socialization

Socialization

SocializationO The lifelong process through which

people are prepared to participate in society

O By studying how people learn the rules of society, we hope to better understand why people think and act as they do

Nature-Nurture DebateO Controversy over the extent to which

behavior results from predetermined biological characteristics or from socialization

Nature-Nurture DebateO Sociology

O Study of biological and genetic determinants of behavior

O Instincts – patterns of reflexes that occur in animalsO No powerful, fixed drives or instincts

have been discovered in humans

Nature-Nurture DebateO Money (1980)

O Environmental factors become part of our biology when we perceive them

O When information enters our minds, it is translated into a biochemical form

O Information stored in the brain can cause physiological changes in the body

Social IsolationO Infants and social interaction

Social IsolationO Feral children

O Wild boy of Aveyron, France 1800O Traian Caldarar, Romania 2002

Social IsolationO Children in institutions

Social IsolationO Abused and

neglected childrenO Genie

Development of SelfO Mead

O The unique feature of the human mind is its capacity to use symbolsO Human development proceeds from

this abilityO A self develops through language and

interactionO Symbolic interaction

Development of SelfO “The self is something which has a

development; it is not initially there, at birth, but arises in the process of social experience and activity, that is, develops in the given individual as a result of his relations to that process as a whole and to other individuals within that process.”

Development of SelfO Role taking – process of figuring out

how others will actO Play – three stages through which the

self emerges

Development of Self1. Preparatory stage – children are

only capable of imitation2. Play stage – children begin to take

on the role of others significant in their lives

3. Game stage – children are capable of understanding not only one role, but the roles of several individuals simultaneously

Development of SelfO Mead

O Generalized other – the organized community or social group that provides reference for one’s behavior

O I & MeO I – not self consciousO Me – part of the self that see the self as

object; concerned with society’s expectations

Development of SelfO Cooley

O Looking-glass self – the self develops in a process that requires reference to other peopleO How we think our behavior appears to

othersO How we think others judge our

behaviorsO How we feel about their judgments

O When we refer to ourselves we are usually referring to our looking-glass selves

O Merton’s self-fulfilling prophecy

Development of SelfO Goffman

O Presentation of self – the way we present ourselves gives other people clues about the type of interaction we expect

Development of SelfO Dramaturgical approach

O Backstage and onstageO Actors and audience

Development of SelfO Goffman

O Maintaining the selfO Excuses & disclaimers

O We expect others to maintain their roles, when this does not happen we react emotionally

O Groups agree to uphold roles, failure to do so can result in an emotional reaction

Major Agents of Socialization

O FamilyO SchoolO Peer groupsO ReligionO Mass media

Socialization as AdultsO “Training” for new rolesO Resocialization

O Necessitated by a major break in a person’s customary life