1. Introduction to Sociology
Alie’s Class
Unit 1

2. Objective
Explain from a sociological perspective how diverse factors influence and shape individual and group behaviour
Social norms and expectations (how do these things affect socio-economic status?)
Social structures
Social distinctions
Socio-economic status
Geographic location
Physical environment
Media coverage
How social agents shape us, and how we shape social agents…

3. Media
Monster High…

4. What is Sociology?
Study of the interactions among people living together in a society and their actions, beliefs, and behaviours in order to understand society
Compare and contrast human interactions and behaviours between different societies

5. Pioneers of Sociology
Emile Durkheim
Karl Marx
Max Weber
Dorothy Smith

6. Get out your notebooks and write down the following
Definition
Get out your notebooks and write down the following
Social psychologist:
The scientific study of how people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are influenced by the presence of others
Sociologist:
The study of human social behaviour, especially the study of the origins, organizations, institutions, and developments of human society
Example?
Karl Marx, Max Weber, Dorothy Smith

7. Definitions Socialization:
The lifelong process of inheriting and disseminating norms, customs, and ideologies that provides people with the skills and habits necessary for participating within his or her own society.
The process that may lead to desirable, or ‘moral’, outcomes (in the opinions of society)
Agents of Socialization:
The many things that affect an individuals socialization process

8. Agents of Socialization

9. Primary and Secondary Social Agents
Members in one’s immediate, nuclear family
The most important of primary agent of socialization is usually the parent/parents or older siblings
For a child, this is the most important because it sets a foundation for future socialization – Meghan’s article
Examples:
Family
Peers
Teachers

10. Primary and Secondary Social Agents
Process of learning what is appropriate behaviour as a member of a smaller group within a larger society. It is behavioural patterns reinforced by socialization agents of society.
Takes place outside of home – children must act within new rules.
Examples:
Religion
Government
Mass media (TV, radio, internet)…. Do you agree?

11. Socialization: Erik Erikson
Explained the challenges throughout the life course.
Stage 1: infancy, where babies learn trust and mistrust.
What agents would affect an infant?
Stage 2: toddlerhood where children struggle with the challenge of autonomy versus doubt.
What agents would affect a 2 year old?
Stage 3: preschool, children struggle to understand the difference between initiative and guilt.
What agents would affect children?

12. Erik Erikson
Stage 4: pre-adolescence, children learn about working hard and inferiority.
What agent would affect a 10 year old?
Stage 5: called adolescence, teenagers experience the challenge of gaining identity versus confusion.
What agent would affect a teen? YOU?
Stage 6: young adulthood, is when young people gain insight to life when dealing with the challenge of intimacy and isolation.
What agent would affect a young adult? Ms. Cuzner…
Stage 7: middle adulthood, people experience the challenge of trying to make a difference (versus self-absorption).
What agent would affect mid adult person?
Stage 8: the final stage, or old age, people are still learning about the challenge of integrity and despair.

13. Definitions continued
Norms:
A group-held belief about how members should behave in a given context
Example?
Social Structures:
Patterned social arrangements in society that are both emergent from a determinant of the actions of the individual

14. Definition Social Distinctions:
Distinctions denotes a social force that assigns different values upon different people within a given society
Example?
Socio- economic Status:
Economic and social factors combined to total measure of a persons status in relation to others

15. The Sociological Perspective
Recall: Perspective is a way of looking at (or interpreting) something
Sociologists look at the social world (or society) and, in particular, the nature of the relationships within it

16. Activity Complete the handout, “Agents of Socialization”
Fill in as much detail as you can
Think critically!
We will discuss this at the end of class.

17. Take up What agents mostly shape you?
What are some agents that you shape?
What are some institutions that have been shaped by us?
I.e. Justice system? Schools?