Socialization and the Construction of Reality Chapter 4 Socialization and the Construction of Reality Lecture PowerPoint © W. W. Norton & Company, 2008

Socialization: The Concept Socialization is the process by which individuals internalize the values, beliefs, and norms of a given society and learn to function as a member of that society. Photo Courtesy of Getty You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Limits of Socialization The concept of socialization is useful for understanding how people become functioning members of society. However, it cannot explain everything about a person’s development and personality. Biology is also a very important component. It is a combination of biology and social interactions that makes us who we are. You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Theories of Socialization Charles Horton Cooley theorized that the “self” emerges from our ability to assume the point of view of others and imagine how those others see us. Photo Courtesy of Getty You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Theories of Socialization George Herbert Mead Developed a theory about how the social self develops over the course of childhood Infants know only the “I,” but through social interaction they learn about “me” and the “other” They develop a concept of the “generalized other,” which allows them to apply norms and behaviors learned in specific situations to new situations You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Theories of Socialization Mead stressed the importance of imitation, play, and games in helping children recognize one another, distinguish between self and other, and grasp the idea that others can have multiple roles. Photo Courtesy of AP Photo You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Theories of Socialization Eric Erikson Established a theory of psychosocial development that identifies eight stages that span a person’s lifetime Each stage involves a specific conflict that a person must resolve in order to move on to the next stage You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Agents of Socialization Families, school, peers, the media, and total institutions are all important socializing agents or environments. A total institution is an institution in which one is totally immersed that controls all the basics of day-to-day life. Photo Courtesy of Getty You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Robert Merton’s role theory Social Interaction Robert Merton’s role theory provides a way to describe social interaction Status Roles Role Strain Role Conflict Status Set Ascribed Status Achieved Status Master Status You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Social Interaction Gender roles Set of behavioral norms associated primarily with males or females in a given social group or system. Gender theorists argue that gender roles can be more powerful and influential than other roles that people fill. Photo Courtesy of Getty You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

The Social Construction of Reality Socially construction People give meaning or value to ideas or objects through social interactions. Ongoing process that is embedded in our everyday interactions. You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

The Social Construction of Reality Symbolic interactionism is a micro-level theory based on the idea that people act in accordance with shared meanings, orientations, and assumptions. Erving Goffman’s dramaturgical theory views social life as a theatrical performance in which we are all actors on metaphysical stages with roles, scripts, costumes, and sets. You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

The Social Construction of Reality Ethnomethodology is an approach to studying human interaction that focuses on the ways in which we make sense of our world, convey this understanding to others, and produce a mutually shared social order. Photo Courtesy of Getty You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

The Social Construction of Reality Harold Garfinkel developed a method for studying social interactions, called “breaching experiments,” which involved having collaborators exhibit “abnormal” or “atypical” behaviors in social interactions in order to see how people would react. You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

The Social Construction of Reality The Internet has created new types of social interaction that don’t incorporate verbal and visual cues people are accustomed to relying on. It has also changed society by creating new types of crimes and new ways of communicating. You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

The Social Construction of Reality Because our reality is socially constructed, an unexpected change in that reality can be upsetting, frustrating, or just plain incomprehensible. We all have a stake in maintaining consensus on shared meanings so that our society can continue to function smoothly. You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Concept Quiz 1. In social development theory, the “self” can be defined as _______. a) the individual identity of a person as perceived by that same person b) one’s sense of agency, action, or power c) the identity of a person as perceived by others d) All of the above Answer: A You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Concept Quiz 2. According to George Herbert Mead’s stages of development, children learn to recognize an “other” through _____. a) formal games b) imitation c) playing informally with other children d) None of the above Answer: B You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Concept Quiz 3. ______ are common agents of socialization. a) Siblings b) Teachers c) Television programs d) All of the above e) None of the above Answer: D You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Concept Quiz 4. Which of the following is an example of a total institution? a) An elementary school b) A sports team c) A convent d) A political party Answer: C You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Concept Quiz 5. Which of the following theories argues that people’s choices about how to act are based on shared meanings, orientations, and assumptions? a) Symbolic interactionism b) Functionalism c) Dramaturgical theory d) Postmodernism Answer: A You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Concept Quiz 6. Harold Garfinkel is well known for _______. a) developing the theory of impression management b) creating breaching experiments c) investigating the armed forces as a total institution d) his analysis of socialization agents Answer: B You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Figure 4.1 | Erikson’s Eight Stages of Psychosocial Personality Development (pt. 1)

Figure 4.1 | Erikson’s Eight Stages of Psychosocial Personality Development (pt. 2)

Table 4.1 | Mead’s Stages of Social Development