1. T HE S OCIAL S ELF Chapter 5, Section 2

2. S OCIALIZATION - W HAT IS IT ? When you are born, there are certain things you are unable to do (i.e. walk, talk). You do not understand various norms. Through social and cultural environment, individuals are transformed into participatory members of society. Socialization= interactive process through which people learn the basic skills, values, beliefs and patterns of a society. Socialization helps us develop a sense of self.

3. T HREE T HEORIES OF S OCIALIZATION Tabula Rasa theory : Developed by John Locke; Belief that all children are ‘blank slates’, born without personality ; Thus, infants can be molded into any type of individual. Although most disagree with Locke’s view, many agree with his belief that socialization allows an individual to absorb cultural aspects.

4. T HREE T HEORIES OF S OCIALIZATION Looking-Glass Self theory : Developed by Charles Horton Cooley ; The interactive process by which we develop an image of ourselves based on how we imagine we appear to others ; Others act as a mirror, reflecting back the person we show to everyone else. Develop personality through interactive process with those around you. Continual life process– redefine self-image.

5. T HREE T HEORIES OF S OCIALIZATION Role-taking Theory : Developed by George Herbert Mead ; See ourselves through the eyes of others and take on the roles we believe others expect of us ; As an individual gets older, the expectations of society take on greater importance; These internalized expectations are known as a generalized other. Develop a sense of self– two parts: ‘I’ (unsocialized, spontaneous) and ‘me’ (socialized).

6. A GENTS OF S OCIALIZATION Chapter 5, Section 3

7. W HAT IS IT ? Agent of socialization= groups, individuals and institutions that allow socialization to happen. Four agents: Family Peer group School Mass media

8. A GENTS OF S OCIALIZATION Both intended and unintended socialization can occur. Peer group= primary group composed of individuals of roughly equal ages and similar social characteristics. Mass media= instruments of communication that reach a wide audience without personal contact.

9. R ESOCIALIZATION Total institution= setting in which people are isolated from the rest of society for a set period of time. Examples: prisons, boot camp, monasteries, psychiatric hospitals, etc. Primary concern of these total institutions is to re-socialize members– break from past experiences to learn new values and norms.