Socialization

What is Socialization Enables people to learn culture and become functioning members of society Purpose 1.Establishes social identity - Sense of self 2.Teaches role taking Role - Expected behavior in a particular social position 3.Controls behavior by teaching people to conform to societal expectations Internalization: Learning cultural behaviors and expectations for accepting them undeniably 4.Transmits culture to the next generation Importance of Socialization Essential for individual development Helps develop behaviors – Talking, eating with utensils, and controlling personal hygiene and behaviors Develops human characteristics

Nature vs Nurture

Sociological Explanation of Socialization Social Learning Theory: People learn new attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors through social interaction Direct and indirect learning – Reinforcement - Occurs when people receive rewards or punishments for specific behaviors – Observation and imitation Role models: People who are admired and whose behavior is imitated Distinguish between learning and performing behavior – People’s behavior depends on society’s teaching about what’s appropriate and inappropriate

Symbolic Interaction Theories Cooley: Emergence of self and the looking-glass self – Self: Awareness of one’s social identity Acquired by children through interactions – Looking-glass self: Self-image based on how people think others see them Involves the phases of perception, interpretation of the perception, and response Mead: Influential sociologist in showing how social interaction shapes socialization – Suggests that social interaction occurs in the family, the foundation of socialization – Self develops when people learn to differentiate the me from the I – Me forms as children engage in role taking Role taking: Learning to take the perspective of others Goffman: Impression management: Providing information and cues to others positively – Concealing one’s less appealing characteristics – Presentation of the self requires managing different types of expressive resources Setting - Physical space of interaction Appearance - Conveys information about an individual’s social status Manner - Mood of behavior people display

Agents of Socialization Individuals, groups, or institutions Teach people how to participate effectively in society Family: Includes parents, siblings, grandparents, and other family members Ways in which parent socialize children – Teach social rules and roles by relying on several learning techniques – Manage various aspects of the environment that influence a child’s social development Peer groups: People who are similar in age, social status, and interests Functions of play – Promotes cognitive development and encourages children to think, formulate strategies, and budget and manage resources – Enhances social development – Strengthens peer relationships

Agents of Socialization… cont Teachers: Act as an instructor, role model, evaluator, moral guide, and disciplinarian Vital for academic success Popular Culture and the Media: Electronic media – Viewing should be limited to encourage interactive activities – Unlimited access to Internet is linked with various health and behavioral problems – Affects grades and levels of personal contentment – Violent video games increase a person’s aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behavior Advertising – Targets children at younger ages – Advergaming: Combines free online games with advertising – - Provides marketers with an inexpensive way to draw attention to a brand

Socialization through the Lifespan Infancy and toddlerhood – Periods of helplessness and physical and cognitive growth – Development is influenced by quality of relationships with adults and other caregivers – Engaging in talk increases vocabulary and helps control their behavior in later years Childhood through adolescence – Marked by physical, emotional, social, and cognitive growth – Involves emphasis on self-control, academic success, fulfilling tasks, and socialization – Well-deserved praise strengthens: Parent-child relationship Teaches children to overcome setbacks Improves their problem-solving skills Teenage years – Period of change – Establish identity, test autonomy, and secede from parental supervision Adulthood – Involves adopting a series of roles – Transition is delayed due to macro and micro-level factors

Resocialization Unlearning the old ways of doing things and adopting new attitudes, values, norms and behavior Voluntary – Involves doing something based on personal choice Moving to another country, entering a religious order, seeking rehabilitation Involuntary – Exemplified by events when children are sent to a foster home or a detention camp – Total institutions: Isolate people from the society and remove their former identities Use degradation ceremonies Attempt to build a new identity that conforms to the institution’s expectations