chapter 4 socialization: becoming human and humane © pine forge press, an imprint of sage...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 4Chapter 4Socialization: Socialization:
Becoming Human Becoming Human
and Humaneand Humane
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Socialization: the lifelong process of learning to become a member of the social world, including learning the values and beliefs of our culture
Interaction: the basic building block of socialization, through which a child is shaped into a human being and becomes a member of a society
Social self: the perceptions we have of who we are
Introduction
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
The nature vs. nurture debate: Which best explains the human self and human behavior—biology or socialization?
The nature argument:Sociobiology (evolutionary psychology): claims our genes “wire” us for social behavior
The nurture argument:Sociobiology is a reductionist theorySocial behaviors vary, are not hard-wiredSocialization is more important than genes
Nature vs. Nurture
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Children need human contact, affection, and interaction in order to fully develop
Evidence: Cases of isolated childrenE.g., Anna, Isabelle, neglected orphansBecause these children were not socialized at the proper time, they experienced developmental disorders and could not be fully integrated into society
The Importance of Socialization
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Most activities are part of the socialization experience:
Micro-level: e.g., parents, peer groupsMeso-level: e.g., schools, religious groupsMacro-level: e.g., national advertisements
Social importance of socializationOrganizations are dependent upon socialized people to help them surviveLack of adequate socialization increases the likelihood of deviant behavior
Socialization & the Social World
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Perspectives on SocializationMicro-level:
Symbolic Interactionism: the development of the self
Meso- and Macro-levels:Structural-functionalist perspective: various socializing agents support one another and society as a wholeConflict perspective: various socializing agents have conflicting goals
• Those in power ensure that others are socialized into supporting power structures which benefit elites
• Most individuals have little power to decide their futures
Socialization & the Social World
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Self: the perceptions we have of who we are, derived from our perceptions of the way others respond to us
The development of the self allows us to interact with others and function in the social world
We are not born with a self; its development begins in infancy
Biology and society both contribute to the development of the self
The self, our ability to be aware of ourselves as individuals, may be distinctive to humans
Development of the Self: Micro-Level Analysis
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
A symbolic interactionist theory of the self developed by Charles H. Cooley
The looking glass: “Each to each a looking-glass
Reflects the other that doth pass.”
The Looking Glass Self
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
A symbolic interactionist theory of the self developed by George Herbert Mead
Role-taking allows us to view ourselves from the standpoint of others, from the outsideOnce we can symbolically recognize objects, we can the view the self as an object
E.g., having a name allows us to see ourselves as objects separate from other objects
Reflexive behavior: ability to view oneself from the outside, as an object
Role-Taking
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Mead’s parts of the Self:The “I”: spontaneous, unpredictable, impulsive, acts without considering social consequences
The “me”: the reflexive part of the self, formed through role-taking, that knows the rules of society and attempts to control and direct the “I” into socially acceptable behavior
The “me” requires the ability to take the role of others, anticipating others’ reactions
Parts of the Self
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Mead’s stages of development
Imitation: child observes and imitates others
Play: children play at taking the roles of significant others, but do not understand complex relationships
Game: children take the roles of multiple others concurrently & the role of the generalized other
Generalized other: a composite of social expectationsAs behavior comes to be governed by abstract rules, children can enter into novel social arenas
Stages in the Development of the Self
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
The Iowa School of symbolic interaction:
Our sense of self is rooted in our positions within social organizations and institutions
We develop a relatively stable core self, or sense of who we are regardless of immediate setting, based on our most important social positions
We have a vested interest in the preservation of the organizations and institutions that contribute to our social positions and sense of self
The Self and Connections to the Meso Level
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Rites of passage occur at most stages
Rites of passage: public celebrations or recognitions of passage from one status to another
Important because they impact others’ perceptions, self-perceptions, and expectations of the individual
Socialization occurs throughout life …
Infancy
Childhood
Adolescence
Adulthood
Middle Adulthood
Retirement, the Elderly
Dying and Death
Socialization Throughout the Life Cycle
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Resocialization: the process of abandoning one or more social positions in favor of others that are more suitable for a newly acquired status
Resocialization may occur in a total institution, in which people are isolated from the outside world and lead bureaucratically regimented lives
The Process of Resocialization
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Agents of socialization: people, organizations, and institutions that enable us to learn the beliefs, values, and behaviors of our cultures
Micro-level: family, peer group, local organizations
Meso-level: educational, religious institutions; media
Formal: socialization is stated goal (e.g., the family)
Informal: socialization isn’t a stated goal but occurs anyway (e.g., the media)
Agents of socialization shift over the life course
Different agents’ messages may concur or conflict
Agents of Socialization
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Families use positive and negative sanctions to help teach children right and wrong
The number and type of sanctions shape the socialization process and the self
Family socialization differs byCulture
Sub-culture
Number of children in the household and birth order
Families: Micro-Level Socialization
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Social class: the wealth, power, and prestige rankings individuals hold in society
Social class and socialization: Parents socialize children to meet expectations of the social class into which they are born
Middle class: autonomy, creativity, self-direction
Working class: rule-following, respect authority
Class socialization in the family impacts later socialization in school
Social Class: Meso-Level Socialization
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Electronic media as socialization agents: television, computers, internet, DVDs, video games, audioConcerns:
Those who control the mass media can influence socialization within the homeWhat messages do these agents of socialization send to children? What is the impact of children spending more time with media and less time with caregivers and peers?
Electronic Media: Meso-Level Socialization
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Socialization in a globalized world
Transnationalism: the situation of individuals or families who have national loyalty to more than one country, often a result of migration
May result in multiple and conflicting messages about appropriate behaviors
Global communications and events May lead us to interact with diverse others, or solidify feelings of “we” vs. “they”
Socialization and Macro-Level Issues
© Pine Forge Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publications, Inc., 2011.
Many policy questions and topics require understanding of socialization
Parenting and child-careThe education systemRetirementCommunity development Patriotism and global citizenship
Sociologists provide and interpret data for policymakers and try to solve problems by working with state agencies, consulting firms, and foundations
Policy and Practice