Download - GdgesgesgChapter 04 Socialization
Socialization
Sociology 101
█ How much of a person’s personality is shaped by culture as opposed to inborn traits?
A Look Ahead
█ In what ways does socialization continue into adulthood?
█ Who are the most powerful agents of socialization?
Socialization and the Life Course
█ Socialization: Lifelong process in which people learn appropriate attitudes, values, and behaviors
█ Personality: Person’s typical patterns of attitudes, needs, characteristics, and behavior
The Role of Socialization
Sociobiology Sociobiology is the systematic study of the
biological bases of social behavior. In its extreme form, sociobiology suggests that all
behavior is the result of genetic or biological factors and places little emphasis on social interaction.
Behaviorism
B.F. Skinner, one of the most famous behaviorists. Behaviorists see the individual as a blank slate
that could be written upon through socialization Behaviorism asserts that individual behavior is
not determined by instincts but rather, all behavior is learned.
Instinct – an unlearned, biologically determined behavior pattern common to all members of a species.
Reflex - an unlearned, biologically determined, involuntary response to some physical stimuli.
Drives – unlearned, biologically determined impulses common to all members of a species that satisfy needs such as sleep, food, water, or sexual gratification.
The Role of Socialization
The Influence of Heredity Studies of Identical Twins
Intelligence tests show similar scores when twins are reared apart in roughly similar social settings.
Intelligence tests show quite different scores when twins are reared apart in dramatically different social settings.
Social Environment:The Impact of Isolation
Interaction of heredity and environment shape human development
The Cases of Isabelle and Genie Emphasizes importance of earliest socialization
experiences for children Early socialization experiences in normal
environments are important. Primate Studies Harlow showed isolation had damaging effect on
monkeys
The Self and Socialization
█ Self: Distinct identity that sets us apart from others
The self is not a static phenomenon
It continues to develop and change
The Self and Socialization Cooley: Looking-Glass Self
We learn who we are by interacting with others
Looking-glass self: The self is product of social interactions with other people
Cooley argued that during interaction humans serve as mirrors for one another
Our view of ourselves comes from not only our contemplation of personal qualities, but also from our impressions of how others perceive us
We base our perception of who we are on how we think other people see us and on whether this opinion seems good or bad to us
George Herbert Mead
According to Mead, in the early months of life, children do not realize that they are separate from others .
Shortly after birth, infants start to notice the faces of those around them
Gradually, we distinguish ourselves from our care givers and begin to perceive ourselves in contrast to them
George Herbert Mead
When we begin to represent ourselves in our own minds as objects distinct from everything else, our self has been formed.
Mead: Stages of the Self
█ Preparatory Stage: Children imitate people around them
– Symbols: Gestures, objects, and words that form basis of human communication
George Herbert MeadPreparatory Stage
Up to about the age of 3 kids mimic social roles
children imitate significant others They do not yet have a sense of self separate
from others
Mead: Stages of the Selffrom about age 3-5
█ Play Stage: Children develop skill in communicating through symbols and role taking occurs
– Role taking: Process of mentally assuming perspective of another and responding from that imagined viewpoint
George Herbert Mead
Children learn to use language and other symbols which enable them to imitate the actions of others
Learn the roles, not just significant others including parents, teachers, and schoolmates.
The child at this stage is capable only of play and cannot yet engage in the organized activity
George Herbert Mead
3. Game Stage begins in the early school years children understand not only their own social
position but also the positions of others around them
At this stage, organized play, or team games The significance for the self is that to play these
games the individual must be able to take multiple roles
George Herbert Mead
They understand the repercussions of their behavior and the effect of them on others
anticipate actions of significant and generalized others
Generalized others: Attitudes, viewpoints, and expectations of society as a whole that a child takes into account
Ervin Goffman: Presentation of the Self
Impression Management: The individual slants the presentation of the self in order to create distinctive appearances and satisfy particular audiences
Dramaturgical Approach: People resemble performers in action
The goal is to create distinctive appearances and to satisfy particular audiences.
Erving Goffman
this altering of the presentation of the self impression management
Goffman argued that roles in life like those in the theater, have both a stage and a backstage.
Face-work is another aspect of the self. Maintaining the proper image can be essential to continued social interaction
Psychological Approaches to the Self Freud
Self is a social product, however, natural impulsive instincts in constant conflict with societal constraints
Personality influenced by others (especially one’s parents)
Psychological Approaches to the Self Piaget
Emphasized stages that humans progress through as the self develops
Cognitive theory of development identified 4 stages in development of children’s thought processes
Social interaction key to development
Table 4-1: Theoretical Approaches to Development of the SelfCharles Horton Cooley Looking-glass self Stages of development not distinct; 1864-1929 feelings toward ourselves developedsociobiologist (USA) through interaction with others
George Herbert Mead The self Three distinct stages of development; self1863-1931 Generalized other develops as children grasp the roles ofsociobiologist (USA) others in their lives
Erving Goffman Impression management Self developed through the impressions (1922-1982) Dramaturgical approach we convey to others and to groupssociobiologist (USA) Face-work
Sigmund Freud Psychoanalysis Self influenced by parents and by inborn(1856-1939) drives, such as the drive for sexualpsychotherapist (Austria) gratification
Jean Piaget Cognitive theory Four stages of cognitive development;(1896-1980) moral development linked tochild psychologist socialization(Switzerland)
Scholar Key Concepts and Contributions Major Points of Theory
Socialization and the Life Course
The Life Course- Socialization continues throughout our lives. In different cultures stages of development are marked by specific ceremonies.
Rites of passage are a means of dramatizing and validating changes in a person’s status. These specific ceremonies mark stages of
development in the life course.
The Life Course
We encounter some of the most difficult socialization challenges in later years
Assessing one’s accomplishments Coping with declining physical abilities Retirement Facing the inevitability of death
Financial independence from parents/guardians 20.9 years
80.9%
Separate residence from parents 21.157.2
Full-time employment 21.283.8
Completion of formal schooling 22.390.2
Capability of supporting a family 24.582.3
Marriage 25.733.2
Parenthood 26.229.0
Table 4-2: Milestones in the Transition to Adulthood
Source: T. W. Smith 2003.
Percentage of People WhoView Event as Extremely
Live Event Expected Age or Quite Important
Socialization and the Life CourseAnticipatory Socialization and Resocialization
Two types of socialization occur throughout the life course
1. Anticipatory Socialization - The processes of socialization in which a person “rehearses” for future occupations and social relationships
2. Resocialization: The process of discarding former behavior patterns and accepting new ones as part of a transition in one’s life
Agents of Socialization
Family Role of family in socializing a child cannot
be overestimated Cultural Influences The Impact of Race and Gender
Gender Roles: expectation regarding proper behavior, attitudes, and activities of males and females
Agents of Socialization
School Schools teach children the values and customs of
the larger society. Schools have traditionally socialized children into
conventional gender roles.
Agents of Socialization
Peer Group As children grow older, peer groups increasingly
assume the role of Mead’s significant others. Peer groups can ease the transition to adult
responsibilities. Peer groups can encourage children to honor or
violate cultural norms and values. Peer groups can be a source of harassment as
well as support.
Agents of Socialization
Mass Media and Technology 53 percent of all children ages 12 to 18 have their
own televisions. Television permits imitation and role playing but
does not encourage more complex forms of learning.
Technology is socializing families into multitasking as the social norm.
Figure 4-2: How Young People Use the Media
Source: Rideout et al. 2005:7.