1. Agents of Socialization
HSP3M

2. What are the “agents” of socialization?
The numerous individuals, institutions and organizations that influence and shape an individual’s socialization.
Family
School
Peer Groups
Media
Religion
Workplace
Total Institutions

3. Family First agent of socialization
We learn language, communication skills, social roles and normal rules of acceptable behaviour
Nurturance and emotional support are used to maintain relationships

4. Family
The family also shapes and forms our identity – our sense of self in our social world
Sense of self worth (self-esteem)
Our social status
Our ethnic, cultural and racial identity

5. Sibling Rivalry
Family teaches us how to “get along” with other people, beginning with parents, siblings and extended families
Teaches us about ourselves and our own personal qualities

6. Family: For Discussion
How is the family a “microcosm” of society?
What do the Vanier Institute’s findings suggest about changes to the Canadian family?
How can the family also be a negative force in shaping our identity?

7. Gender Who is this? Why is he dressed this way?
What does this say about gender and behaviour?

8. Gender Our biological sex = male or female
Gender – the behaviours we associate with being male or female
Gender is culturally constructed – the behaviour of being male or female is determined by our society
Trans-gendered – having the opposite gender identity from your biological sex

9. School Introduces us to formal rules
Teaches us academic skills needed to prosper in society
To socialize us and cooperate with strangers (latent function)

10. What do you learn in school?
How to regulate yourself: being punctual, being organized, neat, when to speak and when to listen
How to speak in a formal manner
Respect for authority
Gender roles (intentional vs. unintentional)

11. What else do we learn in school?
Identity: what we are good at

12. Peer Group
Social group where members are about the same age, share common interests and social position
Opportunity to experiment with things that are discouraged by family

13. Peer Groups and Gender Roles
Gender roles are reinforced in the peer group
Male teenagers feel pressure to develop athletic skills and perceived toughness
Female teenagers feel pressure to concentrate on their physical appearance and adopt mature social concerns (environment, poverty)

14. Media
Advertising socializes us by creating demand by appealing to our sense of social status - peer pressure.
Presents ideal and unrealistic images gender roles are altered – perpetuates stereotypes of race and gender
Excessive exposure makes individual susceptible to stereotyped concepts of race & gender – we conform to these roles and norms

15. Religion Communicate beliefs about gender roles
Appropriate sexual contact
Collective responsibility of society
The afterlife
Raises moral questions

16. Workplace Learn specialized language
Specific procedures, rules, and codes
Commitment to employer
Interaction with colleagues, customers and competitors
Team-building exercises

17. Total Institutions Goal is to wipe out all prior socialization
Ex: boot camps, prisons, religious cults
Attempts to remove individuality and replace it with a common group identity
Identical clothes, haircuts, strict rules and routines

18. Homework
Read pages 122 –130
Answer Key Concepts on page 122