Society, Seventh Edition Socialization: From Infancy to Old Age

Society, Seventh Edition Socialization The lifelong social experience by which individuals develop their human potential and learn patterns of their culturePersonality A person’s fairly consistent patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting Could a person’s personality develop without social interaction?

Society, Seventh Edition Nature Vs. Nurture Sociobiology – the role of nature –Elements of society have a naturalistic root Behaviorism - the role of nurture –Most of who and what we are as a species is learned, or social in nature Is it sociobiology or behaviorism? –It’s both, but from a sociological perspective, nurture matters more

Society, Seventh Edition Social Isolation Impact on nonhuman primates –Harlow’s’ experiments Six months of complete isolation was enough to disturb development Impact on children –Anna and Isabelle Years of isolation left both children damaged and after intensive rehabilitation effort only capable of approximating a normal life genie’s case Somewhat less isolated, but suffered permanent disabilities

Society, Seventh Edition Sigmund Freud: Elements Of Personality Basic human needs –Eros and Thanatos as opposing forces Developing personality –The id Basic drives –The ego Efforts to achieve balance –The superego Culture within Managed conflict –Id and superego are in constant states of conflict, with the ego balancing the two

Society, Seventh Edition Critical Evaluation Of Freud Studies reflect gender bias Influences the study of personality Sociologists note Freud’s contributions –Internalization of social norms –Childhood experiences have lasting impact

Society, Seventh Edition Jean Piaget: Cognitive Development Cognition –How people think and understand Stages of development –Sensorimotor stage Sensory contact understanding –Preoperational stage Use of language and other symbols –Concrete operational stage Perception of causal connections in surroundings –Formal operational stage Abstract, critical thinking

Society, Seventh Edition Critical Evaluation Of Piaget Differed from Freud viewed the mind as active and creative Cognitive stages result of biological maturation and social experience Sociology views traditional society as limits development of abstract and critical thought

Society, Seventh Edition Lawrence Kohlberg: Moral Development Moral reasoning The ways in which individuals judge situations as right or wrong Preconventional Young children experience the world as pain or pleasure Conventional Teen years what pleases parents, consistent with cultural norms Postconventional Final stage consider abstract ethical principles

Society, Seventh Edition Critical Evaluation Of Kohlberg Like Piaget viewed moral development as stages Many people do not reach the final stage Research limited to boys, generalized to population

Society, Seventh Edition Carol Gilligan: Gender Factor Compared boy’s and girl’s moral reasoning Boy’s develop a justice perspective –Formal rules define right and wrong Girl’s develop a care and responsibility perspective –Personal relationships define reasoning Critical evaluation Cultural conditioning accounted for the differences As more women enter the workplace will justice replace the care and responsibility perspective

Society, Seventh Edition George Herbert Mead: Social Self The Self – the part of an individual’s personality composed of self- awareness and self-image 1.Self develops from social interaction 2.Social experience is the exchange of symbols 3.Understanding intention requires imagining the situation from the other’s point of view 4.By taking the role of the other we become self- aware

Society, Seventh Edition Figure 3-1 (p. 67) Building on Social Experience

Society, Seventh Edition THE LOOKING GLASS SELF CHARLES HORTON COOLEY A SELF-IMAGE BASED ON HOW WE THINK OTHERS SEE US

Society, Seventh Edition DEVELOPMENT OF SELF IMITATION INFANT MIMIC BEHAVIOR WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING INTENTIONS PLAY TAKING THE ROLES OF SIGNIFICANT OTHERS GAMES TAKING THE ROLES OF SEVERAL OTHERS AT ONCE “GENERALIZED OTHER” USING CULTURAL NORMS AND VALUES IN EVALUATING OURSELVES

Society, Seventh Edition Critical Evaluation Of Mead Mead found the root of both self and society in symbolic interaction. Critics say: mead does not allow biological elements Caution do not confuse MEADFREUD I and MeId and Superego Rejected biological origins of I and Me Id and Superego originated in biology Work together cooperativelyLocked in continual combat

Society, Seventh Edition Eric H. Erickson Eight stages of development Challenges throughout the life course Stage 1 - infancy: trust (versus mistrust) Stage 2 - toddlerhood: autonomy (versus doubt and shame) Stage 3 - preschool: initiative (versus guilt) Stage 4 - preadolescence: industriousness (versus inferiority)

Society, Seventh Edition ERICKSON: STAGES FIVE - EIGHT STATE 5 - ADOLESCENCE : GAINING IDENTITY (VERSUS CONFUSION) STAGE 6 - YOUNG ADULTHOOD: INTIMACY (VERSUS ISOLATION) STAGE 7 - MIDDLE ADULTHOOD: MAKING A DIFFERENCE (VERSUS SELF-ABSORPTION) STAGE 8 - OLD AGE: INTEGRITY (VERSUS DESPAIR)

Society, Seventh Edition Critical Evaluation Of Erickson Theory views personality as a lifelong process and success at one stage prepares us for the next challenge Critics say:not everyone confronts the challenges in the same order Not clear if failure to meet one challenge predicts failure in other stages Do other cultures share Erickson’s definition of successful life

Society, Seventh Edition AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION THE FAMILY, THE SCHOOL, AND OTHER SETTINGS HAVE IMPORTANT ROLES OR HAVE SPECIAL MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE IN THE SOCIALIZATION PROCESS. LET’S EXAMINE A FEW

Society, Seventh Edition THE FAMILY MOST IMPORTANT AGENT –A LOVING FAMILY PRODUCES A HAPPY WELL- ADJUSTED CHILD PARENTAL ATTENTION IS VERY IMPORTANT –BONDING AND ENCOURAGEMENT HOUSEHOLD ENVIRONMENT –STIMULATES DEVELOPMENT SOCIAL POSITION –RACE, RELIGION, ETHNICITY, CLASS

Society, Seventh Edition Figure 3-2 (p. 69) Whom Do You Trust?

Society, Seventh Edition THE SCHOOL EXPERIENCE DIVERSITY –RACIAL AND GENDER CLUSTERING HIDDEN CURRICULUM –INFORMAL, COVET LESSONS FIRST BUREAUCRACY –RULES AND SCHEDULE GENDER SOCIALIZATION BEGINS –FROM GRADE SCHOOL THROUGH COLLEGE, GENDER-LINKED ACTIVITIES ARE ENCOUNTERED

Society, Seventh Edition PEER GROUPS A SOCIAL GROUP WHOSE MEMBERS HAVE INTERESTS, SOCIAL POSITION AND AGE IN COMMON. DEVELOPING SENSE OF SELF THAT GOES BEYOND THE FAMILY YOUNG AND OLD ATTITUDES AND THE “GENERATION GAP” PEERS OFTEN GOVERN SHORT-TERM GOALS WHILE PARENTS MAINTAIN INFLUENCE OVER LONG-TERM PLANS ANTICIPATORY SOCIALIZATION –PRACTICE AT WORKING TOWARD GAINING DESIRED POSITIONS

Society, Seventh Edition THE MASS MEDIA IMPERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS AIMED AT A VAST AUDIENCE TELEVISIONS IN THE UNITED STATES –98% OF HOUSEHOLDS HAVE AT LEAST ONE –66% OF HOUSEHOLDS SUBSCRIBE TO CABLE TELEVISION HOURS OF VIEWING TELEVISION –AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD, 7 HOURS PER DAY –ALMOST HALF OF THEIR FREE TIME –CHILDREN AVERAGE 5 ½ HOURS PER DAY TELEVISION, VIDEOTAPES, VIDEO GAMES

Society, Seventh Edition Criticisms About Programming –Some liberal concerns about race and gender inequality in representation –Some conservative concerns about advancing liberal causes - “politically correct” –Violence in mass media A 1998 survey, 66% of TV programming contains violence; Characters show no remorse and no punishment In 1997, the television industry adopted a rating system for shows

Society, Seventh Edition Socialization And Life Course Each stage of life is linked to the biological process Societies organize the life course by age Other factors shape lives race class, ethnicity and gender Stages present problems and transitions that involve learning

Society, Seventh Edition The Life Course Childhood (birth through 12) The “hurried child” Adolescence (the teenage years) Turmoil attributed to cultural inconsistencies Adulthood Early: 20-40, conflicting priorities Middle: 40-60, concerns over health, career and family Old age (mid-60s and older) More seniors than teenagers Less anti-elderly bias Role exiting

Society, Seventh Edition Dying 85% of AMERICANS die after age 55 Elizabeth Kubler-Ross stages of dying Denial Anger Negotiation Resignation Acceptance

Society, Seventh Edition Total Institutions A setting in which people are isolated from the rest of society and manipulated by an administrative staff. ERVING GOFFMAN (1961) Staff supervise all daily life activities Environment is standardized Formal rules and daily schedules

Society, Seventh Edition RESOCIALIZATION Radically changing an inmate’s personality by carefully controlling the environment ERVING GOFFMAN (1961) Staff breaks down existing identity –“Abasements, degradations, humiliations, and profanations of self” Goffman Staff rebuilds personality using rewards and punishments Total institutions effect people in different ways: rehabilitated, little effect or hostile, some develop an institutionalized personality

Society, Seventh Edition Graying of United States Seniors now 12.4 percent of the population Soon, baby boomers (born after WWII-mid- 60’s) will number 75 million The elderly populations of rich nations is increasing most rapidly By 2030 –20 percent will be over age 65 –About half the population will be over the age of 40

Society, Seventh Edition Figure 3-4 (p. 76) The Graying of U.S. Society

Society, Seventh Edition Aging Population Increase Birth rate: going down –Decreased infant mortality –Children are a major expense –Advances in birth control Life expectancy: going up –Improved housing, nutrition and increased wealth Medical advances –Almost eliminated infectious diseases –Treat cancer and heart disease

Society, Seventh Edition Sociological Impact Cultural change –Elderly more visible “Young-old” and “old-old” –Younger elderly Independent with good health and financial security –Older elderly past age 75 Dependent on others –Over age 85 fastest growing segment Women outnumber men

Society, Seventh Edition Biological Changes Gerontology –Study of aging and the elderly –Attitude toward aging depends on societal values –In America, a dim view of such changes is taken Physical changes –Predictable graying of hair, wrinkles, loss of height and weight, decline in strength and vitality and sensory changes –Odds of chronic illnesses and life-threatening conditions rise steadily Reality we overestimate physical problems –A majority of those over 65 report good health –“Well-to-do” people have it better since they can afford preventive care

Society, Seventh Edition Psychological Changes Advancing age does not mean certain impairment of mental abilities –Some research reports increases in math and verbal skills Personality changes –The elderly can become more introspective More “self-awareness” –Major shifts in personalities do not normally take place

Society, Seventh Edition Death and Dying Historical patterns of death Modern separation of life and death Ethical issues: confronting death –Death occurs when an irreversible state takes place –Right to die debate Living wills Euthanasia

Society, Seventh Edition Bereavement Time of profound grief and social disorientation that persist for some time Experts agree that how a family and friends view an impending death affects the person who is dying Hospice movement Bereavement is less intense for someone who accepts the death of the loved one and their relationship has reached a satisfactory resolution

Society, Seventh Edition The Future Increasing numbers –By 2050, more elderly than people in the U.S.A. In 1900 Need to review support services for the elderly –Availability and sufficiency The elderly should experience a better quality of life –Medical technology –Financial strength Changes in how death is viewed –Death will again become a natural part of the life cycle – no longer social taboo