1. The 4 major agents of socialization
Family
School
Peers
Mass Media

2. FAMILY What are the important functions of the family?
They are the primary focus for procreation and socialization
We form a sense of self and acquire beliefs and values from the family
We learn about the dominant culture and those to which our family belongs.

3. Why is the family especially significant to young children?
Because young children have little social experience beyond it’s boundaries, and no basis for comparison or evaluating how they are treated by their own family.

4. How do conflict theorists see socialization?
Socialization contributes to a “false consciousness”, a lack of awareness and distorted perception of reality.
Socialization reaffirms and reproduces the class structure in the next generation rather than challenging the conditions that currently exist.
Examples:

5. SCHOOL
Why have schools come to play a larger role in the socialization of young people?
Because of the amount of time children in an educational setting has increased.

6. Why have pre-school and daycare programs increased in the last two decades?
Because of the increase in the number of one parent families or families in which both parents work.
70% of Canadian preschool children are in daycare.

7. How have children benefited from daycare and pre-school programs?
Studies have shown that they have a positive effect on the overall socialization of the child.
Especially beneficial for children from less advantaged backgrounds, as they provide learning experiences they might not learn at home.

8. VIEWS OF SCHOOL FUNCTIONALIST CONFLICT Schools are responsible for:
-Teaching students to be productive members of society.
-Transmission of culture
Social control and personal development
Selection, training and placement of individuals on different rungs in the society.
Students have different experiences in school depending on their social class, ethnic background, gender, etc…
“Hidden Curriculum”
Competition, materialism, work over play, obedience to authority and attentiveness
- Education is more based on child’s ability to conform.

9. PEER GROUP
A group of people who are linked by common interests, equal social position and usually similar age.
In what ways are peer groups important agents of socialization?
Function as agents of socialization by contributing to our sense of “belonging” and feelings of self-worth.
Provide adolescents with some degree of freedom from authority
Teach about acceptable behavior
Reflect larger culture and pass that on to others

10. MASS MEDIA
Large scale organizations that use print, electronic means (such as radio, television, film and internet) to communicate with large numbers of people.
5 ways in which mass media serve as an agent of socialization:
Inform us about events
Introduce us to a wide variety of people
Provide an array of viewpoints on current issues
Make us aware of products and services
Entertain us- provide us with the opportunity to live vicariously through other peoples experiences

11. Consequences of watching television:
POSITIVE
NEGATIVE
-Can enhance children’s development by improving:
Language development
Concept formation skills
Reading skills
Encouraging prosocial skills
-Lower grades in school
Read fewer books
Exercise less
Obesity
TV violence (average child will witness approximately