Socialization Cultural process of learning to participate in group life

Socialization

Socialization – Cultural process of learning to participate in group life Individual – An ongoing process where individuals acquire a personal identity and learn the norms, values, behavior, attitudes, beliefs, language, knowledge, and social skills appropriate to conform to their social position.

Socialization A combination of both self imposed and externally imposed rules combined with the expectations of others. (Examples include a new job, team, school, church, community, etc.)

Symbolic Interactionism Self Concept – Image of yourself having an identity separate from others. Looking Glass Self – The self-image an individual forms by imagining what others think of his or her behavior and appearance. What you believe others think of you. Significant Others – Any person or persons with a strong influence on and our most important to an individual's self concept.

Looking Glass Self

“You’re killing independent George” –George Constanza

Culture, Heredity, and Socialization

Nature vs. Nurture – What matters more, your genes or your environment? Are we born this way, or do we behave according to our life experiences? Sociobiology – Joins together the ideas of modern genetics with Darwin’s theory of natural selection. It is the study of the biological basis of human behavior.

Agents of Socialization Family Schools (hidden curriculum) informal education Peer Group Mass Media

Process of Socialization Total Institutions – Places in which people are separated from the rest of society and controlled by others. (Prisons, mental hospitals, boarding schools, monasteries, and military training camps. Desocialization – Process of giving up old norms, values and attitudes Resocialization – A two-part process. An institution tries to erode the identities and independence. Then the process involves a systematic attempt to build a different personality or self. It is the adopting of new norms and values.

Realms and Realities Ideal Culture – The ideas, norms, beliefs, and symbols that represent the way we would like to be viewed by others. The way we want things to be. Real Culture – The ideas, norms, beliefs, and symbols that represent the way we are viewed by others. The way things really are.

Ideal vs. Real Ideal – Get married and have a family Real – Many marriages end in divorce Ideal – Graduate high school and go to college Real – Many graduates can’t afford college Ideal – Work hard and become rich Real – Many people work hard, but don’t become rich

Ideal vs. Real “So then you asked yourselves isn’t there something more to life...? Well, let me clue you in on something, there isn’t… What are you thinking about Jerry, marriage, family...? They’re prisons, man made prisons...” – Kramer