Socialization
SocializationO The lifelong process through which
people are prepared to participate in society
O By studying how people learn the rules of society, we hope to better understand why people think and act as they do
Nature-Nurture DebateO Controversy over the extent to which
behavior results from predetermined biological characteristics or from socialization
Nature-Nurture DebateO Sociology
O Study of biological and genetic determinants of behavior
O Instincts – patterns of reflexes that occur in animalsO No powerful, fixed drives or instincts
have been discovered in humans
Nature-Nurture DebateO Money (1980)
O Environmental factors become part of our biology when we perceive them
O When information enters our minds, it is translated into a biochemical form
O Information stored in the brain can cause physiological changes in the body
Social IsolationO Infants and social interaction
Social IsolationO Feral children
O Wild boy of Aveyron, France 1800O Traian Caldarar, Romania 2002
Social IsolationO Children in institutions
Social IsolationO Abused and
neglected childrenO Genie
Development of SelfO Mead
O The unique feature of the human mind is its capacity to use symbolsO Human development proceeds from
this abilityO A self develops through language and
interactionO Symbolic interaction
Development of SelfO “The self is something which has a
development; it is not initially there, at birth, but arises in the process of social experience and activity, that is, develops in the given individual as a result of his relations to that process as a whole and to other individuals within that process.”
Development of SelfO Role taking – process of figuring out
how others will actO Play – three stages through which the
self emerges
Development of Self1. Preparatory stage – children are
only capable of imitation2. Play stage – children begin to take
on the role of others significant in their lives
3. Game stage – children are capable of understanding not only one role, but the roles of several individuals simultaneously
Development of SelfO Mead
O Generalized other – the organized community or social group that provides reference for one’s behavior
O I & MeO I – not self consciousO Me – part of the self that see the self as
object; concerned with society’s expectations
Development of SelfO Cooley
O Looking-glass self – the self develops in a process that requires reference to other peopleO How we think our behavior appears to
othersO How we think others judge our
behaviorsO How we feel about their judgments
O When we refer to ourselves we are usually referring to our looking-glass selves
O Merton’s self-fulfilling prophecy
Development of SelfO Goffman
O Presentation of self – the way we present ourselves gives other people clues about the type of interaction we expect
Development of SelfO Dramaturgical approach
O Backstage and onstageO Actors and audience
Development of SelfO Goffman
O Maintaining the selfO Excuses & disclaimers
O We expect others to maintain their roles, when this does not happen we react emotionally
O Groups agree to uphold roles, failure to do so can result in an emotional reaction
Major Agents of Socialization
O FamilyO SchoolO Peer groupsO ReligionO Mass media
Socialization as AdultsO “Training” for new rolesO Resocialization
O Necessitated by a major break in a person’s customary life
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