1. Socialization and the Life Course
Sociology in Modules
Socialization and the Life Course

2. Socialization and the Life Course
The Role of Socialization
The Self and Socialization through the Life Course
Agents of Socialization

3. A Look Ahead How does socialization help us behave properly?
In what ways does socialization aid in the transmission of culture?
How does socialization help shape our self image?
ISABELLE – Another Isolated Child
Background
Isabelle was an illegitimate child discovered in November 1938
Her mother was deaf-mute
Living Conditions
Both Isabelle and her mother were kept in a darkroom isolated from the rest of her mother’s family
Isolated alone with her mother
Behaviours Exhibited
Isabelle’s behaviour toward strangers, especially men was like as if she was a wild animal
She manifested fear and hostility
In the place of speech, Isabelle only made strange croaking sounds
She couldn’t communicate properly because she learned how to communicate from her deaf-mute mother
Skills/Languages Learned After Discovered
When Isabelle was found she was part of a skilful program of training
After one week of intensive training efforts, she made her first vocalization
She gradually began to respond to others
Learned characteristics from the years of 1-6 more rapidly than normal
She was able to put sentences together
9 months later, she was able to identify words and sentences
She was able to write well, add to ten and retell a story
Had a vocabulary of
Began to ask complicated questions
Prognosis/Recovery
She eventually learned language and characteristics of the years 1-6 more rapidly than normal. ( she learned in everything in two years what usually takes 6)
Recovered well overall, able to communicate well. She was a bright and energetic girl and was able to go to school
Developed well and was able to lead a normal life
Positive Consequence
Isabelle developed well and was able to lead a normal life like an average child

4. The Role of Socialization
Socialization: Lifelong process in which people learn appropriate attitudes, values, and behaviors
Nature vs. nurture

5. Agents of Socialization
Family
Cultural Influences
The Impact of Race and Gender
Gender roles: Expectations regarding proper behavior, attitudes, and activities of males and females

6. Agents of Socialization
School
Teaches values and customs of larger society
Traditionally socialized children into conventional gender roles
Peer Group
As children grow older, peer groups increasingly assume role of Mead’s significant others

7. Agents of Socialization
Mass Media and Technology
Technology socializes families into multitasking as social norm
68% of U.S. children have television in their bedrooms
Nearly half of youths ages 8 to 18 use the Internet every day

8. Agents of Socialization
Workplace
Learning to behave appropriately within occupational setting is a fundamental aspect of human socialization
Religion and State
Government and organized religion impact life course by reinstituting some rites of passage

9. Social Environment: The Impact of Isolation
Interaction of heredity and environment shape human development
Genie and Oksana: Two Cases
Importance of earliest socialization experiences for children
Primate Studies
Harlow showed isolation had damaging effect on monkeys
ISABELLE – Another Isolated Child
Background
Isabelle was an illegitimate child discovered in November 1938
Her mother was deaf-mute
Living Conditions
Both Isabelle and her mother were kept in a darkroom isolated from the rest of her mother’s family
Isolated alone with her mother
Behaviours Exhibited
Isabelle’s behaviour toward strangers, especially men was like as if she was a wild animal
She manifested fear and hostility
In the place of speech, Isabelle only made strange croaking sounds
She couldn’t communicate properly because she learned how to communicate from her deaf-mute mother
Skills/Languages Learned After Discovered
When Isabelle was found she was part of a skilful program of training
After one week of intensive training efforts, she made her first vocalization
She gradually began to respond to others
Learned characteristics from the years of 1-6 more rapidly than normal
She was able to put sentences together
9 months later, she was able to identify words and sentences
She was able to write well, add to ten and retell a story
Had a vocabulary of
Began to ask complicated questions
Prognosis/Recovery
She eventually learned language and characteristics of the years 1-6 more rapidly than normal. ( she learned in everything in two years what usually takes 6)
Recovered well overall, able to communicate well. She was a bright and energetic girl and was able to go to school
Developed well and was able to lead a normal life
Positive Consequence
Isabelle developed well and was able to lead a normal life like an average child

10. The Influence of Heredity
Minnesota Twin Family Study
Twins have similar intelligence test scores when reared apart in roughly similar social settings
Different scores when reared in different social settings

11. The Self and Socialization
Self: Distinct identity that sets us apart from others
The self is not a static phenomenon
It continues to develop and change

12. Cooley: Looking-Glass Self
View of ourselves comes from contemplation of personal qualities and impressions of how others perceive us
Looking-glass self: The self is product of social interactions with other people

13. Mead: Stages of the Self
Preparatory Stage: Children imitate people around them
As they grow older, children become more adept at using symbols

14. Mead: Stages of the Self
Play Stage: Children develop skill in communicating through symbols and role taking occurs
Role taking: Process of mentally assuming perspective of another and responding from that imagined viewpoint

15. Mead: Stages of the Self
Game Stage: Children of about 8 or 9 consider several actual tasks and relationships simultaneously
-Mead used the game of baseball as an example of this stage

16. Mead: Stages of the Self
Generalized others: Children of about 10 begin to take the attitudes, viewpoints, and expectations of society as a whole into account.

17. 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

18. 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

19. Functionalist Theory/Perspective on Socialization
Socialization refers to the lifelong process of inheriting and disseminating norms, customs and ideologies, providing an individual with the skills and habits necessary for participating within his or her own society.
The values and norms via socialization are agreed upon by all members of society because there is a "social contract" in effect which protects us from one another and keeps society stable and balanced. Keep social system organized, as well.

20. Conflict Theory and Perspective on Socialization
One of the most powerful and effective tools used by those in power to:
maintain the status quo (change could threaten some and benefit others)
Punishes those who deviate from norms; rewards those who conform to norms
legitimize existing social inequalities by reinforcing what is valuable and right and what is devalued and different (i.e. language, dress, what is success)
Prepares people for class related roles they will fill throughout their lives

21. Symbolic Interactionist Theory and Perspective on Socialization
From the micro perspective, symbolic interactionists examine for example:
Gender socialization on the day-to-day level; e.g. the meaning of what it is to be a girl or a boy in a society and then how those in society socialize girls and boys based on this meaning.
Class socialization on the day to day; the meaning of rich and poor in a society and then how those in a society socialize or are socialized differently based on this meaning of class/status

23. Sociology on Campus Impression Management by Students
How do you react to those who have received higher or lower grades than you? Do you engage in impression management? How would you like others to react to your grades?
What social norms govern students’ impression management strategies?

24. Most difficult socialization challenges occur in later years
The Life Course
Rites of Passage: Means of dramatizing and validating changes in a person’s status
Life Course Approach: Looking closely at social factors that influence people throughout their lives
Most difficult socialization challenges occur in later years 28

25. Roles The expected behavior associated with a particular status
A father is expected to act in a certain manner
A military general is expected to act in a certain manner
Statuses are occupied
Roles are acted and played
An individual’s role set includes all the roles occupied by the person at a given time.

26. Status Status is a rank in society Status occur in institutions
President of the U.S.
Status occur in institutions
Master Teacher is a status in schools
An individual can occupy many statuses concurrently

27. Elements of Social Structure or Order
Statuses
Ascribed – race, sex, royalty, disability,
Achieved – student, friend, pastor, spouse, President of U.S.
Master – the one role that dominates all your roles.
Social roles
Role conflict is a conflict among the roles corresponding to two or more statuses; is a special form of social conflict that takes place when one is forced to take on two different and incompatible roles at the same time.
Role strain is having conflicting obligations with one role?
Role exit
Groups
Social networks – what groups or networks do you belong to?
Social institutions
Functionalist view
Conflict view

29. Example of Role Occupation

30. Anticipatory Socialization and Resocialization
Anticipatory socialization: Person “rehearses” future occupations and social relationships
Resocialization: Discarding former behavior patterns and accepting new ones during transitions in one’s life 34

31. Anticipatory Socialization and Resocialization
Total institution: Regulates all aspects of a person’s life under a single authority
Degradation ceremony: Ritual where individual becomes secondary and rather invisible in overbearing social environment 35

32. Milestones in the Transition to Adulthood36

33. Table 15-1: High School Popularity37

34. Research Today Online Socializing: A New Agent of Socialization
Do you list your “friends” on an online social networking site? If so, what is your motivation for doing so?
Do you think the advantages of online social networking outweigh the disadvantages?

35. Figure 15-1: The New Normal: Internet at Home39

36. Research Today Rum springa: Raising Children Amish Style
Do you or anyone you know come from a subculture that rejects mainstream American culture? If so, describe the community’s norms and values.
Why do you think so many Amish youths return to their families’ way of life after rebelling against it? 40

37. Child Care Around the World
If parents are working so much that they need to place children in daycare for 8-10 hours/day, what impact does this have on their socialization?
In the U.S., 73% of employed mothers depend on others to care for their children
30% of mothers who aren’t employed have regular care arrangements

38. Child Care Around the World
Looking at the Issue
Researchers found high quality child-care centers do not adversely affect socialization of children, but low quality child care center do have an adverse affect on children.
Few in U.S. can afford HIGH quality childcare, and few can afford to have a parent stay at home with child
Finding the right kind of day care is challenging

39. Child Care Around the World
Applying Sociology
Interactionists favor studies assessing quality of child care outside of home; microlevel of analysis
Conflict perspective notes child care costs are burden for lower-class families
Functionalist perspective notes that childcare centers provide a sense of security and stability for society and allows for the economy to function.

40. Child Care Around the World
Initiating Policy
Policies vary throughout the world
When policymakers decide child care is desirable, policy makers must determine degree taxpayers will subsidize it

41. Figure 15-2: Child Care Costs in Industrial Nations45