Post on 16-Jul-2016
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PraPISMP TESL
TSL1044 Language, Culture and
SocietyTheme: Language and Culture
Topic 1.5Agents of Socialisation
Family, school, mass media and religious institutions and their
effects on language
SOCIALIZATION
Socialization: Active process whereby human beings
Learn how to become members of societyDevelop a self or sense of individual
identity, andLearn to participate in social relationships
with others*
SOCIALIZATION: TWO TYPES
1. Primary socialization: Occurs in childhood Lays foundation that influences self-
concept and involvement in social life2. Secondary socialization:
Learning that occurs after people have undergone primary socialization
Continues throughout life*
NATURE VERSUS NURTURE DEBATE
Longstanding debate over whether human behaviour is outcome of biological inheritance (nature/instincts) or the social environment (nurture)
Sociology emphasizes importance of society and socialization (nurture) in human behaviour*
EVIDENCE FOR NURTURE
Studies of children raised in isolation: Demonstrate importance of social interaction in socialization process
Study on infants in orphanage and infants in prison nursery: Demonstrates importance of social contact in development of human infants
Socialization essential to physical wellbeing, social competence of infants, and development of self*
The importance of socialization
Children need human contact, affection, and interaction in order to fully develop◦E.g., Anna, Isabelle, neglected orphan children,
the latter with deaf-mute mother◦Because these children were not socialized at
the proper time, their developmental disorders persisted after attempts to integrate them into society, Anna much worse than Isabelle
Socialization and the social world
Most of our experiences are a part of our socialization experience◦Micro-level- e.g., parents, friends◦Meso-level- e.g., schools and religion◦Macro-level- e.g., national advertisements
Organizations and institutions are dependent upon socialized people to help them persist: school, boot camp, internship, church school, etc.
Socialization and the social world (contd.)
The Structural-functionalist perspective - different socializing agents support one another social harmony social order
The Conflict perspective - different socializing agents have conflicting goals social conflict social change◦ Those who have power use socialization to manipulate others
into supporting the power structure that benefits the elite “false consciousness” among subordinate social strata
◦ Most individuals have very little power to decide or control their futures (not so if organized & mobilized for collective action - “consciousness”)
THE SELF AND SOCIALIZATION
Socialization involves not only learning about others but developing sense of self
The self:Is our sense of individual identityAllows us to understand ourselvesAllows us to differentiate ourselves from others
Newborn unable to differentiate itself from motherDifferentiation occurs gradually through interaction*
GENDER SOCIALIZATION
Gestures and reactions of others are a mirror or “looking glass” in which we see ourselves: Attention is paid to others’ gestures and
reactions to us We imagine how our appearance, manners, and
presentation of self are regarded by others Our evaluation of how we believe ourselves
judged by others influences how we view our self (e.g., with pride, embarrassment, etc.)
Our first images of self come from significant others (e.g., parents) and the primary group (e.g., the family)*
SOCIALIZATION THROUGH THELIFE COURSE
Adolescent socialization Adolescence: Modern stage of life between childhood and adulthoodProduct of industrialization and mass education
Requires balance be found between autonomy and conformity, and freedom and constraintNeed for managing tension between parents’ expectations of
maturity while simultaneously being treated as a child Also involves anticipatory socialization: Aspirants to
particular social roles imagine what it would be like to enact those roles*
ADULT SOCIALIZATION
Adult socialization: Process by which adults take on new statuses and acquire new and different social identities
Can occur in new situations at work (e.g., new job) or in private life (e.g., new married/divorced status)
Involves more freedom of choice than adolescent socialization (e.g., whether to marry, have children; which career to pursue, etc.)*
SOCIALIZATION AMONG SENIORS
Challenges of later years of life:Decreased physical ability and prospect of death
in midst of Western society’s denial of deathNegative media stereotypes of aging and seniorsLowered prestige through loss of useful roles and
valued statuses (e.g., worker and spouse)Challenges create status and identity
problemsExacerbated by society’s lack of preparation and
guidance for new roles (e.g., retirement, widowhood)*
AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION
Agents of socialization: Individuals, groups, and institutions that impart range of information needed for individuals to interact effectively and participate in society
Include families, schools, peer groups, mass media, religious institutions, etc.
Provide both formal and informal “training”*
AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION:FAMILIES
Through close interaction with parents and small number of others, child:Learns to think and speakInternalizes norms, beliefs, and valuesLearns gender rolesDevelops capacity for intimate and personal
relationshipsBegins to develop a self image…*
TOP TWELVE CONCERNS OF CANADIANS
AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION:SCHOOLS
Teach children indirectly to be less emotionally dependent
Adjust children to their social orderBuild character through formal curriculum
and “hidden curriculum”: Informal teaching that helps ensure students’ integration into society
Reinforce gender roles*
AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION:PEER GROUPS
Peer group: Individuals usually of same age who enjoy approximately equal status
In childhood, formed largely by accident of associationLater in life, tend to choose peer groups based
on certain criteriaOnly agent of socialization in childhood
and youth not controlled mainly by adults…*
AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION:PEER GROUPS
Allow children and young people: Opportunities to engage in experiences not
provided in family, including examining feelings, beliefs and ideas not acceptable to family
Opportunities for self-direction and self-expression
Can strongly shape individual’s aspirations and behaviours through stringent demands for conformity*
AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION:THE MASS MEDIA
Create, manage, and control impressions of what is deemed important and real
May inadvertently perpetuate stereotypesMay teach individuals to become obedient
consumersExert powerful socializing influence but
effects difficult to measureMost effects impersonal and transmitted in one
directionResearch on effects of violence in mass media
debated*
OTHER SOCIALIZING AGENTS
Religious institutions: May have effect on moral outlook
Athletic teams: May teach young people about cooperation, competition, following rules, and establishing friendships
Youth groups: May be instrumental in teaching about group rules and expectations about conformity and devianceConflict both among and within agencies of
socialization inevitable in complex societies*
OTHER SOCIALIZING AGENTS
Religious institutions: May have effect on moral outlook
Athletic teams: May teach young people about cooperation, competition, following rules, and establishing friendships
Youth groups: May be instrumental in teaching about group rules and expectations about conformity and devianceConflict both among and within agencies of socialization
inevitable in complex societies*
IDENTITY AND SOCIAL CHANGE
Social circumstances of life powerfully influence identity
Today more autonomy but less sense of purpose and fewer enduring social ties
Difficulty in establishing stable and coherent identity
Voluntary and sometimes forcible shifting in identity (e.g. cult member, life-threatening illness, imprisonment)*
RESOCIALIZATION
Resocialization: Deliberate attempt to correct or instill particular values and behaviours in individual or group
Occurs in total institutions: Settings in which people are isolated from rest
of society for set periodWhere all aspects of person’s life are regulated
under one authorityExamples: The military, convents, prisons, boarding schools, psychiatric hospitals*