Cultural Deprivation Theory

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Cultural Deprivation Theory CDT is the abbreviation for ‘Cultural Deprivation Theory’; the Cultural Deprivation Theory is the main cultural explanation for class differences in achievement. ‘Culture’ meaning ‘Norms, values, beliefs, skills, knowledge’ (NVBSK) that a society regards as important, this culture is then passed onto the next generation by socialisation. The different *social* classes mean that children are socialised differently; this then means the children achieve differently. In CDT, some working class parents don’t pass on NVBSK needed for educational success; CDT theorists see three factors responsible for working-class under-achievement. 1) Lack of intellectual stimulation – Books, educational toys, and the overuse of television. 2) Restricted speech code – Smaller vocabulary, and an inability to communicate. 3) Working Class Subculture – A parent who does less skilled work would have less qualifications, and would perhaps inadvertently undermine the importance of grades. To follow on directly from the 3rd factor, working-class pupils achieve less than middle-class pupils in education. Whereas children if higher professions are two to three times more likely to go to university. Sociologists have divided explanations for these differences into two factors. External or home factors – that lie outside the school and internal factors – within the school and education. Home background greatly impacts educational achievement, home background issues can fall under two types of factor; Cultural factors – class differences in norms and values acquired through socialization, manners, behaviours, respect of authority, attitudes to education, value of grades/procedures/staff, speech codes, ways of speaking (Dialect/formality) and Material factors – Physical necessities of life, such as adequate housing, diet and income. Arguably the biggest effect
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