Socialization

Personal Socialization Experiences What have you learned from your family? Consider... Attitudes: a state of mind or a disposition: attitude towards something... Beliefs: the basic understandings you hold; may be religious Norms: expected patterns of behaviour with in a specific group of individuals Values: principles which are important to you; intangibles

What have you learned from the educational system?

What have you learned from your peer group What have you learned from your peer group? Consider both positive and negative influences.

What have you learned from the media?

What have you learned from other sources: church, organized sports, etc.?

A Definition… the lifelong process by which people acquire attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour patterns expected of a specific society

Agents of Socialization 1. The Family the primary agent of socialization first & longest lasting agent gives a child his identity, status provides role models for acceptable behaviour passes on norms, values, traditions teaches sex roles

2. The School a secondary agent of socialization organizes social relationships prepares child for adult life through occupation preparation teaches norms, society behaviour, values (democracy, fairness, patience, cooperation, etc)

Teacher kind but not affectionate in same way as parents 1st time you were under control of an adult other than a parent. Teacher kind but not affectionate in same way as parents Teacher enforced rules impartially and did not allow the kind of exceptions to them that parents might. Rules not negotiated Some children soon discovered, received more than others = rewards, and prizes or more attention for undesirable behaviour Therefore classroom was an unequal place despite teachers efforts

3. The Peer Group a secondary agent provides a reference group for children the setting for children to develop close relationships with others opportunities to experience independence & social skills

1) they serve as a reference group teach or socialize individuals about how to share, handle conflict, participate in activities with others, measure one’s physical social and mental abilities 3) support a young person when dealing with adult authority

4. The Media a secondary agent teaches functions of society, norms, values, ideals (both positive & negative)

5. Others secondary agents includes church, community agencies, athletic teams, daycare centre, etc

Issues in Socialization It is believed that children are active participants in their own socialization (they are not passive recipients) - the process is interactive as a result of environmental stimulation opportunities

Socialization is a two-way process; as the caregivers are socializing the child, the child is also socializing the caregivers - this is a process of mutuality

Socialization is a lifelong process - primary socialization is more focussed during childhood & adolescence - primary socialization lays the foundation for later learning but does not entirely prepare individuals for adulthood

4. Adolescent Socialization teen years are often considered a time of ‘crisis’ a period of tension between the dependence of the past & the anticipated independence of the future - becoming less oriented to parents & more oriented to peers & other adults

6. Gender Socialization definition - the processes by which people learn to be masculine or feminine according to the expectations current in their society sex-role stereotyping may begin even before birth

from birth, boys & girls are handled differently boys: jostled with, played with more roughly, handled more as an infant, punished more, have more freedom, not encouraged to be effeminate girls: cuddled, talked to more, punished with more gentle reprimands, encouraged to be neat, obedient, feminine, quieter, passive, controlled

by 3 years of age, children understand that they are boy/girl; show preferences toward gender supported & reinforced by parents’ choice of toys