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Chapter Four SocializationSocialization is the lifelong process of
social interaction through which individuals acquire a self-identify and the physical, mental, and social skills needed for survival in society. The content of socialization differs greatly from society to society.
Human Development: Biology and SocietyEvery human being is a product of
biology, society , and personal experiences, or heredity and environment.
Sociobiology is the systematic study of how biology affects social behavior
Social Isolation Social environment is a crucial part of an
individual’s socialization; people need social contact with other in order to develop properly.
Researchers have attempted to demonstrate the effects of social isolation on non-human primates that are raised without contact with other of their own species
Social Isolation Isolated children illustrate the
importance of socializationThe most frequent for of child
maltreatment is child neglect
Social Psychological Theories of Human DevelopmentFreud and the Psychoanalytical
Perspective Human behavior and personality originate
from subconscious forces within the individual
At this time biological explanations for human behavior were prevalent
An era of extreme sexual repression and male dominance
Social Psychological Theories of Human DevelopmentFreud and the Psychoanalytical
Perspective Freud’s theory based on the notion that
people have two basic tendencies The urge to survive The urge to procreate
Social Psychological Theories of Human Development Freud and the Psychoanalytical Perspective
Human Development Occurs in three states that reflect different levels of personality
The id is the component of the personality that includes all of the individual’s basic biological drives and needs that demand immediate gratifications
The ego is the rational, reality-oriented component of personality that imposes restrictions on the innate pleasure-seeking drives of the id
The superego, or conscience consists of the moral and ethical aspects of personality
Social Psychological Theories of Human DevelopmentPiaget and Cognitive Theory of Human
Development In each state of human development
children’s activities are governed by their perceptions of the world around them
When age appropriate tasks are complete, new mental abilities allow the the transition the the next stage
Social Psychological Theories of Human Development Piaget and Cognitive Theory of Human
Development Four Stages of Cognitive Development
Sensorimotor (0-2) children develop object permanence
Preoperational (2-7) children develop ability to use words are mental symbols and to form mental images
Concrete Operational (7-11) children learn to reason and take the role of the other
Formal Operational (12-adolescence) children develop the ability to think in highly abstract thought
Social Psychological Theories of Human DevelopmentPiaget and Cognitive Theory of Human
DevelopmentCriticisms of Piaget’s Theory
Does not address individual differences Says little about cultural differences Does not address how gender impacts
cognitive development
Social Psychological Theories of Human DevelopmentKohlberg and stages of Moral
Development Presented subjects with moral dilemmas to
learn about moral reasoning Preconventional (7-10) punishment and
obedience Conventional (10-adulthood) peer approval and
conformity to rules Postconventional (few adults reach this stage)
individual and human rights that transcend government and laws
Social Psychological Theories of Human DevelopmentKohlberg and stages of Moral
Development Criticisms of Kohlberg’s Theory
Some Challenge the universality of his stages Use of moral dilemmas too abstract for children
Social Psychological Theories of Human DevelopmentGilligan’s View on Gender and Moral
DevelopmentHer theory is based on a critical
response to Kohlberg’s methodology and findings
Kohlberg used men in his study—production biased results
Social Psychological Theories of Human DevelopmentGilligan found differences in the ways
that men and women think about moral problems
Female Moral Development in three stages Motivated by selfish concerns Recognizes responsibility in others Makes decisions based on desire to do
good for herself and others
Sociological Theories of Human Development Cooley and the Looking Glass Self – sense of
self is developed from the perceptions of others through a three step process We imagine how our personality and appearance
will look to other people We imagine how other people judge the
appearance and personality we think we represent We develop a self-concept
Sociological Theories of Human DevelopmentGeorge Herbert Meade linked the idea
of self-concept to role-taking—the process by which a person mentally assumes the role of another person in order to understand the world from that person’s point of view
Sociological Theories of Human DevelopmentG. H. MeadeSignificant Others are those persons
whose care, affection, and approval are especially desired and who are most important the the development of the self; these individuals are extremely important in the socialization process
Sociological Theories of Human Development G. H. Meade Mead divided the self into the “I” and “me” “I” is the subjective element of the self that
represents the spontaneous and unique traits of each person
“me” is the objective element of self, which is composed of he internalized attitudes and demands of other members of society and the individual’s awareness of those demands
G. H. Meade outlined three stages of self-development Preparatory stage – children largely imitate the people
around them Play stage (3-5) – children learn to use language and
other symbols, thus making it possible for them to pretend to take the roles of specific people
Game stage – children understand not only their own social position but also the positions of those around them.
At this time the child develop a generalized other – an awareness of the demands and expectations of the society as a whole or of the child’s subculture.
Sociological Theories of Human Development Interactionist theories such as Meade’s
and Cooley’s contribute to how the self develops….but These theories do not take into account
differences in people’s experiences based on race, ethnicity, class, religion, gender or other social factors
Self-Concept and Child MaltreatmentChild maltreatment occurs when there
is an extreme imbalance in positive and negative social interactions
Dynamic interplay between social factors related to past events and present situations
Agents of SocializationAgents of socialization are the persons,
groups, or institutions that teach us what we need to know in order to participate in society. These are the most pervasive agents of socialization in childhood
The Family as an Agent of Socialization The family is the most important agent of
socialization in all societies. Functionalists emphasize that families are the
primary locus of procreation and socialization of children, as well as the primary source of emotional support
To a large extent the family is where we acquire our specific social positions in society
Conflict theorist stress that socialization reproduces class structure in the next generation
Schools as Agents of SocializationSchools have played an increasingly
important role in the socialization process as the amount of specialized technical and scientific knowledge has expanded rapidly Schools teach specific knowledge and
skills and they also have a profound effect on a child’s self-image, beliefs and values
Schools as Agents of SocializationFrom a functionalist perspective schools
are responsible for: Socialization—teaching students to be
productive members of society Transmission of culture Social control and personal development The selection, training, and placement of
individuals on different rungs in society
Schools as Agents of SocializationAccording to Conflict Theorists much of
what happens at schools is a hidden curriculum Working class and low income children
learn to be neat, on time, wait their turn, and remain attentive to work
These are attributes that make them more easily manipulated in the workforce
Peer Groups as Agents of Socialization A peer group is a group of people who are
linked by common interests, equal social positions, and (usually) a similar age Peer groups function as agents of socialization by
contributing to our sense of belonging and our feelings of self-worth
Individuals must earn their acceptance with their peers by meeting the group’s demands for high level of conformity to its own norms, attitudes, speech, and dress codes
Mass Media as an Agent of Socialization The mass media function as socialization agents
for children and adults in several ways: They inform us about events They introduce us to a wide variety of people They provide an array of viewpoints on current issues They make us aware of products and services that if
we purchase them, supposedly will help us to be accepted by others
They entertain us by providing the opportunity to live vicariously
Mass Media as an Agent of Socialization
Television is the most pervasive form of media
98% of all homes in the U.S. have at least on television set.
There is some evidence that television is potentially harmful to:
Literacy Rampant consumerism Increases in violence and violent crime
Gender, Race, and Ethnicity SocializationGender socialization is the aspect of
socialization that contains specific messages and practices concerning the nature of being female of male in a specific group or society Families, Schools, and sports tend to
reinforce traditional gender roles
Gender Socialization
Gender Socialization
Gender Socialization
Gender, Race, and Ethnicity SocializationRacial Socialization is the aspect of
socialization that contains specific messages and practices concerning the nature of one’s racial or ethnic status as it relates to: Personal and group identity Inter-group and inter-individual
relationships Position in social hierarchy
Socialization Throughout the Life Course Socialization is a lifelong process, each time
we experience a change in status, we learn a new set of rules, roles, and relationships
Even before we enter a new status, we often participate in anticipatory socialization – the process by which knowledge and skills are learned for future roles.
The most common categories of age are infancy, childhood, adolescences, and adulthood (young, middle, old)
Socialization Throughout the Life Course During infancy and early childhood,
family support and guidance are crucial to a child’s developing self-concept Some families reflect the discrepancy
between cultural ideals and reality where children grow up in settings of fear, danger and risks that are created by parental neglect, emotional maltreatment, or premature economic and sexual demands
Socialization Throughout the Life CourseAnticipatory socialization for adult roles
often is associated with adolescence, however, some young people may plunge in adult responsibilities at this time
Socialization Throughout the Life Course In early adulthood (until about 40) people
work toward their won goals of creating meaningful relationships with others, finding employment, seeking personal fulfillment. Occupational Socialization has 4 phases:
Career choice Anticipatory socialization Conditioninign and commitment Continous commitment
Socialization Throughout the Life Course Between the ages of 40 & 60 people enter
middle adulthood and many begin to compare their accomplishments with their earlier expectations.
In older adulthood some people are quite happy and content, other are not: Difficult changes in attitudes and behavior may
occur in the last years of life when people experience decreased physical ability and social devaluation
Late adulthood is a time when many people experience ageism, prejudice and discrimination against people on the basis of age
Negative images contribute to the view that women are older ten or fifteen years sooner than men
Many buffer themselves against ageism by continuing to view themselves as being in middle adulthood
It is important to note that everyone does not go through these passages or stages and that race, ethnicity, class and gender strongly influence these stages
Resocialization Resocialization is the process of learning a
new and different set of attitudes, values ,and behaviors from the ones previously held.
Voluntary Resocialization – occurs when we enter a new status of our own free will
Involuntary Resocialization – occurs against a persons wishers an generally takes place within a total institution
Socialization in the Future Families are likely to remain the institution that
most fundamentally shapes and nurtures personal values and self-identity
Parents increasingly feel overburdened by this responsibility, especially without societal support, such as high-quality day care and some education on parenting skills
A central issue facing parents and teachers as they socialize children is the growing dominance of the media and other forms of technology.
