Agencies of Socialization — Hard

Q1. Consider the following two statements on the stages of socialization: Assertion (A): Socialization does not end with the completion of schooling. Reason (R): Adults are continuously re-socialized into new roles such as spouse, parent and employee, in the 'adult socialization' stage. Choose the correct option

• A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
• B. Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
• C. A is true but R is false
• D. A is false but R is true

Q2. Which of the following statements about agencies of socialization is NOT correct?

• A. Family is a primary and informal agency of socialization.
• B. School is a secondary and formal agency of socialization.
• C. Religion and social class operate at the meso level.
• D. Mass media and social networking are primary, informal agencies that operate at the micro level.

Q3. In a Bihar village, a Class 8 girl Rajita is asked to help in the kitchen while her younger brother is asked to fix the cycle, and the boy is told 'never mind, beta'. This everyday family scene is best diagnosed as

• A. Hidden curriculum of the school spilling into the home
• B. Gender socialization through patriarchal family practices, with girls doing more household chores than boys
• C. Adult socialization of the parents into new roles
• D. Macro-level mass media influence on the family

Q4. Read the following statements about family as an agency: I. Family is the first and foremost agency where gender socialization takes place. II. Family is the 'cradle of social virtues'. III. Family largely determines a child's race, language, religion, class and political affiliation. IV. The role of family in socialization remains equally strong from infancy through adolescence. Which of the above is/are correct?

• A. I, II and III only
• B. I, II, III and IV
• C. II and IV only
• D. I and IV only

Q5. Which of the following best captures the correct stand on gender roles within Indian families?

• A. Gender roles are innate biological differences and cannot be changed
• B. Gender roles are not innate but a social projection of biological sex differences; the need of the hour is to spread awareness about gender equality
• C. Boys and girls should be raised in identical ways from birth to erase all gender
• D. Gender discrimination has practically ended in modern Indian families

Q6. A Class 8 teacher in Rampur complains that her students no longer obey parental rules and have become 'rebellious'. The best explanation for this behaviour is

• A. A symptom of conduct disorder that requires psychiatric referral
• B. Peer influence overshadowing parental influence in adolescence, especially when peer-group standards differ from family standards, leading the child to refuse to accept parental authority blindly
• C. A failure of primary socialization in early childhood that the school must repair
• D. A direct consequence of mass-media advertising aimed at adolescents

Q7. Aarti, a Class 7 girl in a Bihar school, asks her friends, not her parents, about pubertal changes and sexuality. The upper-primary teacher should understand this as

• A. An act of disobedience that warrants disciplinary action
• B. A natural development — adolescence marks onset of puberty and curiosity about sexuality, and adolescents consult their peer group on these matters without hesitation
• C. Evidence that the family has neglected its moral duty
• D. A clear symptom of poor home environment

Q8. An upper-primary teacher overhears Class 7 children at play say: 'Dolls are for girls. Guns are for boys', 'No boys are allowed in our game', 'Don't be silly you are a boy; you cannot play with Barbie dolls'. What does this best illustrate?

• A. Random rudeness with no socialization significance
• B. Gender stereotyping through peer-group interaction — one important factor leading to gender stereotype in children is their interaction with the peer group
• C. Hidden curriculum of the textbook publisher
• D. A failure of the family's gender socialization

Q9. School is called 'a miniature society' primarily because

• A. It has classrooms, a playground and a library like a small town
• B. Children of different families, religions, castes and economic statuses come together, take part in collective activities and learn to adjust to society
• C. Schools are smaller than the larger society in number of people
• D. It teaches subjects like civics, history and social science

Q10. Read the statements on the hidden curriculum: I. Hidden curriculum is what children learn other than the academic content from what they do or are expected to do. II. Teachers and classmates shape children's attitudes towards social class and gender through the hidden curriculum. III. Hidden curriculum is restricted to printed textbook content. IV. Hidden curriculum is one of the vehicles for socialization in school. Which are correct?

• A. I, II and IV only
• B. I, II, III and IV
• C. II and III only
• D. Only IV

Q11. Riya, a Class 7 student in a rural Bihar school, is anxious about pubertal changes and family quarrels. An emotionally supportive teacher will MOST LIKELY

• A. Replace the parents' role entirely
• B. Encourage academic interest and motivation, foster a positive self-concept and help Riya steer through the period of 'stress and storm'
• C. Refer Riya immediately to a psychiatrist
• D. Withdraw and let the family handle adolescence

Q12. An upper-primary boy from a working-class household in Patna shows confused behaviour — at home his father stresses obedience and is strict, while at school his teacher rewards independent academic work. This is best diagnosed as

• A. Onset of an emotional disorder requiring counselling
• B. A state of perpetual confusion caused by a mismatch between values upheld by the family (cognitive development not prioritised, conformity stressed) and the school (academic performance emphasised), often more visible in working-class families
• C. Normal adolescent rebellion against the father
• D. Hidden curriculum of the school contradicting itself

Q13. Consider the following statements on religion as an agency: I. Religion shapes collective belief into collective identity. II. A sense of fear of consequences or punishment is injected so that children follow rules and principles. III. Teachers and citizens are advised to respect each religion's value and celebrate secularism. IV. Religion has no negative side in society. Which statements are correct?

• A. I, II and III only
• B. I, II, III and IV
• C. I and IV only
• D. II, III and IV only

Q14. On the effect of virtual communities on adolescents, which TWO claims are made TOGETHER?

• A. Virtual communities make gender, race and other ascribed statuses irrelevant; AND they can never replace traditional communities but only supplement them
• B. Virtual communities reinforce ascribed gender and racial hierarchies; AND they have already replaced traditional communities
• C. Virtual communities are limited to face-to-face interactions; AND they reduce information explosion
• D. Virtual communities are available only on desktop computers; AND they discourage friend-finding

Q15. Which of the following is NOT a claim made about new electronic media and social networking?

• A. The Central Bureau of Investigation raised a warning against the pervasive presence of pornography on the internet, which led to degeneration of social values among the youth
• B. Research shows that new communication technologies not only reinforce social connections but deepen them as well
• C. Despite negative influences, global units like mass media, electronic media and virtual communities continue to contribute to the socialization process
• D. Electronic media and social networking should be banned in schools for upper-primary students because they have no positive influence on socialization