THE SOCIAL SELFChapter 5, Section 2

SOCIALIZATION- WHAT IS IT?

When you are born, there are certain things you are unable to do (i.e. walk, talk). You do not understand various norms. Through social and cultural environment,

individuals are transformed into participatory members of society.

Socialization= interactive process through which people learn the basic skills, values, beliefs and patterns of a society.

Socialization helps us develop a sense of self.

THREE THEORIES OF SOCIALIZATION

Tabula Rasa theory: Developed by John Locke; Belief that all children are ‘blank slates’,

born without personality; Thus, infants can be molded into any type of

individual.

Although most disagree with Locke’s view, many agree with his belief that socialization allows an individual to absorb cultural aspects.

THREE THEORIES OF SOCIALIZATION

Looking-Glass Self theory: Developed by Charles Horton Cooley; The interactive process by which we

develop an image of ourselves based on how we imagine we appear to others;

Others act as a mirror, reflecting back the person we show to everyone else.

Develop personality through interactive process with those around you.

Continual life process– redefine self-image.

THREE THEORIES OF SOCIALIZATION

Role-taking Theory:Developed by George Herbert Mead;See ourselves through the eyes of

others and take on the roles we believe others expect of us;

As an individual gets older, the expectations of society take on greater importance; These internalized expectations are known as a

generalized other. Develop a sense of self– two parts: ‘I’

(unsocialized, spontaneous) and ‘me’ (socialized).

AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATIONChapter 5, Section 3

WHAT IS IT?

Agent of socialization= groups, individuals and institutions that allow socialization to happen.

Four agents: Family Peer group School Mass media

AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION

Both intended and unintended socialization can occur.

Peer group= primary group composed of individuals of roughly equal ages and similar social characteristics.

Mass media= instruments of communication that reach a wide audience without personal contact.

RESOCIALIZATION

Total institution= setting in which people are isolated from the rest of society for a set period of time. Examples: prisons, boot camp, monasteries,

psychiatric hospitals, etc.

Primary concern of these total institutions is to re-socialize members– break from past experiences to learn new values and norms.