Chapter 4 SOCIALIZATION

THE IMPORTANANCE OF SOCIALIZATION Section 1 THE IMPORTANANCE OF SOCIALIZATION

SOCIALIZATION & PERSONALITY  Socialization the process of learning to participate in a group  How do we know socialization is important?  How do monkeys react to social isolation?  Harry Harlow  Can we generalize from monkeys to humans?

HARLOW EXPERIMENT

CASE STUDIES ON ISOLATED CHILDREN: ANNA ISABELLE abused &  Anna & Isabelle were socially and emotionally abused  Traumatic childhoods &

Briefly describe Harlow’s experiment. He took new born Rhesus monkeys and separated then from their mothers. They were then observed on their choice between 2 robot monkeys, one with soft covering and the other without covering but having food. The stimulus used was a loud siren and lights to scare the monkeys.

How do Harlow’s findings related to humans? Human babies have emotional needs such as affection, intimacy, and warmth. If they do not get these things they have difficulty forming emotional ties with others.

What things can be learned from the story of Anna? Ignoring the emotional needs of a child will seriously slow their ability to learn & function within society. This can also cause great physical damage as well.

What things are hypothesized from Isabelle? Even though she was not educated, her ability to learn was not hindered because she was stimulated emotionally. What things are hypothesized from Isabelle? * Intensive and prolonged social contact with others is key to being healthy

SOCIALIZATION & THE SELF Section 2 SOCIALIZATION & THE SELF

Agents of Socialization Institutions pass on expectations about appropriate social behavior: Family Media Peers Religion Sports

The Family Families introduce children to the expectations of society. How parents define and treat a child is crucial to the development of the child’s sense of self. Some families emphasize educational achievement; some may be more permissive, whereas others emphasize strict obedience and discipline.

The Media The average young person (age 8–19) spends 6 3/4 hours per day immersed in media in various forms, often using multiple media forms simultaneously. Television is the dominant medium, although half of all youth use a computer daily. Analysts estimate that by age 18, the average child will have witnessed at least 18,000 simulated murders on television.

Polling Question Which media source do you think has the strongest impact on attitudes and behaviors of your generation? Advertising Television Music and music videos The Internet Magazines

Peers For children, peer culture is an important source of identity. Through interaction with peers, children learn concepts of self, gain social skills, and form values and attitudes. Girls’ peer groups tend to be closely knit and egalitarian. Boys’ peer groups tend to be more hierarchical, with evident status distinctions between members.

Religion Children tend to develop the same religious beliefs as their parents. Very often those who disavow religion return to their original faith at some point in their life, especially if they have strong ties to their family of origin and after they form families of their own. Religious socialization also influences beliefs about sexuality, including the likelihood of tolerance for gay and lesbian sexuality.

Sports Through sports, men and women learn concepts of self. Men learn that being competitive in sports is considered a part of “manhood.” Current research finds that women in sports develop a strong sense of bodily competence, which is typically denied to them by the prevailing cultural images of women’s bodies.

Student-Athletes: The Impact of Title IX

Schools In school, teachers and other students are the source of expectations that encourage children to think and behave in particular ways. Research finds that teachers respond differently to boys than to girls, with boys receiving more of their attention. The hidden curriculum consists of the informal and often subtle messages about social roles conveyed through classroom interaction and materials.

Polling Question Which agent of socialization do you think is the most responsible for gender differences in how males and females are socialized? The family Religion The peer group Education Mass media

Moments in America for Children Every 9 seconds a high school student drops out. Every 20 seconds a child is arrested. Every 37 seconds a child is born to a mother who is not a high school graduate. Every 43 seconds a child is born into poverty. Every minute a child is born to a teen mother. Every 2 minutes a child is born at low birth weight.

Moments in America for Children Every 4 minutes a child is born to a mother who received late or no prenatal care. Every 4 minutes a child is arrested for drug abuse. Every 8 minutes a child is arrested for a violent crime. Every 19 minutes a baby dies.

Moments in America for Children Every 3 hours a child or youth under 20 is killed by a firearm. Every 3 hours a child or youth under 20 is a homicide victim. Every 5 hours a child or youth under 20 commits suicide. Every day a young person under 25 dies from HIV infection.

THE FUNCTIONALIST & CONFLICT PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIALIZATION  How does the functionalist perspective explain socialization?  Stresses the ways in which groups work together to create a stable society  How does the conflict perspective explain  Views socialization as perpetuating the status quo

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM & SOCIALIZATION  How does symbolic interactionism help us understand socialization?  The self-concept (an image of yourself as having an identity separate from other people)  The looking-glass self (an image of yourself based on what you believe others think of you

The Looking-glass Self

What are the 3 stages of the looking glass self process? Imagine how we appear to others Imagine the reaction of others to our appearance Evaluate ourselves according to how we imagine others have judged us *Not a conscience process/ Stages happen rapidly/ results can be positive and negative self evaluation An example would be getting ready for date.

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM & SOCIALIZATION  How does symbolic interactionism help us understand socialization?  Significant others (those people whose reactions are most important to you)

viewpoint to shape the self concept)  Significant others (those people whose reactions are most important to you)  Role taking (assuming the viewpoint of another person and using that viewpoint to shape the self concept)  Imitation stage Mead’s first stage in the development of role taking, children begin to imitate behaviors without understanding why  Play stage Mead’s second stage in the development of role taking, children act in ways they imagine other people would  Game stage Mead’s third stage in the development of role taking, children anticipate the actions of others based on social rules The generalized other ( integrated conception of the norms, values, and beliefs of one’s community or society)

“me” is the part of the self formed through socialization “I” is the part of the self that accounts for unlearned, spontaneous acts

Compare the “ME” & “I” Me I Predictable/ Created by socialization Directs 1st reaction to socially acceptable channels Can be overridden by I Spontaneous/Unlearned or Instinctual Acts in rage or excitement 1st reaction Can be directed by me Can over ride me

How the Media Influence FOCUS ON THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES Theoretical Perspective View of Socialization How the Media Influence Socialization Functionalism Stresses how socialization contributes to a stable society. Network television programs encourage social integation by exposing the entire society to shared beliefs, values and norms. Conflict Theory View socialization as a way for the powerful to keep things the same. Newspaper owners and editors exercise power by setting the political agenda for a community Symbolic Interactionism Holds that socialization is the major determinant of human nature Through words and pictures, children’s books expose the young to the meaning of love, manners, and motherhood.

AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION Section 3 AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION

THE FAMILY & SOCIALIZATION  Within the family the child learns to: 1. Think & speak 2. Internalize norms, beliefs, and values 3. Form some basic attitudes 4. Develop a capacity for intimate and personal relationships 5. Acquire a self-image

Who are the most common significant others? Your Parents Later in life your peers

What things does a child learn from their family? Think & Speak Internalize norms, beliefs, & value Form basic attitudes Develop capacity for intimate & personal relationships Acquire self image *Impact reaches far beyond its direct effect, families social class shapes what we think of ourselves & how we are treated by others.

SOCIALIZATION IN SCHOOLS  How do schools socialize students? Hidden curriculum (the informal and official aspects of culture that children are taught in school)  John Holt

What things are learned through school besides academics? Discipline/Order/Co-operation/Conformity Idea of time & schedule Rules & Regulations Rewards of praise/ Acceptance for proper behavior Young people must depend on each other for their social life

PEER GROUP SOCIALIZATION  How do peer groups contribute to socialization?  Peer groups (set of individuals of roughly the same age and interests)  Do friends or family have more influence on young people? Judith Harris

Briefly summarize the importance of peer groups. Different relationships: School/Family vs. Peer Group Experience conflict, competition, and cooperation Self direction  new ways of thinking, feeling, behaving, & engaging in self-expression

Briefly summarize the importance of peer groups. Independence from adults due to clashing norms of peer group Development of self-sufficiency Close ties with non-family and opposite sex Dealing with large numbers of different people * Peer groups have a growing effect on social development.

THE MASS MEDIA AND SOCIALIZATION  What role do the mass media play to socialization?  What about violence in the mass media (means of communication designed to reach the general population)?

What roles do mass media play in socialization? Pros Cons Displays role model for children to imitate Offer Children ideas about values in their society Provide images of : Achievement & Success Activity & Work Equality & Democracy Display violence and violent behavior Depicts ideas of discrimination & sexism Effects are hidden, subtle, and long term

PROCESSES OF SOCIALIZATION Section 4 PROCESSES OF SOCIALIZATION

DESOCIALIZATION & RESOCIALIZATION  How does desocialization prepare people for new learning?  Total institutions places in which people are separated from the rest of society & controlled by officials in charge  Desocialization the process of giving up old norms, values, attitudes & behaviors  How does resocialization help?  Resocialization the process of adopting new norms, values, attitudes, and behaviors

Summarize Desocialization & explain how it is done. Destruction of old self-concepts of personal identity Desocialization is done by: Replacing personal items with standard issue Using serial numbers to identify, instead of names Loss of privacy

GI JANE

ANTICIPATORY SOCIALIZATION  Anticipatory socialization the voluntary process of preparing to accept new norms, values, attitudes, and behaviors  Reference group group whose norms and values are used to guide behavior, group with whom you identify

Who would fall into Anticipatory Socialization? Pre-teens/ Teenagers/ and College Freshman This is a transition between something. Usually done on a voluntary basis.

Children in the United States

The World’s Children