Chapter 3 Socialization

Socialization Sociobiology Lifelong process Self-identity Survival skills Sociobiology How does biology affect social behavior? nature nurture

Social contact is necessary to human survival Harlow’s nonhuman primate studies of social isolation Harlow’s Monkeys Isolated Rhesus monkey babies will seek any comfort they can, clinging to surrogate mothers without food but covered in terry cloth as opposed to wire mothers with ample food. Female monkeys (reared this way) were very poor mothers, especially with first born. Their behaviors were timid, emotionally overexcitable. No type of conventional therapy (not drugs) provided any long-lasting restoration of normal social function. The most effective approach was exposure to much younger monkeys as they provoked safe and playful social interactions which drew the isolates out of their self-focused misery.

Child Abuse/Maltreatment Neglect is the most frequent form of child maltreatment Basic needs are not met: emotional security adequate shelter food health care education clothing protection

Social Psychological Theories of Human Development Sigmund Freud Id Ego Superego

Social Psychological Theories of Human Development Jean Piaget Sensorimotor (birth - 2) Preoperational (age 2 - 7) Concrete operational (age 7 - 11) Formal Operational (age 12 - adolescence)

Stages of Moral Development Lawrence Kohlberg Preconventional (age 7 - 10) Conventional (age 11 - adulthood) Postconventional Level (few reach this stage)

Gender and Moral Development Carol Gilligan Male bias in Kohlberg’s research Differences between men and women’s moral development Selfish concerns Responsibility to others Greatest good for self and others

Sociological Theories of Human Development I, me, my, mine, myself not present at birth

Self-Identity Self-Concept Totality of our beliefs and feelings about ourselves Our perceptions about what kind of person we are Physical Self Active Self Social Self Psychological Self Examples of the self-concept and the four components that make up self-concept: The Physical Self: “I am tall.” The Active self: “I am good at soccer.” The social self” “I am nice to others.” The psychological self: “I believe in world peace.” Based on the perceptions of others

Cooley and the Looking-Glass Self

Mead and Role Taking Significant others “I” versus “Me” “I” is the subjective element of the self “Me” is the objective element of the self Preparatory Stage (birth - 3) Play Stage (age 3 - 5) Game Stage (6 and beyond) Role-taking: the process by which a person mentally assumes the role of another person or group in order to understand the world from that person’s or group’s point of view. Significant others; those persons whose care, affection, and approval are especially desired and who are most important in the development of the self. What is the difference between the subjective and the objective in relationship to the demands and expectations of society? Preparatory Stage - Imitation Play Stage – Pretend/Role-Taking Game Stage – Rules and inevitability of role-taking in our society Generalized Other – demands and expectations of society

Agents of Socialization The Family The School Peer Groups Mass Media

feminine masculine Gender Socialization Gender socialization influences future gender roles in society, behaviors, appearances, etc.

Personal and group identity Racial Socialization Personal and group identity Intergroup and interindividual relationships Position in the Social Hierarchy Racial socialization is the aspect of socialization that contains specific messages and practices concerning the nature of one’s racial and ethnic status.

Resocialization Voluntary Involuntary

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