Socialization and the Life Course Sociology in Modules Socialization and the Life Course

Socialization and the Life Course The Role of Socialization The Self and Socialization through the Life Course Agents of Socialization

A Look Ahead How does socialization help us behave properly? In what ways does socialization aid in the transmission of culture? How does socialization help shape our self image? ISABELLE – Another Isolated Child Background Isabelle was an illegitimate child discovered in November 1938 Her mother was deaf-mute Living Conditions Both Isabelle and her mother were kept in a darkroom isolated from the rest of her mother’s family Isolated alone with her mother Behaviours Exhibited Isabelle’s behaviour toward strangers, especially men was like as if she was a wild animal She manifested fear and hostility In the place of speech, Isabelle only made strange croaking sounds She couldn’t communicate properly because she learned how to communicate from her deaf-mute mother Skills/Languages Learned After Discovered When Isabelle was found she was part of a skilful program of training After one week of intensive training efforts, she made her first vocalization She gradually began to respond to others Learned characteristics from the years of 1-6 more rapidly than normal She was able to put sentences together 9 months later, she was able to identify words and sentences She was able to write well, add to ten and retell a story Had a vocabulary of 1500-2000 Began to ask complicated questions Prognosis/Recovery She eventually learned language and characteristics of the years 1-6 more rapidly than normal. ( she learned in everything in two years what usually takes 6) Recovered well overall, able to communicate well. She was a bright and energetic girl and was able to go to school Developed well and was able to lead a normal life Positive Consequence Isabelle developed well and was able to lead a normal life like an average child

The Role of Socialization Socialization: Lifelong process in which people learn appropriate attitudes, values, and behaviors Nature vs. nurture

Agents of Socialization Family Cultural Influences The Impact of Race and Gender Gender roles: Expectations regarding proper behavior, attitudes, and activities of males and females

Agents of Socialization School Teaches values and customs of larger society Traditionally socialized children into conventional gender roles Peer Group As children grow older, peer groups increasingly assume role of Mead’s significant others

Agents of Socialization Mass Media and Technology Technology socializes families into multitasking as social norm 68% of U.S. children have television in their bedrooms Nearly half of youths ages 8 to 18 use the Internet every day

Agents of Socialization Workplace Learning to behave appropriately within occupational setting is a fundamental aspect of human socialization Religion and State Government and organized religion impact life course by reinstituting some rites of passage

Social Environment: The Impact of Isolation Interaction of heredity and environment shape human development Genie and Oksana: Two Cases Importance of earliest socialization experiences for children http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEnkY2iaKis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkX47t2QaRs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqqanfbK1H0 Primate Studies Harlow showed isolation had damaging effect on monkeys ISABELLE – Another Isolated Child Background Isabelle was an illegitimate child discovered in November 1938 Her mother was deaf-mute Living Conditions Both Isabelle and her mother were kept in a darkroom isolated from the rest of her mother’s family Isolated alone with her mother Behaviours Exhibited Isabelle’s behaviour toward strangers, especially men was like as if she was a wild animal She manifested fear and hostility In the place of speech, Isabelle only made strange croaking sounds She couldn’t communicate properly because she learned how to communicate from her deaf-mute mother Skills/Languages Learned After Discovered When Isabelle was found she was part of a skilful program of training After one week of intensive training efforts, she made her first vocalization She gradually began to respond to others Learned characteristics from the years of 1-6 more rapidly than normal She was able to put sentences together 9 months later, she was able to identify words and sentences She was able to write well, add to ten and retell a story Had a vocabulary of 1500-2000 Began to ask complicated questions Prognosis/Recovery She eventually learned language and characteristics of the years 1-6 more rapidly than normal. ( she learned in everything in two years what usually takes 6) Recovered well overall, able to communicate well. She was a bright and energetic girl and was able to go to school Developed well and was able to lead a normal life Positive Consequence Isabelle developed well and was able to lead a normal life like an average child

The Influence of Heredity Minnesota Twin Family Study Twins have similar intelligence test scores when reared apart in roughly similar social settings Different scores when reared in different social settings

The Self and Socialization Self: Distinct identity that sets us apart from others The self is not a static phenomenon It continues to develop and change

Cooley: Looking-Glass Self View of ourselves comes from contemplation of personal qualities and impressions of how others perceive us Looking-glass self: The self is product of social interactions with other people

Mead: Stages of the Self Preparatory Stage: Children imitate people around them As they grow older, children become more adept at using symbols

Mead: Stages of the Self Play Stage: Children develop skill in communicating through symbols and role taking occurs Role taking: Process of mentally assuming perspective of another and responding from that imagined viewpoint

Mead: Stages of the Self Game Stage: Children of about 8 or 9 consider several actual tasks and relationships simultaneously -Mead used the game of baseball as an example of this stage

Mead: Stages of the Self Generalized others: Children of about 10 begin to take the attitudes, viewpoints, and expectations of society as a whole into account.

Mead: Theory of the Self Self begins as privileged, central position in a person’s world As the person matures, the self changes and begins to reflect greater concern about reactions of others Significant others: Individuals most important in the development of the self

Goffman: Presentation of the Self Impression management: Individual learns to slant presentation of self to create distinctive appearances and satisfy particular audiences Also known as dramaturgical approach Face-work: Need to maintain proper image of self to continue social interaction

Functionalist Theory/Perspective on Socialization Socialization refers to the lifelong process of inheriting and disseminating norms, customs and ideologies, providing an individual with the skills and habits necessary for participating within his or her own society. The values and norms via socialization are agreed upon by all members of society because there is a "social contract" in effect which protects us from one another and keeps society stable and balanced. Keep social system organized, as well.

Conflict Theory and Perspective on Socialization One of the most powerful and effective tools used by those in power to: maintain the status quo (change could threaten some and benefit others) Punishes those who deviate from norms; rewards those who conform to norms legitimize existing social inequalities by reinforcing what is valuable and right and what is devalued and different (i.e. language, dress, what is success) Prepares people for class related roles they will fill throughout their lives

Symbolic Interactionist Theory and Perspective on Socialization From the micro perspective, symbolic interactionists examine for example: Gender socialization on the day-to-day level; e.g. the meaning of what it is to be a girl or a boy in a society and then how those in society socialize girls and boys based on this meaning. Class socialization on the day to day; the meaning of rich and poor in a society and then how those in a society socialize or are socialized differently based on this meaning of class/status

Sociology on Campus Impression Management by Students How do you react to those who have received higher or lower grades than you? Do you engage in impression management? How would you like others to react to your grades? What social norms govern students’ impression management strategies?

Most difficult socialization challenges occur in later years The Life Course Rites of Passage: Means of dramatizing and validating changes in a person’s status Life Course Approach: Looking closely at social factors that influence people throughout their lives Most difficult socialization challenges occur in later years 28

Roles The expected behavior associated with a particular status A father is expected to act in a certain manner A military general is expected to act in a certain manner Statuses are occupied Roles are acted and played An individual’s role set includes all the roles occupied by the person at a given time.

Status Status is a rank in society Status occur in institutions President of the U.S. Status occur in institutions Master Teacher is a status in schools An individual can occupy many statuses concurrently

Elements of Social Structure or Order Statuses Ascribed – race, sex, royalty, disability, Achieved – student, friend, pastor, spouse, President of U.S. Master – the one role that dominates all your roles. Social roles Role conflict is a conflict among the roles corresponding to two or more statuses; is a special form of social conflict that takes place when one is forced to take on two different and incompatible roles at the same time. Role strain is having conflicting obligations with one role? Role exit Groups Social networks – what groups or networks do you belong to? Social institutions Functionalist view Conflict view

Example of Role Occupation

Anticipatory Socialization and Resocialization Anticipatory socialization: Person “rehearses” future occupations and social relationships Resocialization: Discarding former behavior patterns and accepting new ones during transitions in one’s life 34

Anticipatory Socialization and Resocialization Total institution: Regulates all aspects of a person’s life under a single authority Degradation ceremony: Ritual where individual becomes secondary and rather invisible in overbearing social environment 35

Milestones in the Transition to Adulthood 36

Table 15-1: High School Popularity 37

Research Today Online Socializing: A New Agent of Socialization Do you list your “friends” on an online social networking site? If so, what is your motivation for doing so? Do you think the advantages of online social networking outweigh the disadvantages?

Figure 15-1: The New Normal: Internet at Home 39

Research Today Rum springa: Raising Children Amish Style Do you or anyone you know come from a subculture that rejects mainstream American culture? If so, describe the community’s norms and values. Why do you think so many Amish youths return to their families’ way of life after rebelling against it? 40

Child Care Around the World If parents are working so much that they need to place children in daycare for 8-10 hours/day, what impact does this have on their socialization? In the U.S., 73% of employed mothers depend on others to care for their children 30% of mothers who aren’t employed have regular care arrangements

Child Care Around the World Looking at the Issue Researchers found high quality child-care centers do not adversely affect socialization of children, but low quality child care center do have an adverse affect on children. Few in U.S. can afford HIGH quality childcare, and few can afford to have a parent stay at home with child Finding the right kind of day care is challenging

Child Care Around the World Applying Sociology Interactionists favor studies assessing quality of child care outside of home; microlevel of analysis Conflict perspective notes child care costs are burden for lower-class families Functionalist perspective notes that childcare centers provide a sense of security and stability for society and allows for the economy to function.

Child Care Around the World Initiating Policy Policies vary throughout the world When policymakers decide child care is desirable, policy makers must determine degree taxpayers will subsidize it

Figure 15-2: Child Care Costs in Industrial Nations 45