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Socialization
4.2-4.4
Three Perspectives
Functionalist- emphasizes contributions
Conflict- emphasizes conflict, competition, and constraint
Symbolic Interactionism- focuses on interactions based on mutually understood symbols
Functionalist Perspective
Stresses the ways in which groups work together to create a stable society
Schools and families socialize children by teaching the same norms and values
Conflict Perspective
Views socialization as a way of perpetuating the status quo
People learn to accept their social status before they have enough self-awareness to realize what is happening
They do not challenge their position in life so they do not upset the existing class structure
Socialization is a way for the powerful to keep things the same
Symbolic Interactionism
Human nature is a product of society, not biology
Exposure to information and symbols leads to socialization
Self concept– Your image of yourself as having an identity
separate from other people
The looking-glass self
– Other people serve as mirrors for the development of the self
– A self-concept based on our idea of others’ judgment of us– A three stage process
Imagine how we appear to others Imagine the reaction of others to our (imagined) appearance Evaluate ourselves according to how we imagine others have
judged us– Not a conscious process
Because it comes from our imaginations, it can be distorted, but even if we believe something to be correct, the consequences are the same as if they were true
Significant others
– Some people serve as mirrors more than others– Those people whose reactions are most important to
your self concept– Changes throughout life
Role taking
Allows us to see ourselves through the eyes of someone else
3 Stages of Development (Mead)– Imitation stage- children begin to imitate others
without understanding why (18 months- 1 year)– Play stage- children act in ways they imagine
other people should (3-4 years)– Game stage- children anticipate the actions of
others based on social rules
The Generalized Other
A child’s self concept, attitudes, beliefs, and values gradually come to depend less on individuals and more on general concepts
Generalized other- an integrated conception of the norms, values, and beliefs of one’s community or society
What is the self?
Two Parts– “Me”- the part of the self formed through socialization
Accounts for predictability and conformity
– “I”- the part of the self that accounts for unlearned, spontaneous acts
– The “I” will take the “me” into account before acting in social situations
Socialization and the Mass Media
Theoretical Perspective View of Socialization How the media influences socialization
Functionalism Stresses how socialization contributes to a stable society
Network T.V. programs encourage social interaction by exposing the entire society to shared beliefs, values, and norms
Conflict Theory Views socialization as a way for the powerful to keep things the same
Newspaper owners and editors exercise power by setting the political agenda for a community
Symbolic Interactionism Holds that socialization is the major determinant of human nature
Through words and pictures, children’s books expose the young to the meaning of love, manners, and motherhood
The Internet and Socialization
Theoretical Perspective View of Socialization How the internet influences socialization
Functionalism Stresses how socialization contributes to a stable society
Allows information to be transmitted rapidly; e-mail is sent in seconds and is a highly functionalized process
Conflict Theory Views socialization as a way for the powerful to keep things the same
Entrepreneurs like Bill Gates have been extremely powerful as a result of technology, Internet use is related to income level and perpetuates inequality
Symbolic Interactionism Holds that socialization is the major determinant of human nature
Young children are exposed to more and more information and have the ability to communicate with larger circles of people
The Family and Socialization
Within the family, children learn to– Think and speak– Internalize norms, beliefs, and values– Form basic attitudes– Develop a capacity for intimate and personal relationships– Acquire a self image
Social class shapes what we think of ourselves and how others treat us far into adulthood
Schools and Socialization
Hidden curriculum- the informal and unofficial aspects of culture that are taught in school– Discipline– Order– Cooperation– Conformity– Time
Peer Group Socialization
Peer group- a set of individuals of roughly the same age and interests; agent of socialization not controlled by adults
– Experience conflict, competition, and cooperation– Experience in self-direction and self-expression– Development of self-sufficiency
• Because parents often commute, upper grade school children may spend more time with peers than parents. Many believe the peer group is having a growing effect on social development
The Mass Media and Socialization
Mass media- means of communication designed to reach the general population
Can sometimes be highly distorted Displays role models for children to
imitate and offers ideas for values in their society
Violence and the mass media– Hundreds of studies now conclude that
watching aggressive behavior on television significantly increases aggression
4 Processes Associated with Socialization after Childhood
Symbolic interactionism- views socialization as a lifelong process
1) Desocialization 2) Resocialization 3) Anticipatory socialization 4) Reference groups
Desocialization
Total institutions- places where residents are separated from the rest of society and controlled by officials in charge; end purpose is to permanently change the residents
Desocialization- the process by which people give up old norms, values, attitudes, and behaviors; the destruction of old self-concepts
– Standard-issue items– Serial numbers
Resocialization
Resocialization- the process by which people adopt new norms, values, attitudes, and behaviors
Attempt to give new self-concepts– Rewards and punishments
Concepts developed to analyze extreme situations, but also apply in other settings
– Marine corps– In a much less extreme form, changes in our life course
Anticipatory Socialization
The process of preparing (in advance) for new norms, values, attitudes, and behaviors
– Dating
Involves voluntary change May occur in people moving from one stage of life to
another Reference group- the group whose norms and
values are used to guide behavior; group with whom you identify