Functionalist v. Marxist - Perspectives of Agents of Socialisation

Primary Socialisation

Family are used by the capitalist class to install values such as obediance and respect for authority.

These are useful for capitalism because they ensure that the working class of society can be exploited when they are older. 

e.g. in the workplace. 

Zaretsky agrees with this view. 

Primary socialisation

A child is naturally trained and moulded into the image that society wants them to be. 

They are taught shared cultural norms and values. 

This ensures that children subscribe to the value consensus and feels a strong sense of belonging to society in which they live. 

Parsons agrees with this. 

Secondary socialisation

Althusser believed that education sets out the hidden curriculum in which prepares the children to be exploited and accept this in the workplace. 

Working class failure is their own fault. 

Secondary socialisation

Durkheim believed that education is valued as it encourages individuals to understand the shared cultural values (conformity and consensus) through subjects such as history, language and R.E. as they can link to the past and present of society. 

Education socialises children into values such as achievement and meritocracy. 

Parsons argued that education is the key link between the education system and the home. 

Secondary socialisation

Religion is an ideological apparatus. 

Reflects the beliefs, interests and ideas of of the ruling class. 

Relgion legitimises inequality. 

e.g. rewards in the after life. 

Secondary socialisation

Durkheim argued that the main function of religion is to socialise members into the value consensus. 

Secondary socialisation

The media is mainly responsible for mass culture.

Marcuse suggested that popular culture (e.g. TV and advertising) has a negative effect on culture.

Media's function is to encourage false needs. 

e.g. the want for non-essential material goods 

As well as the discouragement of serious / critical thought.

Secondary socialisation

Media is used to make sense of the world and society. 

It provides information that is required to make sense of events in our everyday lives. 

It reaffirms the value consensus. 

e.g. through: films, soap operas, social media. 

It provides us with role models and designs for living 

e.g. images / ideas that we use to influence our identities.