1. Socialization

2. Socialization
lifelong process of social interaction through which individuals acquire a self- identity and the physical, mental and social skills needed for survival in society (p. 104)
or more simply put…
the interactive process of developing an identity and the skills required for surviving in society

3. Importance of Socialization
Humans are not born with instincts for survival which makes socialization necessary for all aspects of growth and development
Walk
Talk
Eat
Make friends
Find & keep a job
These are all skills that are acquired through socialization.

4. Nature vs. Nurture
Nature, or heredity, dictates biological needs and provides the basic material (height, eye colour, etc.) which is shaped by human interaction
Nurture, or social influence, impacts the way in which humans develop and how they behave
Twins separated at birth

5. Isolation or Lack of Socialization
Socialization provides the necessary training and experiences for humans to develop
Failing to provide an adequate social environment results in stunted development and poor social skills
Genie and her story illustrate the importance of socialization for what we consider natural development
“Secret of the Wild Child”

6. Agents of Socialization
Persons, groups, or institutions that teach us what we need to know in order to participate in society (p. 108)
Family
School
Peer Groups
Mass Media
Religion
Work

7. Agents of Socialization
Family
School
Develops cognitive (thinking), emotional, and physical skill sets
Teach values (cultural & social)
Main source of emotional support
Language acquisition, understanding of rules, how to interact with others, acceptable behaviour, and relationship skills developed
Increasingly more and more important
Rise in single parent/working families
Fills void left at home
Provides learning experiences
Specific knowledge and skills are taught
Introduces social control
Extended teaching of culture

8. Agents of Socialization
Peer Groups
Media
People linked by interest, social status, age
Contribute to each others sense of belonging
Teach and reinforce cultural norms and behaviours
Create and distribute culture
Large organizations
Means of communication to interact with large groups of people
Provide information & different perspectives
Promote products and services which influence society
Entertain us through the experience of others

9. Sociological Theories on Human Development
Sociologists suggest that we cannot form a sense of self without social interaction with others
Self-concept is the totality of our beliefs and feelings about ourselves and is made up of 4 parts:
Physical self (tall, short)
Active self (athletic, musical)
Social self (kind, honest, selfish)
Psychological self (beliefs)
(p. 115)

10. Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives
Charles Cooley and the “looking glass self” (p. 116)
Cooley asserted that self-concept is determined by how we feel others perceive us and is developed in three stages
Imagine how we look to others
Imagine how others perceive us
Develop self-concept
Wikipedia

11. Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives
George Herbert Mead and Role Taking
Three Stages of Development
Preparatory Stage (0-3 years)
Children imitate the people around them, interaction lacks meaning
Play Stage (3-5 years)
Language and symbol use, children can pretend to be other people, children can see themselves in relation to others
Game Stage (5 years and up)
Children become aware of social position and social expectations
Mead extended Cooley’s theories by linking self- concept with role taking
Role taking is mentally assuming the role of another person to understand their perspective

12. Social Psychological Theories on Human Development
Freud and Psychoanalysis
Freud proposed that there are 3 stages of human development: Id
Basic biological drives
Ego
Rational, reality-oriented, self-control
Superego
Conscience, moral and ethical
(p. 120)
In Freud’s model, the id and superego are opposites the ego must manage the opposing forces

13. Erikson and Psychosocial Development
Each stage presents conflict that must be resolved to maintain positive development.
For example, children that are well cared for during the first stage will be trusting, whereas children that are neglected are often anxious and mistrustful of their environments
(p. 121)
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14. Piaget and Cognitive Development
Jean Piaget focused on cognitive theory which is concerned with how people obtain, use and process information
Stage of Development
Age Range
Description
Sensorimotor
0-2
Require sensory contact & immediate action
Object permanence
No symbolic thought
Preoperational
2-7
Can understand words as mental images
Language and imagination are developed
Limited use of logic, little abstract thought
Concrete operational
7-11
Think in terms of tangible objects & actual events
Can understand actions & consequences
Can empathize with perspective of others
Formal operational
12+
Begin to understand abstract thought
Can understand people, things, places they have not seen
Can plan and evaluate for the future

15. Kohlberg and Moral Development
Heinz Dilemma
Levels of Moral Reasoning
Description
Preconventional
Ages 7-10
Punishment & obedience
Bad behaviour will be punished
Good behaviour is based on obedience and aversion to punishment
Conventional
Ages 10 +
Concerned with how they are seen by others
Avoid blame & seek approval
Postconventional
Rare, even in adults
Morality is based on individual rights
Abstract idea of justice and human rights/dignity

16. Gilligan: Gender & Moral Development
Psychologist Carol Gilligan found fault with Kohlberg’s research because he only studied male respondents
She suggested that women and men have different views on morality
Men are concerned with law & order, justice, right & wrong
Women are concerned with social consequences of behaviour
Female Moral Development
Stage 1: be selfish
Stage 2: choose most responsible action
Stage 3: determine the greatest good for self & others
She suggests that the reason for the difference is that men and women are socialized differently and therefore have different approaches to morality