SOCIALIZATION SOCI 1010, CHAPTER #3 We all have to learn about the cultures in which we live. SOCI 1010, CHAPTER #3

Isolated Children Feral children Renee Spitz - institutionalized children Harry Harlow - monkey studies Deprivation dwarfism There are records of children who have been raised in isolation from human contact. Feral children are children who have been raised by non-human species - primates or wolves Renee Spitz observed the abnormal development of war orphans in large institutional setting Harry Harlow studied how monkeys raised in isolation from normal parental contact grow up to be socially and/or neurologically disabled. (film: “Rock-a-Bye Baby” in EVC library) There is evidence that growth and development are inhibited by deprivation of normal, intimate, nurturing contact. (film: Nell)

Socialization Definition - learning to be a person Transmission of culture Nature versus nurture Isolated children lack the benefits that those of us who are raised in “normal” families have…the opportunity to be socialized into our culture. Socialization may be defined as the process of learning how to become a contributing member of one’s culture. Socialization can also be the process of teaching or transmitting the culture. In the specialized usage here, to socialize means to teach about the culture - not to communicate with friends in a social setting. In other words, it is not “I think I’ll go to the bar and socialize with my friends.” If we consider the nature versus nurture controversy, the socialization process roughly compares with nurture. (film: Trading Places)

Theories Related To Socialization Charles Horton Cooley: looking-glass self George Herbert Mead: role development; symbolic learning; ”I" and "me" The Chicago School of Sociology was instrumental in the development of socialization theory. Charles Horton Cooley indicated that we use the reactions of others as a social mirror that enables us to develop and adjust our sense of self. George Herbert Mead is responsible for the core of interactionist socialization theory. He studied the ways we develop or place in society and ready ourselves for assuming adult roles. His theory also includes a model for looking at the self as a dynamic interaction between the “I” our inner-directed, private self and the “me” our socially constructed self.

Theories Continued Jean Piaget: Cognitive Development Sigmund Freud Id, Ego and Superego The connection between sociology and psychology is strongest as we examine socialization. Jean Piaget formulated a theory of how we learn to use our cognitive skills to process information and think in increasingly more sophisticated ways. Sigmund Freud envisioned the personality as having three parts that operate on both the conscious and unconscious levels and develop throughout our childhood. The id, present at birth and almost entirely unconscious, represents the selfish, pleasure-oriented self. The ego, which develops as we interact with others, represents the reality-oriented side of the self. The superego, develops last and operates mostly at the conscious level, is also known as the conscience and operates on the morality principle.

Agents Of Socialization Family School Church Peer group Government Sports Mass media Books News media Television Music/radio Those individuals and groups who are responsible for teaching us about the culture are known as agents of socialization. Obviously, the family is first and foremost among these. A manifest function of the educational system is socialization. The mass media and the peer group have strong influence on our behavior and agents like the church and the government have, at least compartmentalized, influences on each of us.

http://www.thirdage.com/news /archive/991220-02.html?std http://www.newseum.org/century/ http://www.thirdage.com/news /archive/991220-02.html?std How well are you socialized? What do you know about the individuals who were important to our culture in the 20th Century? Go to the Newseum website and take the “quiz.” Enter your reaction to the discussion.

Learning To Be A New Person Can we ever escape the influences of our cultures? Can you leave behind ideas / patterns to which you were socialized? Typically, we cannot escape the socialization we have experienced into our culture. Usually we don’t want to escape it. But, even if marooned on a desert island, we would continue to think in our native language; cook food, when possible; cover ourselves with clothing; construct buildings and furniture with a familiar shape and structure (the best we can, given the materials available to us), etc. As people assimilate into new cultures, they may replace their culture of origin, but most social scientists believe that it continues to influence their ideas, values, and behaviors. What do you think? Go to the discussion and enter your thoughts related to this issue or reply to someone who has already entered a response.

Resocialization Unlearning and relearning Total institutions Life changes Occupations There are some circumstances that require unlearning cultural norms, information, and behaviors and relearning new ones. This process is called resocialization and generally happens when we enter into or leave what Goffman calls a total institution (an environment such as prison, military basic training and/or mental hospital. Less dramatic and less complete forms of resocialization may accompany rites of passage on life changes such as graduating from the life of student to that of employee; being married and changing from the life of bachelorhood to partnership; or changing from wife to widow at the death of one’s spouse. Occupational change may also result in a resocialization experience - worker to foreman; intern to doctor, etc.