1. LEARNING THE WAYS OF SOCIETY

2. Process by which people learn… basic skills values beliefs behavior patterns of a society Stages of Socialization Childhood Birth to 12 years old Adolescence 13-19 years old Adulthood Young adulthood 20-29 years old Middle years 30-65 years old Death/Dying Over 65 years old Make a list of at least 3 mental or physical abilities you possess

3. Sociologists have long debated the following question: How much of people’s characteristics come from “nature” (heredity) and how much from “nurture” (the social environment)? Studies of isolated children or twins provides great deal of information Sociologists who wish to study the effects of isolation on human infants have also studied children raised in orphanages.

4. People view me as … How has this impacted your self-concept (the view you have of yourself)?

5. Looking-glass self 3 Elements We imagine how we appear to those around us “I am funny “ We interpret others’ reactions “Do people like me because I’m funny”? We develop a self-concept “I feel good about myself because people think I’m funny” Self – our view of who we are Charles Cooley Symbolic interactionist Our sense of self develops from interactions with others Positive Self-Concept vs. Negative Self-Concept

6. George Herbert Mead Symbolic interactionist Importance of play to development of self Role-taking Taking the roles of others Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes Understanding: How someone feels How someone thinks How they will react Young children take roles of family members “Role-taking” expands as you age Greater sense of self Eventually can take the role of groups as a whole 3 Stages: Imitation (Birth – 3) Prepares you for role-taking Play (3 – 6) Ex. - Playing pretend Games (Begins in early school years)

7. Developmental stages were not largely recognized until the Industrial Revolution Developmental stages were not largely recognized until the Industrial Revolution Created not by biology but by society Created not by biology but by society Brought about through: Brought about through: Material surplus Material surplus Increased leisure time Increased leisure time Greater emphasis on education Greater emphasis on education

8. Greater emphasis on caring for and development of children Emphasis on caring extends to emotional, intellectual, moral, and physical care Gender and social class have an impact on childhood

9. Industrial revolution allowed many children to remain outside of the workforce and so was born the adolescent ages Education had also become an important factor in success Adolescents develop their own subcultures with distinctive clothing, hairstyles, language and music

10. Adulthood can be separated into several different periods: Young adulthood (18 to 29) Middle Years (30 – 50) Later Middle Years (50 – 65) Late Adulthood (65 and on)

11. Young adults leave home: College, Full-time job, etc. Separation varies person to person and is both physical and psychological Period of prolonged youth in which people postpone adult responsibilities Balancing of education and employment

12. Commitments develop Family, work, leisure, community, etc. More sure of self, goals, and position in life Uncertainty can lead to mid-life crisis Challenges may emerge in form of… Divorce Unemployment Balancing of life

13. Health and mortality begin to loom larger Anticipation of next stage in life “Sandwich generation” Caring for both children and parents Can also be very comfortable period Secure job High standard of living

14. Many societies today see this as an extension of Middle Adulthood Desire to remain independent Affected largely by: Health Income Social networks Friends & Family Community involvement Desire to remain independent as “time is closing in” Plays large role in comfort experienced during this stage

15. Family Social class can impact how children are raised Blue collar vs. Middle class Religion Most Americans belong to some congregation Extends into many parts of our lives – beyond beliefs (Ex. - Dress, speech, manners) Peers Friends, clubs, “gangs” Conformity vs. Rejection

16. School Children leave home and learn to become part of a larger group Exposed to peer groups Workplace Provides differing perspectives on life Commitment to work impacts self-concept Job becomes a means of describing oneself Anticipatory Socialization: learning rights, obligations, and expectations of a role in preparation of assuming that role

17. By expecting different attitudes and behaviors from us because we are male or female, human group nudges boys and girls in separate directions in life On the basis of sex Children are given different toys Boys are encouraged to engage in more “rough and tumble” activities Mass Media reinforces society’s expectations of gender