 First group to have impact  Lays down basic sense of self  Establishes initial values and beliefs  Sociologists observe family interactions in public ◦ found that family sends subtle gender messages  Family and Social Classes ◦ Upper, Middle, and Lower

 Concerned with conformity  Desire… ◦ obedience ◦ neatness ◦ staying out of trouble  Reinforcement through physical punishment

 Focus more on developing children’s curiosity  Desire… ◦ curious ◦ expressive ◦ self-control  More concerned with motivations for behavior so less likely to use physical punishment

 Working Class  Middle Class

 Some neighborhoods are better to raise children in then others  What makes a good neighborhood?  According to sociological research, kids from poor neighborhoods are more likely to… ◦ Get into trouble with the law ◦ Get pregnant ◦ Drop out of school ◦ Use drugs

 Research shows, kids in more affluent neighborhoods are more likely to have neighbors who watch out for them

 Chances of being a victim in Chicago = 1 in 7  "The bigger the neighborhood, the more crime you'd expect”  Andrew Schiller, Phd. For NeighborhoodScout

Mohansic

 Religion influences Morality  70% of Americans belong to a religious group  Influences ◦ Dress ◦ Speech ◦ Manners

 Purpose of formal education— transmission of knowledge and skills ◦ Academic: reading, writing, math ◦ Social: prepare for role in the world beyond the family, universality, political socialization, etc.  Hidden Curriculum

 Sports teach physical skills and values ◦ Teamwork ◦ Discipline ◦ Dedication

 As more women enter the workforce, day care becomes a significant agent  Effects of Daycare ◦ (-) weaken bonds between parent and child ◦ Behavioral problems??

 Anticipatory Socialization ◦ prepare/learn to play a role before entering it ◦ read books about a career, internships, etc.  Work becomes part of self- concept ◦ Ask “What are you?” when meeting new people

 Peers—individuals of about the same age linked by common interests  As children enter school, peers challenge family as the most influential agent  Conformity or Rejection!!  The peer group you are in determines: ◦ dress, music you listen to, morality, etc.  Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who you are!!

 Learning new values, norms, attitudes and behaviors to match a new situation  Examples: ◦ entering a convent ◦ Just divorced ?—learning to act single ◦ entering AA ◦ joining a cult

 Total Institutions ◦ People cut off from the rest of society ◦ Come under total control of the officials who run the place ◦ Ex: boot camp, prisons, concentration camps, boarding schools, etc.  Degradation Ceremony ◦ total institutions begin with this ◦ attempt to remake the self by stripping away the individual’s current identity

 People progress and change throughout life  The time you grow up in affects you ◦ Middle Ages v. Today  Stages ◦ Childhood (birth to age 12) ◦ Adolescence (13-17) ◦ Young Adult (18-29) ◦ Middle Ages (30-65) ◦ Older Years (65+)