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.