1. Socialization

2. Three Perspectives Functionalist- emphasizes contributions
Conflict- emphasizes conflict, competition, and constraint
Symbolic Interactionism- focuses on interactions based on mutually understood symbols

3. Functionalist Perspective
Stresses the ways in which groups work together to create a stable society
Schools and families socialize children by teaching the same norms and values

4. Conflict Perspective
Views socialization as a way of perpetuating the status quo
People learn to accept their social status before they have enough self-awareness to realize what is happening
They do not challenge their position in life so they do not upset the existing class structure
Socialization is a way for the powerful to keep things the same

5. Symbolic Interactionism
Human nature is a product of society, not biology
Exposure to information and symbols leads to socialization
Self concept
Your image of yourself as having an identity separate from other people

6. The looking-glass self
Other people serve as mirrors for the development of the self
A self-concept based on our idea of others’ judgment of us
A three stage process
Imagine how we appear to others
Imagine the reaction of others to our (imagined) appearance
Evaluate ourselves according to how we imagine others have judged us
Not a conscious process
Because it comes from our imaginations, it can be distorted, but even if we believe something to be correct, the consequences are the same as if they were true

7. Significant others Some people serve as mirrors more than others
Those people whose reactions are most important to your self concept
Changes throughout life

8. Role taking
Allows us to see ourselves through the eyes of someone else
3 Stages of Development (Mead)
Imitation stage- children begin to imitate others without understanding why (18 months- 1 year)
Play stage- children act in ways they imagine other people should (3-4 years)
Game stage- children anticipate the actions of others based on social rules

9. The Generalized Other
A child’s self concept, attitudes, beliefs, and values gradually come to depend less on individuals and more on general concepts
Generalized other- an integrated conception of the norms, values, and beliefs of one’s community or society

10. What is the self? Two Parts
“Me”- the part of the self formed through socialization
Accounts for predictability and conformity
“I”- the part of the self that accounts for unlearned, spontaneous acts
The “I” will take the “me” into account before acting in social situations

11. Socialization and the Mass Media
Theoretical Perspective
View of Socialization
How the media influences socialization
Functionalism
Stresses how socialization contributes to a stable society
Network T.V. programs encourage social interaction by exposing the entire society to shared beliefs, values, and norms
Conflict Theory
Views socialization as a way for the powerful to keep things the same
Newspaper owners and editors exercise power by setting the political agenda for a community
Symbolic Interactionism
Holds that socialization is the major determinant of human nature
Through words and pictures, children’s books expose the young to the meaning of love, manners, and motherhood

12. The Internet and Socialization
Theoretical Perspective
View of Socialization
How the internet influences socialization
Functionalism
Stresses how socialization contributes to a stable society
Allows information to be transmitted rapidly; is sent in seconds and is a highly functionalized process
Conflict Theory
Views socialization as a way for the powerful to keep things the same
Entrepreneurs like Bill Gates have been extremely powerful as a result of technology, Internet use is related to income level and perpetuates inequality
Symbolic Interactionism
Holds that socialization is the major determinant of human nature
Young children are exposed to more and more information and have the ability to communicate with larger circles of people

13. The Family and Socialization
Within the family, children learn to
Think and speak
Internalize norms, beliefs, and values
Form basic attitudes
Develop a capacity for intimate and personal relationships
Acquire a self image
Social class shapes what we think of ourselves and how others treat us far into adulthood

14. Schools and Socialization
Hidden curriculum- the informal and unofficial aspects of culture that are taught in school
Discipline
Order
Cooperation
Conformity
Time

15. Peer Group Socialization
Peer group- a set of individuals of roughly the same age and interests; agent of socialization not controlled by adults
Experience conflict, competition, and cooperation
Experience in self-direction and self-expression
Development of self-sufficiency
Because parents often commute, upper grade school children may spend more time with peers than parents. Many believe the peer group is having a growing effect on social development

16. The Mass Media and Socialization
Mass media- means of communication designed to reach the general population
Can sometimes be highly distorted
Displays role models for children to imitate and offers ideas for values in their society
Violence and the mass media
Hundreds of studies now conclude that watching aggressive behavior on television significantly increases aggression

17. 4 Processes Associated with Socialization after Childhood
Symbolic interactionism- views socialization as a lifelong process
1) Desocialization
2) Resocialization
3) Anticipatory socialization
4) Reference groups

18. Desocialization
Total institutions- places where residents are separated from the rest of society and controlled by officials in charge; end purpose is to permanently change the residents
Desocialization- the process by which people give up old norms, values, attitudes, and behaviors; the destruction of old self-concepts
Standard-issue items
Serial numbers

19. Resocialization
Resocialization- the process by which people adopt new norms, values, attitudes, and behaviors
Attempt to give new self-concepts
Rewards and punishments
Concepts developed to analyze extreme situations, but also apply in other settings
Marine corps
In a much less extreme form, changes in our life course

20. Anticipatory Socialization
The process of preparing (in advance) for new norms, values, attitudes, and behaviors
Dating
Involves voluntary change
May occur in people moving from one stage of life to another
Reference group- the group whose norms and values are used to guide behavior; group with whom you identify