Socialization and the Life Course Chapter 4

Socialization Lifelong social experiences by which individuals develop their human potential and learn culture Personality – a person’s fairly consistent patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting Self – a dimension of personality composed of an individual’s self-awareness and self-image

Hardwiring Cultural Transmission Enculturation Personality

Social Environment: The Impact of Isolation Interaction of heredity and environment shape human development – Isabelle and Genie – Primate Studies

Genie’s Sketch Source: Curtiss 1977:274.

Sigmund Freud’s Personality Model Id – the human being’s basic drives Ego – a person’s conscious efforts to balance innate pleasure-seeking drives with the demands of society Superego – the operation of culture within the individual

Mead: Theory of the Self Self begins as privileged, central position in a person’s world As the person matures, the self changes and begins to reflect greater concern about reactions of others Significant others: Individuals most important in the development of the self

George Herbert Mead Stages of self 1 st stage – Preparatory stage – children imitate people around them 2 nd stage – Play stage- role taking – mentally assuming the perspective of another 3 rd stage – Game stage- can consider tasks and relationships simultaneously

Charles Horton Cooley Looking glass self – we learn who we are by interacting with others Imagine how we are presenting ourselves Imagine how people are evaluating us Form opinions about ourselves based on our perceptions

Jean Piaget – Stages of Cognitive Development 1 st stage – sensorimotor – level of human development in which individuals experience the world only through sensory contact 2 nd stage – preoperational – individuals first use language and other symbols

Jean Piaget – Stages of Cognitive Development Stage 3 – concrete operational – individuals first perceive causal connections in their surroundings Stage 4 – formal operational – individuals think abstractly and critically

Goffman: Presentation of the Self Impression management: Individual learns to slant presentation of self to create distinctive appearances and satisfy particular audiences – Also known as dramaturgical approach – Face-work: Need to maintain proper image of self to continue social interaction

Erik Erikson 8 stages of development Stage 1 – Infancy – trust vs. distrust Stage 2 - Toddlerhood – autonomy vs. doubt and shame Stage 3 – Preschool – Initiative vs. guilt Stage 4 – Pre-Adolescence – industriousness vs. inferiority

Erik Erikson Stage 5 – Adolescence – identity vs. confusion Stage 6 – Young Adulthood – Intimacy vs. isolation Stage 7 – Middle Adulthood – Making a difference vs. Self-absorption Stage 8 – Old Age – integrity vs. despair

Agents of Socialization Family School Peer groups Mass media and technology

Targeted Socialization Anticipatory socialization – social learning geared toward gaining a desired position Resocialization – altering personality through deliberate control of the environment Total Institution – all aspects of a person’s life are under one authority