Fiducia TogetherSocialisation
How people learn the norms and values of their society.
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.
What it is
Primary socialisation happens in the family in early childhood. Secondary socialisation happens through school, peers, media, religion and work.
Where it applies
Sociology, psychology and child development.
How it works
Socialisation is how culture is transmitted, which is why sociologists treat behaviour as learned rather than natural — the nature versus nurture debate in its sociological form.
The hidden curriculum is secondary socialisation by school.
How to use it in your work
Distinguish primary from secondary and give an agency for each.
Use it to argue against biological explanations where the question invites it, and acknowledge that most sociologists accept an interaction.
Where to get help
Your teacher and your board's specification and mark scheme.
Revise this with a song
These are ours. We write revision songs because a lot of people remember a tune when they cannot remember a page, and because revising out loud in the kitchen beats staring at a highlighter.
- The Sociology Song The GCSE sociology topics, set to music.
Where to read more
Last reviewed 2026-08-28 by Fiducia Together · Next review due 2027-08-28
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.