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*