Chapter 3. Socialization

Transcription

1 Chapter 3 Socialization

2 What is Human Nature?

3 What is Socialization? Socialization is the process of learning the roles, statuses, and values necessary for participation in social institutions. Socialization is a lifelong process that begins with learning the rules and practices of our family and making these part of our selves.

4 Learning to Be Human Each of us begins life with the potential to walk, to communicate, to love, and to learn. Without nurture love and attention and hugging the human infant is unlikely to survive, much less prosper. The effects of neglect are sometimes fatal and, depending on severity, almost always result in retarded intellectual and social development.

5 Learning to Be Human The Effects of Feral Children If we were untouched by society would we act like wild animals? Documented cases show that feral children walk on all fours, bite scratch and growl, drank by lapping at water, ate grass and tore ravenously at raw meat. They also showed no insensitivity to pain or cold.

6 Learning to Be Human The Effects of Isolation We cannot ethically isolate children from parents or nurturing to study the results. But profound isolation has happened. The case of Isabelle The case of Genie

7 Learning to Be Human The Effects of Isolation Humans have no natural language Humans have no instincts that take the place of language Language is the key to human development

8 Learning to Be Human The Effects of Isolation Infant monkeys studied by psychologist Harry Harlow grew up locked in individual cages without social contact. They had difficulty learning to have sexual intercourse or raise their babies. These experiments suggest that even innate behaviors must be developed through interaction.

9 Learning to Be Human The Effects of Institutionalized Children Basic human traits of intelligence and bonding with others depends on early human interaction. Study of children adopted by British parents from either high quality British orphanages or low quality Romanian orphanages: 12% Romanian children autistic / near autistic 0% British children autistic / near autistic

10 Theoretical Perspectives on Socialization Freudian theory Piaget and cognitive development Structural Functional Conflict Theory Symbolic interaction theories

11 Theoretical Perspectives on Socialization Freudian Theory Socialization is a contest between the Id and the Superego The Id is the natural, unsocialized, biological portion of self, including hunger and sexual urges. The Superego is composed of internalized social ideas about right and wrong.

12 Theoretical Perspectives on Socialization Piaget and Cognitive Development There are 4 stages of cognitive development. 1. Sensorimotor (age birth-2) 2. Preoperational (age 2-7) 3. Concrete Operational (age 7-12) 4. Formal Operational (age 12+) Not all children accomplish the final stage

13 Theoretical Perspectives on Socialization Structural-Functional Theory The premise of all structural-functionalist analyses is that in a properly functioning society, all elements of society work together for the good of all. Through being properly socialized, young people learn how to become happy and productive members of society. Socialization also teaches acceptance of existing inequalities in the world.

14 Connections: Socialization and Schools Schools teach children not only reading, writing, and arithmetic, but also how to sit quietly and follow rules.

15 Theoretical Perspectives on Socialization Conflict Theory Conflict theory focuses on how socialization reinforces unequal power arrangements. Conflict theory is useful for understanding how socialization can quash dissent and social change and reproduce inequalities. It is less useful for explaining the sources and benefits of a stable social system.

16 Theoretical Perspectives on Socialization Symbolic Interaction Theory Premises: To understand human behaviors, we must first understand what those behaviors mean to individuals. Those meanings develop within social relationships. Individuals actively construct their selfconcepts, within limits imposed by social structures and social relationships.

17 Theoretical Perspectives on Socialization Symbolic Interaction Theory Looking Glass Self: Charles Horton Cooley we develop self concept through the looking glass self. We imagine how we appear to others. We imagine how others judge our appearance. We ponder, internalize, or reject these judgments. Self concept is our sense of who we are as individuals

18 Theoretical Perspectives on Socialization Symbolic Interaction Theory George Herbert Mead the self has two components called the I and the me. I refers to the spontaneous, creative part of the self; me describes the part of the self that responds to others expectations. We learn to function in society by balancing the desires of the I with the social awareness of the me through role taking.

19 Theoretical Perspectives on Socialization Symbolic Interaction Theory Role Taking: Involves imagining ourselves in the role of others in order to determine the criteria others will use to judge our behavior. Significant others are the role players with whom we have close personal relationships. The generalized other combines the expectations of all with whom we interact

20 Theoretical Perspectives on Socialization Symbolic Interaction Theory 3 Stages of Role Taking: 1. Imitation (under age 3) 2. Play (age 3-6) 3. Team Games (age 6+)

21 Agents of Socialization Agents of socialization all individuals, groups, and media that teach social norms. Family most important socialization agent. Peers individuals who share a similar age and social status (members of a peer group). School - transmits. society s central values. Mass Media forms of communication designed to teach broad audiences. Religion source of individual direction

22 Agents of Socialization Family Socialization The socialization that happens within the family is the foundation for future social interaction The parent s religion, social class, and ethnicity influence the child s behavior, beliefs, self concept and place in society. The self concept that is developed during childhood has lasting consequences

23 Agents of Socialization Peer Socialization As children spend more time away from home the socialization of the family weakens. Most children place a high value on peer acceptance and conform to a peer group. The behavior and values of peer groups often differ from those of adults.

24 Agents of Socialization School Socialization School teach more than just math and science. They also teach societies values. Schools teach students to compete and evaluate themselves based on achievement. The socialization happening in the school is helping to prepare students for the working world.

25 Agents of Socialization Mass Media Socialization Throughout our lives we are bombarded with messages from the media. Television is probably the most influential of all media sources. Some scholars believe media promotes violence, sexism, racism and other problematic ideas. Media supports what we already know

26 Agents of Socialization Religous Socialization Religious ideas are so much a part of US society that they influence the religious as well as the non religious. Participation in religion can change an individuals beliefs, self concept and social position. Political Movements based on religious differences can change whole societies.

27 Socialization through the Life Course Childhood (birth 12) primary socialization Adolescence (13-17) anticipatory socialization Transitional Adulthood (18-29) Adulthood (30+) professional socialization Age 65 and beyond role exit

28 Anticipatory Socialization Anticipatory socialization prepares us for the roles we will take in the future. Anticipatory socialization occurs throughout the stages of life course, but especially in adolescence. Children play out their visions of role identities and behaviors.

29 Resocialization Occurs when we abandon our self-concept and way of life for a radically different one. Examples: People who become permanently disabled. When an individual s behavior leads to social problems as is the case with habitual criminals, problem alcoholics, and mentally disturbed individuals.

30 Resocialization Total Institutions Facilities in which all aspects of our life are strictly controlled for the purposes of radical resocialization. Examples: Military boot camps prisons mental hospitals monasteries

31 Resocialization Case Study: Boot Camp Uniforms, shaved heads, harsh discipline, and rigorous physical demands are used to encourage young prison boot-camp inmates to abandon deviant identity and adopt a new socially conforming selfconcept.

32 Where this leaves us Each of us is a product of biology, abilities, personality, experiences, and choices and each of us is a social creation. Socialization occurs throughout the life course. Primary socializing agents: family & peers. Structural functionalists believe socialization smoothly integrates us into a stable social system. Conflict theorists believe socialization reinforces a status hierarchy and unequal power. Symbolic interactionists believe self-concept develops from interpretations of interactions.