usage.

These aspects reflect both material culture (e.g. tools, clothing, books) and non-material culture (e.g. beliefs, values, customs).