How has my family socialized me? Journal #14

Socialization & the Self Chapter 4 Section 2

The Functionalist and Conflict Perspectives on Socialization Review: What is Functionalism? It stresses the ways in which groups work together to create a stable society. Conflict Perspective? Views socialization as a way of perpetuating the status quo. Symbolic Interactionism? Developed by Charles Horton Cooley and George Herbert Mead. Argued that human nature is a product of society and not biological.

How does symbolic interactionism help us understand socialization? Through a number of key concepts: Self-concept Looking-glass Significant others Role taking Generalized other. Self-concept – an image of yourself as having an identity separate from other people. Self-Concept

Self-Concept As a teen you are in the developmental stage of your self-concept and sometimes being different isn’t diserable. To help you understand your own self-concept we will do the following exercise. In your journal write down the next journal number and follow the instructions: Describe yourself in one paragraph. Do not use any physical features. Focus on values, attitudes, beliefs, and personalities. You do not HAVE to share with the class.

How does symbolic interactionism help us understand socialization? Looking-glass self – an image of yourself based on what you believe others think of you. According to Cooley, this is a three stage process: First, we imagine how we appear to others. Next, we imagine the reaction of others to our (imagined) appearance. Finally, we evaluate ourselves according to how we imagine others have judged us. Example of process: You have a new teacher you want to impress so you prepare hard for the next days class. In class you make a comment during class discussion. Stage 1: You have an image of how you performed on the question. Stage 2: After finishing you think your teacher is disappointed in your answer. Stage 3: Because you think your teacher is disappointed, you feel bad about yourself.

Looking-Glass Theory Can this theory be distorted? Examples? Do we use some people as mirrors more than others? According to Mead we do, and these people are called our significant others. Significant others – those people whose reactions are most important to your self-concept. Examples for significant others for me: Parents, co-workers, boss, friends, girlfriend

Significant Others Journal 16?? I want you to write a couple of paragraphs telling me who the significant others in your life are. In these paragraphs include why these individuals are important and how they help shape your self-concept. You write about significant others from your past or present.

4.2 Continued Review: What is the difference between self-concept and looking-glass? Think about when you get ready in the morning and you look in a mirror, who are you getting ready for? Who are significant others? Journal #17 If not for rules or expectations, would you dress differently than you do? How and why? TED video, be ready to discuss after.

Role Taking Role taking – assuming the viewpoint of another person and using that viewpoint to shape self-concept. This allows us to take the viewpoint of another person and then respond to ourselves from that imagined viewpoint. Example: You want to ask your parents to get a new phone. By looking at it from their viewpoint, you will be able to see their objections and justify why you “need” a new phone.

How does the ability of role taking develop? Mead described this ability as happening in a three step process (all vocab words): Imitation stage Play stage Game stage Imitation Stage – children imitate behaviors without understanding. 1-2 year olds This can be physical or verbal behaviors learned from a significant other.

Play and Game Stages Play stage – children act in ways they imagine other people would. 3-4 year olds Examples would be pretending to be a Mom, Dad, police man, astronaut. Game Stage – children anticipate the actions of others based on social rules. Example: playing sports

Acting out of principle Generalized other: integrated conception of the norms, values, and beliefs of one’s community or society. Example: Being an honest person – you don’t do it always to please significant others but because it seems wrong not to do so.

What is the self? “Me” – the part of the self formed through socialization. What we do that is predictable and follows social norms. “I” – the part of the self that accounts for unlearned spontaneous acts. May occur when angry Yelling or being violent The “I” usually asks the “me” if something is acceptable or not.

Chapter 4 Section 2 Assessment Pg. 119 Questions #1-4 Due five mins before the end of the period.