McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 1 SOCIOLOGY Richard T. Schaefer Socialization 4

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 2 4. Socialization The Role of Socialization The Self and Socialization Socialization and the Life Course Agents of Socialization

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 3 The Role of Socialization –Interaction of heredity and environment shape human development The Case of Isabelle Primate Studies Social Environment:The Impact of Isolation

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 4 The Role of Socialization The Influence of Heredity –Studies of Identical Twins Intelligence tests show: Similar scores when twins are reared apart in roughly similar social settings Quite different scores when twins are reared apart in dramatically different social settings

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 5 The Self and Socialization –Self: distinct identity that sets us apart from others –Cooley: Looking-Glass Self We learn who we are by interacting with others Our view of ourselves comes from contemplation of personal qualities and our impressions of how others perceive us The self is the product of our social interactions with other people Sociological Approaches to the Self

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 6 The Self and Socialization Continued... Sociological Approaches to the Self –Mead: Stages of the Self Play Stage: children develop skill in communicating through symbols and role taking occurs Game Stage: children of about 8 or 9 consider several actual tasks and relationships simultaneously Preparatory Stage: children imitate people around them.

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 7 The Self and Socialization Sociological Approaches to the Self –Mead: Stages of the Self Symbols: gestures, objects, and language that form basis of human communication Role Taking: process of mentally assuming the perspective of another Generalized Others: attitudes, viewpoints, and expectations of society as a whole that child takes into account

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 8 The Self and Socialization As person matures, the self changes and begins to reflect greater concern about reactions of others Sociological Approaches to the Self –Mead: Stages of the Self Self begins as privileged, central position in a person’s world Significant Others: Individuals most important in the development of the self

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 9 Goffman’s view sometimes called Dramaturgical Approach: people resemble performers in action Face-work: Need to maintain proper image of self to continue social interaction The Self and Socialization Sociological Approaches to the Self –Goffman: Presentation of the Self Impression Management: individual learns to slant the presentation of self to create distinctive appearances and satisfy particular audiences

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 10 Agents of Socialization –Role of family in socializing a child cannot be overestimated –Cultural Influences –The Impact of Race and Gender Family Gender Roles: expectation regarding proper behavior, attitudes, and activities of males and females

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 11 Agents of Socialization –Teach children values and customs of the larger society –Traditionally socialized children into conventional gender roles Peer Group –As children grow older, peer groups increasingly assume the role of Mead’s significant others School

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 12 Agents of Socialization Table 4-3. High School Popularity Source: Suitor et al. 2001:445

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 13 Agents of Socialization –Technology socializes families into multitasking as the social norm Mass Media and Technology 47% of parents reported at least one child has a TV in his/her bedroom

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 14 Agents of Socialization Figure 4-1. Internet Usage, Ages 10—17 Source: Kaiser Family Foundation/San Jose Mercury News 2003

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 15 Agents of Socialization –Learning to behave appropriately within occupational setting is fundamental aspect of human socialization Socialization in workplace involves four phases: –Career choice –Anticipatory socialization –Conditioning –Continuous commitment Workplace

McGraw-Hill © 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Slide 16 Agents of Socialization –Government and organized religion impacted life course by reinstituting some rites of passage Religion and State