1. Socialization and the Construction of Reality
Chapter 4
Socialization and the Construction of Reality
Lecture PowerPoint
© W. W. Norton & Company, 2008

2. Socialization: The Concept
Socialization is the process by which individuals internalize the values, beliefs, and norms of a given society and learn to function as a member of that society.
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You May Ask Yourself
Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

3. Limits of Socialization
The concept of socialization is useful for understanding how people become functioning members of society.
However, it cannot explain everything about a person’s development and personality.
Biology is also a very important component.
It is a combination of biology and social interactions that makes us who we are.
You May Ask Yourself
Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

4. Theories of Socialization
Charles Horton Cooley theorized that the “self” emerges from our ability to assume the point of view of others and imagine how those others see us.
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You May Ask Yourself
Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

5. Theories of Socialization
George Herbert Mead
Developed a theory about how the social self develops over the course of childhood
Infants know only the “I,” but through social interaction they learn about “me” and the “other”
They develop a concept of the “generalized other,” which allows them to apply norms and behaviors learned in specific situations to new situations
You May Ask Yourself
Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

6. Theories of Socialization
Mead stressed the importance of imitation, play, and games in helping children recognize one another, distinguish between self and other, and grasp the idea that others can have multiple roles.
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Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

7. Theories of Socialization
Eric Erikson
Established a theory of psychosocial development that identifies eight stages that span a person’s lifetime
Each stage involves a specific conflict that a person must resolve in order to move on to the next stage
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8. Agents of Socialization
Families, school, peers, the media, and total institutions are all important socializing agents or environments.
A total institution is an institution in which one is totally
immersed that controls all the basics
of day-to-day life.
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You May Ask Yourself
Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

9. Robert Merton’s role theory
Social Interaction
Robert Merton’s role theory
provides a way to describe social interaction
Status
Roles
Role Strain
Role Conflict
Status Set
Ascribed Status
Achieved Status
Master Status
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10. Social Interaction Gender roles
Set of behavioral norms associated primarily with males or females in a given social group or system.
Gender theorists argue that gender roles can be more powerful and influential than other roles that people fill.
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You May Ask Yourself
Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

11. The Social Construction of Reality
Socially construction
People give meaning or value to ideas or objects through social interactions.
Ongoing process that is embedded in our everyday interactions.
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12. The Social Construction of Reality
Symbolic interactionism is a micro-level theory based on the idea that people act in accordance with shared meanings, orientations, and assumptions.
Erving Goffman’s dramaturgical theory views social life as a theatrical performance in which we are all actors on metaphysical stages with roles, scripts, costumes, and sets.
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13. The Social Construction of Reality
Ethnomethodology is an approach to studying human interaction that focuses on the ways in which we make sense of our world, convey this understanding to others, and produce a mutually shared social order.
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Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

14. The Social Construction of Reality
Harold Garfinkel developed a method for studying social interactions, called “breaching experiments,” which involved having collaborators exhibit “abnormal” or “atypical” behaviors in social interactions in order to see how people would react.
You May Ask Yourself
Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

15. The Social Construction of Reality
The Internet has created new types of social interaction that don’t incorporate verbal and visual cues people are accustomed to relying on. It has also changed society by creating new types of crimes and new ways of communicating.
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Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

16. The Social Construction of Reality
Because our reality is socially constructed, an unexpected change in that reality can be upsetting, frustrating, or just plain incomprehensible.
We all have a stake in maintaining consensus on shared meanings so that our society can continue to function smoothly.
You May Ask Yourself
Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

17. Concept Quiz
1. In social development theory, the “self” can be defined as _______. a) the individual identity of a person as perceived by that same person b) one’s sense of agency, action, or power c) the identity of a person as perceived by others d) All of the above
Answer: A
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Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

18. Concept Quiz
2. According to George Herbert Mead’s stages of development, children learn to recognize an “other” through _____. a) formal games b) imitation c) playing informally with other children d) None of the above
Answer: B
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Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

19. Concept Quiz
3. ______ are common agents of socialization. a) Siblings b) Teachers c) Television programs d) All of the above e) None of the above
Answer: D
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Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

20. Concept Quiz
4. Which of the following is an example of a total institution? a) An elementary school b) A sports team c) A convent d) A political party
Answer: C
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Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

21. Concept Quiz
5. Which of the following theories argues that people’s choices about how to act are based on shared meanings, orientations, and assumptions? a) Symbolic interactionism b) Functionalism c) Dramaturgical theory d) Postmodernism
Answer: A
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Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

22. Concept Quiz
6. Harold Garfinkel is well known for _______. a) developing the theory of impression management b) creating breaching experiments c) investigating the armed forces as a total institution d) his analysis of socialization agents
Answer: B
You May Ask Yourself
Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

23. Figure 4.1 | Erikson’s Eight Stages of Psychosocial Personality Development (pt. 1)

24. Figure 4.1 | Erikson’s Eight Stages of Psychosocial Personality Development (pt. 2)

25. Table 4.1 | Mead’s Stages of Social Development