How Does Socialization Work?

Look at your definition of Socialization: How does society socialize its members and get its members to acquire “cultural competency?” Socialization is a dynamic process in which an individual develops his/her social self. A social self is the “relatively organized complex of attitudes, beliefs, values and behaviors associated with an individual” (McIntyre 152).

The Looking-Glass Self: Charles Horton Cooley (1864-1929) The social self arises through interaction with others. Our perception of how other people see us leads to our development of our looking glass self (mirror self/reflected self)

From Cooley’s Study As we see our face, figure, and dress in the glass [the mirror] and are interested in them because they are ours, and pleased or otherwise with them according as they do or do not answer to what we should like them to be, so in imagination we perceive in another’s mind some thought of our appearance, manner, aims, deeds, character, friends, and so on, and are variously affected by it. (1902, 152)

Three Principal Elements for Cooley’s Idea of the Social Self We imagine how we look to the other person. We imagine that other person’s reaction to our appearance. We have some “self-feeling” such as pride or shame. Cooley argued that the social self is constructed as a result of this reflective process.

Characterized by intimate, face to face encounters. We learn to use this looking glass, and thus, learn who our selves are, in the intimacy of primary groups, especially the family. Characterized by intimate, face to face encounters. This understanding of the reflective process is fundamental in forming the social nature & ideals of an individual. Cooley believes that a person is not human who doesn’t develop a social self which cannot happen in isolation.

Children have strong motives to learn to use the looking-glass technique. It assists them in competition for affection from other members of primary groups. As children age and interact with more and more people, the “self” grows as a result of those interactions.

The “I” and the “Me”: George Herbert Mead (1863-1931) Mead’s ideas about socialization were similar to Cooley’s but with more detail. Self involves two phases, the “Me” and the “I”

The “Me” The “I” Part of the self that is based on how one sees others as seeing oneself. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes and look back at yourself (or look back at “me”). Part of the self that is uniquely you. Your own impulses and personal reactions to a situation.

“Me” sees myself as an object; how others see me. The social self is a product of the ongoing reaction between the “Me” and the “I.” “Me” sees myself as an object; how others see me. “I” is my response to my perception of how I think others see me.

Early childhood play and games. Simple, imitative behaviors. Children are not born with the “Me” and the “I;” they need to be developed. Early childhood play and games. Simple, imitative behaviors. Role playing lets children appreciate the perspective of others. Leads to the ability to understand and take a role in other games.

Children’s play is first exposure to taking on roles of others and seeing themselves as others might see them. Begin to develop a sense of self as they see that they are something that other people look at and make judgments about.

Family Peers Mass Media School Work Place Total Institutions Sociologists today see social self as constantly evolving, a life-long process. “Self”- evolves continually as it interacts with a variety of agents of socialization. Examples of agents of socialization: Family Peers Mass Media School Work Place Total Institutions