Socialization

The importance of Socialization 1. nearly all human social behavior is learned 2. socialization - cultural process of learning to participate in group life 3. begins at birth and continues throughout life 4. most important learning occurs early in life 5. without socialization infants cannot develop the set of attitud, belief values and behaviors associated with being an individual 6. touching, holding, stroking and communicating appear to be essential to normal human development 7. Harlow’s study a. control group v experimental group b. infant monkeys need intimacy, warmth, physical contact and comfort c. isolated monkeys became apathetic, withdrawn, hostile adults

Socialization and Self 1. functionalist perspective a. working together - families, schools, they have the same basic norms, beliefs and values 2. conflict perspective a. groups work to preserve their social status b. people learn to accept their position before they have enough self-awareness to realize what is happening

Socialization and Self 3. symbolic interactionism (concepts) a. self-concept - an image of yourself as having an identity separate from other people b. the looking-glass self - an image of yourself based on what you believe others think of you 1. 1st - we imagine how we appear to others 2. 2nd - we imagine the reaction of others to our appearance 3. 3rd - we evaluate ourselves according to how we imagine others have judged us (result is positive or negative self-evaluation)

Socialization and Self c. significant others - those people whose reactions are most important to your self-concept (parents, teachers, peers, employers, etc.) d. role taking - take the viewpoint of another person and shape your self-concept from that viewpoint 1. imitation stage (11/2 - 2) mimics others 2. play stage (3-4) children act like they think others will act 3. game stage (5-6) children anticipate the actions of others based on social rules 4. self (2 parts - “me” - “I”) a. “me” - the part of the self formed through socialization (predictability, conformity) b. “I” - the part of self that accounts for unlearned, spontaneous acts

Agents of Socialization 1. Family - child learns to think and speak, internalize norms, beliefs and values, form some basic attitudes, develop relationships, and acquire a self-image 2. School - relationships are impersonal, and rewards and punishment are based on performance rather than affection a. hidden curriculum - discipline, order, cooperation, conformity (characteristics required for success in the adult world)

Agents of Socialization 3. Peer group - set of individuals of roughly the same age and interests a. only agency not controlled by adults b. give and take relationships c. conflict, competition, cooperation d. self direction, self-expression e. independence from adults 4. influence of friends and family a. many children spend more time with friends than family (single parent homes, long commuting, 2 working parents)

Agents of Socialization 5. Mass media a. teach many of the ways of society b. provide children ideas about values in society (images of achievement and success, activity and work, equality and democracy) c. violence in the mass media 1. watching aggressive behavior on TV significantly increases aggression

Process of Socialization 1. desocialization - giving up old norms, values, attitudes and behaviors a. total institutions - people separates from the rest of society (mental hospitals, cults, prisons) 2. resocialization - adopting new norms, values, attitudes and behaviors 3. anticipatory socialization - preparing in advance to accept new norms, values, attitudes and behaviors (voluntary) 4. reference groups - group with whom you identify