SocializationProfessor Christine Monnier

What is socialization?Lifelong process of social interaction through which individuals acquire personality and self, and the physical, mental, and social skills needed for survival in society.

The importance of socialization is visible when it does not happen, as in the case of children raised in isolation (like Genie, video here) or children raised in institutions.

Nurture (social environment) is as important as nature(biology).

Products of socialization -PersonalityA personality (set of relatively stable traits) has three components:

Cognitive

Emotional

Behavioral

Biology may be involved but potentials develop in social and cultural contexts.

Listen to this piece by Mozart (part of his Requiem… I picked it because it is one of my favorite).

Products of socialization – The selfSelf or self-concept: the totality of our ideas, beliefs and feelings about who we are.

We develop a self-concept through socialization.

Several social scientists have conceptualized the self. We will review a few of them and their ideas:

Sigmund Freud – psychoanalysis

Charles Horton Cooley – looking-glass self

George Herbert Mead – role-taking

Jean Piaget – cognitive development

Lawrence Kohlberg – moral development

Sigmund Freud - PsychoanalysisId

Ego

Superego

Charles Horton Cooley – Looking-Glass Self

We develop a sense of self through interaction and feedback from others.

Behavior

Others’ reaction to behavior

Interpretation of behavior

Adaptation of behavior

Development or modification of self-concept

George Herbert Mead – Role-TakingRole-taking: the process by which a person mentally takes the role of another person or group in order to understand the world as they see it.

Role – Taking

Imitation / preparatory Play Game Generalized other

Capacity to take the role of…

No one Significant otherNon-structured

situation

Many othersOne structured

situation

Many othersMany situations

Self = “I” subjective self

“Me” objective self

Jean Piaget – Cognitive Development

Cognitive development: development of the ability to think

Cognitive Development

SensorimotorStage

Preoperational Stage

Concrete OperationalStage

Formal Operational Stage

Lawrence Kohlberg – Moral Development

Moral development: the capacity to process moral dilemmas.

Moral Development

PreconventionalLevel

Conventional Level

PostconventionalLevel

Dimensions of SocializationPrimary Socialization

Anticipatory Socialization

The Life Course

The social construction of childhood

Dimensions of SocializationResocialization

Total Institutions