Socialization and the Life Course

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© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Socialization and the Life Course

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The Role of Socialization

█ Socialization: Lifelong process in which people learn appropriate attitudes, values, and behaviors

█ Nature vs. nurture

Module 13

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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

Module 14

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Reflection

How do you define yourSELF?

How do you define the SELF?

What/who influence your SELF?

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How do we really define the SELF?

“The concept, unique to humans, of being able to see ourselves “from the outside”; our internalized perception how others see us” (Henslin,2002)

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Different Definitions of Self

“An individual created by God with a given choice made with freewill and intellect.”

“A set of characteristics and attributes.” (Abaya, 2012)

“Characteristics of a person, how she/he looks…how the environment affected the person.” (Brillantes, 2012)

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Different Definition of the Self

“What you portray and show to the world” (Sumayao, 2012)

“Idea of one’s identity” (Kim, Hyemin, 2012)

“The self is like a mirror. The way you wear your clothes will represent how you look in front of others.” (Hwang, 2012)

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“It is the part of your being…it is something you can modify and improve. It is what you think you are” (Mendez, 2012)

“The self is the knowledge of your existence, your proof that you have value” (Pador, 2012)

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“It is someone that is unique and no one can be like him/her.” (Cendana, 2012)

“The self is not the others. The self is just itself and it cannot be the others, no matter how much it tries to replicate the other.” (Nieva, 2012)

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“Self is what others see me and how I see myself.” (Calapas, 2012)

“The self is basically what the society feeds us so we can have a clear picture of who we are.” (De Guzman, 2012)

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“The self is your inner consciousness, your way of thinking. It is the core of your values, your actions, your perceptions.” (Go, 2012)

“The self is an interpretation of who you are. It is what makes you, you.” (Talatala, 2012)

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Different Views

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SELF

Family

Friends

Boy/Girl Friends

Society

Religion

Environment

Hobbies

Experiences

People

Media

Values

God

ProblemHistory

Church

Parents

School

FRAMEWORK OF SELF DEVELOPED BY INTSOCI STUDENTS

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Cooley: Looking-Glass Self█ View of ourselves comes

from contemplation of personal qualities (values, attitudes, personality, habits, interests) and impressions of how others perceive us

Looking-glass self: The self is product of

social interactions with other people

Module 14

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Looking Glass Self

We imagine how we appear to those around us. (how others see us)

We interpret other’s reactions. (like or dislike)

We develop a self-concept. (based on belongingness, rejection, positive or negative self-concept)

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Mead: Stages of the Self

█ Preparatory Stage: Children imitate people around them– As they grow older,

children become more adept at using symbols

Module 14

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█ 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

Module 14

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█ Game Stage: Children of about 8 or 9 consider several actual tasks and relationships simultaneously

Generalized others: Attitudes, viewpoints, and expectations of society

as a whole that a child takes into account

Module 14

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Mead: Theory of the Self

█ Self begins as a central position in a person’s world

█ As the person matures, the self changes and begins to reflect greater concern about reactions of others

Significant others: Individuals most important in the development of the self

Module 14

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Table 14-1: Mead’s Stages of the Self

Module 14

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Goffman: Presentation of the Self█ Impression management: Individual

learns to slant presentation of self to create distinctive appearances and satisfy particular audiences– Also known as dramaturgical approach

Face-work: Need to maintain proper image of self to continue social interaction

Module 14

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Psychological Approaches to the Self█ Piaget

– Emphasized stages that humans progress through as the self develops

– Cognitive theory of development: four stages in development of children’s thought processes

Social interaction key to development

Module 14

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Stages of Development

Sensorimotor Stage (birth to age 2)Understanding is limitedContact based on sucking, touching, listening, and

seeingInfants cannot think yet

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Preoperational Stage (2-7 years)Children develop the ability to use symbols.

They understand common concepts like size, color, speed, causation.

They can count but they do not understand what it means

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Concrete Operational Stage (7 to 12)

Can understand numbers, causation, speed and they are able to take the role of the other.

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Formal Operational Stage (12)Abstract thinkingCan talk about conceptsIt is at this stage that children act like young

philosophers

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The Life Course

█ Rites of Passage: Means of dramatizing and validating changes in a person’s status

█ Life Course Approach: Looking closely at social factors that influence people throughout their lives

Most difficult socialization challenges occur in later years

Module 14

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Anticipatory Socializationand Resocialization█ Anticipatory socialization:

Person “rehearses” future occupations and social relationships

█ Resocialization: Discarding former behavior patterns and accepting new ones during transitions in one’s life

Module 14

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Table 14-3: Milestones in the Transition to Adulthood

Module 14

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Agents of Socialization

█ Family█ Cultural Influences█ The Impact of Race and Gender

Gender roles: Expectations regarding proper behavior, attitudes, and activities of males and females

Module 15

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█ School– Teaches values and

customs of larger society– Traditionally socialized children

into conventional gender roles█ Peer Group

– As children grow older, peer groups increasingly assume role of Mead’s significant others

Module 15

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█ Mass Media and Technology– Technology socializes families

into multitasking as social norm– 68% of U.S. children have

television in their bedrooms– Nearly half of youths ages 8 to

18 use the Internet every day

Module 15

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█ Workplace– Learning to behave

appropriately within occupational setting is a fundamental aspect of human socialization

█ Religion and State– Government and organized

religion impact life course by reinstituting some rites of passage

Module 15

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Table 15-1: High School Popularity

Module 15

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Research Today

█ Online Socializing: A New Agent of Socialization

– Do you list your “friends” on an online social networking site? If so, what is your motivation for doing so?

– Do you think the advantages of online social networking outweigh the disadvantages?

Module 15

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Figure 15-1: The New Normal: Internet at Home

Module 15

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Child Care Around the World

– In the U.S., 73% of employed mothers depend on others to care for their children

– 30% of mothers who aren’t employed have regular care arrangements

Module 15

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█ Looking at the Issue– Researchers found high quality

child-care centers do not adversely affect socialization of children

– Few in U.S. can afford to have a parent stay at home Finding the right kind

of day care is challenging

Module 15

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█ Applying Sociology– Interactionists favor studies assessing

quality of child care outside of home; micro level of analysis

– Conflict perspective notes child care costs are burden for lower-class families

– Feminist perspective questions low status and wages of day-care workers

Module 15

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█ Initiating Policy– Policies vary

throughout the world– When policymakers

decide child care is desirable, must determine degree taxpayers subsidize it

Module 15

Documents

Socialization and the Life Course