1. The Core8e Sociology Michael Hughes Carolyn J. Kroehler

2. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. chapter 3 Socialization  Socialization  Foundations for Socialization  The Self and Socialization  Socialization Across the Life Course Chapter Outline

3. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Case Study: Hidden children Genie –Strapped to a chair until age 13 –No language –Maturity of a one-year-old Anna and Isabelle –Hidden in closets until age six –Extremely retarded development –Few human capabilities or responses Socialization

4. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Socialization – a process of social interaction by which a person acquires the knowledge, attitudes, values, and behaviors essential for effective participation in society. Socialization

5. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. How do nature and nurture interact to produce behavior? Foundations for Socialization

6. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Theories of Socialization Current theories emphasize social structure, learning, and social interaction Macrolevel – functionalism and conflict theory Three microlevel theories –Social learning theory –Cognitive developmental theory –Symbolic interactionism Foundations for Socialization

7. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Social Learning Theory Conditioning – the consequences of a behavior determine the probability of its future occurrence Reinforcement and punishment Observational learning – people reproduce the responses they observe in others Theories of Socialization

8. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Cognitive Developmental Theory Socialization occurs in step with cognitive development Piaget: Four stages of cognitive development –Sensorimotor (birth to 18 months) –Preoperational (18 months to 6-7 years) –Concrete operational (6-7 years to 11- 12 years) –Formal operations (11-12 years to adulthood) Theories of Socialization

9. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Symbolic Interactionism Sociological perspective Reflexive behavior – actions through which people observe, interpret, evaluate, communicate with, and attempt to control themselves Critical in development of self Individuals actively participate in their own socialization Theories of Socialization

10. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Family –Effects of day care –NICHD Study (2003) Peer group Schools –School rules and extracurricular programs Mass media –Television and video games Agents of Socialization

11. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Communication is the process by which people transmit information, ideas, attitudes, and mental states to one another. Social Communication

12. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Verbal Communication Worldwide language similarities Noam Chomsky’s language acquisition device Example: deaf child, ASL, and English Social Communication

13. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Nonverbal Communication Social Communication – Psychologist Albert Mehrabian (1968) Total Impact of a Message

14. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Nonverbal Communication Body language – physical motions and gestures Paralanguage – non verbal vocal cues Proxemics – employment of social and personal space Touch – use of physical contact Artifacts – objects that signal gender, rank, status, and attitude Nonverbal Communication

15. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Definition of the situation is the interpretation or meaning that we give to our immediate circumstances. Thomas theorem: If [people] define situations as real, then they are real in their consequences. Definition of the Situation – William I. Thomas (1928)

16. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Charles Horton Cooley – The Looking-Glass Self We assume the viewpoint of others and view ourselves from there. 1.We imagine how we appear to others. 2.We imagine how others judge our appearance. 3.We react emotionally. Self-image vs. self-conception Self-esteem and personal efficacy The Self and Socialization

17. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. George Herbert Mead – The Generalized Other We act towards ourselves as we act towards others Acquisition of language is key Three stages of attaining selfhood: –Play – “trying on” roles –Game – assumption of many roles –Generalized other – immersion in community The Self and Socialization

18. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Erving Goffman – Impression Management Concealment and strategic revelation Dramaturgical approach The self is a “dramatic effect” that emerges from social situations in which people manage others’ impressions of them. The Self and Socialization

19. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. The Life Course Begins with conception Ends with death Society gives meaning to biological facts Three stages of role socialization –Anticipatory socialization –Learning expectations and shaping roles –Continual entry and exit from successive roles Socialization Across the Life Course

20. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Childhood Views of young humans differ with culture and time 2 years – In doll play, exhibit basic ability to represent other people as independent agents 6 years – pretending to play several simultaneous roles 7-8 years – fastest development Variation due to family’s social capital Socialization Across the Life Course

21. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Adolescence Physiological maturation and adult responsibilities are disassociated in many countries Puberty rites symbolize child  adult transition Adolescence “invention” of industrial society Not necessarily stormy Socialization Across the Life Course

22. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Young Adulthood Youth – people of college and graduate school age Family  autonomy Age norms, social clock, life events Erik Erikson’s eight stages Daniel J. Levinson – structure modification Socialization Across the Life Course

23. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Socialization Across the Life Course

24. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Middle Adulthood Ages 30-65 Core tasks revolve around love and work Men tend to: establish niche (early 30s), break out of authority (late 30s), assess goals (40s) Women have same stages but are more concerned with human relationships Socialization Across the Life Course

25. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Later Adulthood Dramatic life events require adaptations U.S. – low prestige for elderly 42 in 1,000 aged 75-84 in nursing home 1/2 – 3/5 have no functional limitations Better average mental health and social relationships than younger people Role loss – occupation, marriage Socialization Across the Life Course

26. ©2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Death Entrance into “impending death” status depends on perceived social worth 75% in U.S. die in nursing homes or hospitals 70% die of long-term illnesses: cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s Active and passive euthanasia Kübler-Ross’s 5 stages of dying: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance Socialization Across the Life Course