McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1 The Sociological Perspective ORGANIZING SOCIAL LIFE part McGraw-Hill 2 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

chapter McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. CHAPTER OUTLINE The Role of Socialization The Self and Socialization Socialization and the Life Course Agents of Socialization Social Policy and Socialization: Child Care around the WorldSocial Policy and Socialization: Child Care around the World 4 SOCIALIZATION

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 3 The Role of Socialization █Social Environment:The Impact of Isolation –Early socialization experiences in normal environments are important. The Case of Isabelle –Caregivers should be concerned with children’s social needs in addition to their physical needs.

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 4 The Role of Socialization █The Influence of Heredity –Studies of Identical Twins Intelligence tests show similar scores when twins are reared apart in roughly similar social settings. Intelligence tests show quite different scores when twins are reared apart in dramatically different social settings.

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 5 The Role of Socialization █Sociobiology –Sociobiology is the systematic study of the biological bases of social behavior. –In its extreme form, sociobiology suggests that all behavior is the result of genetic or biological factors and places little emphasis on social interaction.

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 6 The Self and Socialization █Sociological Approaches to the Self –Cooley: Looking-Glass Self The self is the product of our social interactions with other people. Our view of ourselves comes from not only our contemplation of personal qualities, but also from our impressions of how others perceive us. We learn who we are by interacting with others.

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 7 The Self and Socialization Continued... █Sociological Approaches to the Self –Mead: Stages of the Self Preparatory Stage: Children imitate people around them. Play Stage: Children develop skill in communicating through symbols. Role taking occurs. Game Stage: Children consider actual tasks and relationships simultaneously.

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 8 The Self and Socialization █Sociological Approaches to the Self –Mead: Stages of the Self Symbol: The gestures, objects and language that form the basis of human communication. Role Taking: The process of mentally assuming the perspective of another. Generalized Others: The attitudes, viewpoints, and expectations of society as a whole that a child takes into account.

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 9 The Self and Socialization █Sociological Approaches to the Self –Mead: Theory of the Self The self begins as a privileged, central position in a person’s world. As a person matures, the self changes and begins to reflect greater concern about the reactions of others. Significant Others: Individuals who are most important in the development of the self.

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 10 The Self and Socialization █Sociological Approaches to the Self –Goffman: Presentation of the Self Impression Management: The individual slants the presentation of the self in order to create distinctive appearances and satisfy particular audiences. Dramaturgical Approach: People resemble performers in action.

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 11 The Self and Socialization █Psychological Approaches to the Self –Piaget Piaget emphasized the stages humans progress through as the self develops. Cognitive theory of development –Freud Freud stressed the role of inborn drives and believed that the self is a social product. He also believed that aspects of personality are influenced by others (especially one’s parents).

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 12 Socialization and the Life Course █The Life Course –Rites of passage are a means of dramatizing and validating changes in a person’s status. –These specific ceremonies mark stages of development in the life course. –We encounter some of the most difficult socialization challenges in the later years of life.

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 13 Socialization and the Life Course █ Table 4.1: Theoretical Approaches to Development of the Self Charles Horton Cooley Looking-glass self Stages of development not distinct; 1864–1929 feelings toward ourselves developed sociologist (USA) through interaction with others George Herbert Mead The self Three distinct stages of development; self 1863–1931 Generalized other develops as children grasp the roles of sociologist (USA) Significant othersothers in their lives Erving Goffman Impression management Self developed through the impressions we 1922–1982 Dramaturgical approach convey to others and to groups sociologist (USA) Face-work Sigmund Freud Psychotherapy Self influenced by parents and by inborn 1856–1939 drives, such as the drive for sexual psychotherapist (Austria)gratification Jean Piaget Cognitive theory of Four stages of cognitive development; 1896–1980 developmentmoral development linked to socialization child psychologist (Switzerland) Major Concepts Scholarand ContributionsMajor Points of Theory

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 14 Socialization and the Life Course █Anticipatory Socialization and Resocialization –Two types of socialization occur throughout the life course. –Anticipatory Socialization: The processes of socialization in which a person “rehearses” for future occupations and social relationships. –Resocialization: The process of discarding former behavior patterns and accepting new ones as part of a transition in one’s life.

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 15 Agents of Socialization █Family –The family is the primary agent of socialization. –Socialization by the family begins shortly after birth. –Socialization is typically, but not always positive.

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 16 Socialization and the Life Course █Family –Cultural Influences –The Impact of Race and Gender Gender roles –School –Peer Groups

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 17 Agents of Socialization Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census The Population Profile of the United States: Figure 6-1. (Internet Release) accessed at Two parents Father; no mother Mother; no father No parent in household █ Living Arrangements of Children Under Age 18: 1980, 1990, and 2000 Percent distribution of children under age 18

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 18 Agents of Socialization Two biological parents 88.2% One biological and one stepparent 9.3% Adoptive mother and father 1.4% Other combination 1.1% Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census The Population Profile of the United States: Figure 6-2. (Internet Release) accessed at █ Children Living With Two Parents by Type of Parent: 1996

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 19 Agents of Socialization Married, both working Married, one working Married, no workers Single parent, working Single parent, not working Less than 3 3 to 5 6 to Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census The Population Profile of the United States: Figure 6-3. (Internet Release) accessed at █ Children Under Age 12 Who Have Ever Been in Child Care by Age of Child, and Parent’s Marital and Employment Status: 1994

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 20 Agents of Socialization (Click inside frame to start video) █ Children in Daycare

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 21 Agents of Socialization █School –Schools teach children the values and customs of the larger society. –Schools have traditionally socialized children into conventional gender roles.

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 22 Agents of Socialization █Peer Group –As children grow older, peer groups increasingly assume the role of Mead’s significant others. –Peer groups can ease the transition to adult responsibilities. –Peer groups can encourage children to honor or violate cultural norms and values. –Peer groups can be a source of harassment as well as support.

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 23 Agents of Socialization █ Table 4.2: High School Popularity 1. Physical attractiveness 1. Grades/intelligence 2. Grades/intelligence 2. Participation in sports 3. Participation in sports 3. General sociability 4. General sociability 4. Physical attractiveness 5. Popularity with boys 5. Clothes What makes high school girls popular?According to college men:college women: Continued… Source: Suitor et al. 2001:445.

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 24 Agents of Socialization █ Table 4.2: High School Popularity 1. Participation in sports 2. Grades/intelligence 3. Popularity with girls 3. General sociability 4. General sociability 4. Physical attractiveness 5. Car 5. School clubs/ government What makes high school boys popular?According to college men:college women: Source: Suitor et al. 2001:445.

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 25 Agents of Socialization █Mass Media and Technology –53 percent of all children ages 12 to 18 have their own televisions. –Television permits imitation and role playing but does not encourage more complex forms of learning. –Technology is socializing families into multitasking as the social norm.

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 26 Agents of Socialization █ Figure 4.1: Media Usage, Ages 2-18 Source: Based on Rideout et al

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 27 Agents of Socialization █Workplace –Learning to behave appropriately within an occupational setting is a fundamental aspect of human socialization. –Socialization in the workplace involves four phases: career choice anticipatory socialization conditioning continuous commitment

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 28 Agents of Socialization █ Teenagers on the Job and in School–International Comparisons.

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 29 Agents of Socialization █The State –The state has usurped many of the traditional family functions. –The state has re-instituted many rites of passage including stipulating the ages at which we are permitted to: drink drive vote marry retire work overtime

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 30 Agents of Socialization Less than $1,200 $1,200 to $2,999 $3,000 to $4,499 $4,500 or more Below poverty Above poverty 25% 12% 8% 6% 18% 7% *Limited to families with a preschooler Source: Lynne M. Casper, “What Does It Cost to Mind Our Preschoolers?” Current Population Reports, ser. P-70, no. 52. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, Figure3, p. 84. █ Percent of Monthly Family Income Spent on Child Care by Family Income and Poverty Status*

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 31 Social Policy and Socialization █Child Care Around the World –The Issue In 1999, more than 65 percent of all mothers with children under the age of six were part of the work force. Day care centers have become the functional equivalent of the nuclear family. What is the state’s responsibility for assuring quality day care?

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 32 Social Policy and Socialization █Child Care Around the World –The Setting Finding the right kind of day care is a parenting challenge. Researchers have found that high-quality child care centers do not adversely affect the socialization of children.

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 33 Social Policy and Socialization █Child Care Around the World –The Sociological Insights Studies assessing the quality of child care outside of the home reflect the micro level of analysis favored by interactionists. Functionalists study child care from the perspective of macro-level analysis of the family as a social institution. The feminist conflict perspective raises questions about the low status and wages of day care workers, most of whom are women.

McGraw-Hill © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 34 Social Policy and Socialization █Child Care Around the World –Policy Initiatives Policies regarding child care outside of the home vary throughout the world. When policymakers decide that child care is desirable, they must determine the degree to which taxpayers should subsidize it.