SOCIALIZATION

What is Socialization?
Socialization is the term sociologists use to describe the ways in which people learn to conform to their societys norms, values, and roles. How people learn to behave according to cultural normsthe way they learn their culture, makes possible the transmission of culture from one generation to the next.

When does Socialization Occur?

Socialization occurs throughout the lifetime as individuals learn new norms and new groups and situations.

NATURE VS. NURTURE

NATURE vs. NURTURE

NATURE
The nature position holds that human behavior is the product of a persons heredity, which is determined at birth and is thus beyond human control.

NURTURE
The nurture position argues that human beings are flexible and adoptable and that human behavior is determined by the learning and social contact that people experience as they mature.

CONCLUSION

Both nature and nurture play an important role in shaping an individuals behavior.

The Significance of Socialization

necessary because of the lack of instincts

Impairing Development
Feral children - wild children or wolf children - Raised mostly by animals

 Severely neglected children

Couldnt talk Couldnt interact with others No social skills Physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially impaired

Creating Geniuses
Through specialized socialization
Subjected to a very stimulating environment

Born with potential to be a genius

Realized through extraordinary socialization

Processes of Socialization

Jean Piaget
A Swiss psychologist famous for his studies of the intellectual growth of children and his influential theories of cognitive development. Greatly emphasized the childs active capability to make sense of the world. Described several distinct stages of cognitive development during which children learn to think about themselves and their environment.

Stages of Cognitive Development

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Sensorimotor Preoperational Concrete Operational Formal Operational Adult*

Sensorimotor
From birth up to about age two Using senses and bodily movements to interact with the environment
A child touches or feels an object using the hands or the mouth

Objects are not differentiated from persons

An infant is unaware that anything exists outside his/her range of vision.

Pre-Operational Stage
From age 2 to 7 Children are not yet able to use their developing mental capabilities systematically. Egocentric
See things from their own perspective

Animistic
Attribute human qualities to inanimate objects

Concrete Operational Stage

From age 7 to 11 Children master abstract, logical notions Able to perform simple intellectual tasks
Involving only visible, concrete objects

Less Egocentric

Formal Operational Stage

From age 11 to 15 Able to think and reason with highly abstract concepts and hypothetical ideas Depends in part on processes of schooling

Sigmund Freud
(6 May 1856 23 September 1939)

was an Austrian psychiatrist who founded the psychoanalytic school of psychology. Freud is best known for his theories of the unconscious mind and the defense mechanism of repression and for creating the clinical practice of psychoanalysis for curing psychopathology through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst

Personality Development
Sigmund Freud
held that socialization is a process characterized by the internal struggle between the biological components and the socio-cultural environment held that personality consisted of three major systems namely: Id, ego, superego

ID
is the biological component which is the source of a number of drives and urges. It centers around the satisfaction of basic needs like food and sex and operates on the pleasure principle. irrational

EGO
is the mediator between the needs of the individual and the world of reality and strives to delay tension until the suitable environment exist controls the cognitive and intellectual processes rational limits the id

SUPEREGO
the moral arm of personality representing the traditional rules, values, and ideals of society is in continuous conflict between the id moral conscience

 Personality development undergoes different stages which show the unfolding of the sex instinct

5 Stages of Personality Development

Oral Stage Anal Stage Phallic Stage Latency Period Genital Stage

Oral Stage
birth to 1 year eating is the major source of satisfaction frustration or overindulgence can lead to overeating or alcoholism in adulthood id is dominant

Anal Stage
age 1 to 3 influencing factor is the toilet training the result of fixation at this stage are personalities who are grasping and stingy learning self-control and selfdependence

Phallic Stage
3-6 years greatest source of pleasure comes from the sex organs time when the child desires parents of the opposite sex (Oedipus Complex and Electra Complex) eventually, the child represents erotic desire toward the parent of the opposite sex and hostility for the parent of the same sex

Latency Period
6 years-Adolescence children turn their attention to people outside their families like teachers and friends, and the erotic impulses are dormant

Genital Stage
adolescence and beyond sexual impulses become active again and the individual focuses on the opposite sex, looks around for a potential marriage partner and prepares for marriage and adult responsibilities

Criticisms to Freuds Theory

focuses on inborn and unconscious behavior too much stress on sex instincts does not have empirical evidences

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective:

Developing Self-Image from Interactions

Development of the SELF

the human infant is born helpless and without a concept of self self emerges in the process of socialization that is mediated by language

Development of the SELF

in learning to communicate symbolically, children begin to think about themselves and their behavior by reacting to how others respond to them

born in Ann Arbor, Michigan in September 7, 1864

The concept of the "looking glass self" is undoubtedly his most famous, and is known and accepted by most psychologists and sociologists today. It expanded William James idea of self to include the capacity of reflection on its own behavior. Other people's views build, change and maintain our selfimage; thus, there is an interaction between how we see ourselves and how others see us.

LOOKING GLASS SELF

the ability of children to visualize themselves through the eyes of others, to imagine how they appear to others is the social self others are a mirror reflecting our personal qualities self-image we develop from the way others treat us

LOOKING GLASS SELF

has three elements:
The imagination of how we appear to others The imagination of the judgment of that appearance Some sort of feeling, such as pride and mortification

George Herbert Mead

An American philosopher and social psychologist who offered a naturalistic account of the origin of the self and explained language, conception, perception, and thinking in terms of social behavior. Gave attention mainly to how children learn to use the concepts of I and me.

Symbolic Interactionism
Emphasizes that interaction between human beings takes place through symbols and the interpretation of meanings. Mead provided an account of the main phases of child development, giving particular attention to the emergence of a sense of self.

Symbolic Interactionism

Preparatory
Imitation
The child dont understand the meaning of the interaction

Symbolic Interactionism

Play
Take on roles of significant others
People who have close ties to a child Exerts a great influence on the child

Symbolic Interactionism
Game Stage
Generalized others
People who do not have close ties to a child but who do influence the childs internalization of the values of society Complex

Symbolic Interactionism
Parts of Personality
Me
Internalized social values End result of socialization

I
Spontaneous, Creative, and Impulsive

Both are complementary

Sociological Perspective on Socialization

Functionalist Perspective
Social Function
socialization ensures the social order (instillation of norms and values)

Psychological Function
Psychological benefits parents get from taking care of their children

Economic Function
Children learns to work for the economy

Conflict Perspective
Exploitation and Abuse of Children
Adults have power over children Children become possession Parents decide whats best for their children

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

Developing Self-Image from Interactions How children develop self Cooley Looking Glass Self Mead Taking roles of others Self-Concept Development
Preparatory Play Game Me I

Parts of Personality

Global Comparison of Socialization

West
Play Strangers take care of children for money when parents cant
Develops individualism

Socialized to be self-reliant at an early age

Global Comparison of Socialization

Non-West
Work Extended family when parents cant
leads to trust in others

Pampered at an early age

develops a strong sense of security

Agents of Socialization

Agents of Socialization
Family School Peers Media

Family
Universality of Family
Nuclear Family father + mother + offspring

Three main propositions for the universality of family

Fact that everywhere, theres a family Family as an expression of basic and universal biological needs Nuclear family performs basic social functions

Everywhere, theres a family

Nuclear Family is a universal human grouping (Murdock) However, some sociologists argue that the grouping is not universal, but it is the family-like qualities that are universal.

Family - an expression of needs

Sexual drives manifestation of human need to reproduce Nutrition and Protection from Natural and Social Dangers Human Infants Dependence

Family has basic social functions

According to Murdock, there are 4 Basic Functions of the Family
Sexual Economic Reproduction (biologically, culturally) Educational

Family in the Industrialized Society

A more isolated unit conjugal or nuclear unit Has lost or gained specialization on some of its functions. Family, however, really lost its production role in the economy. Egalitarian relationship between husband and wife and between parents and their children.

(1) A more isolated unit conjugal or nuclear unit

Mainly happens after marriages Selection of kinship, depending on several factors

 Econ. Function

(2) Has lost or gained specialization on some of its functions.

From producers and consumers to consumption unit

Sexual Function Talcott Parsons

Socialization of immature children (primary) Stabilization of adults
Large part of these are unplanned and nondeliberate

(3) Egalitarian relationship between husband and wife and between parents and their children.
She
An equal partner in decision making Enjoyment in sex Control of domestic resources

He
Participates more in the public sphere of domestic work

The Children
Parents and children learn and socialize from each other

The Perspectives on Family

Functionalist
Conjugally based and relatively autonomous nuclear family is best suited to the needs of a mature industrial society.

Marxian
Nuclear family is the main unit through which the capitalist system reproduces itself.

Functionalist
Free mobility of labor Provides maximum opportunities for advancement based upon personal strivings and skills Provides an emotional counterpart to tensions generated by econ. Systems, large factories and impersonal offices Provides the perpetuation of the values of individualism and independence

Marxian
Physical reproduction providing new members for labor Sexual Division of Labor
Womens main sphere household and housework are the cheapest and most effective means of sustaining the male worker on a day-to-day basis

New members are socialized to accepting hierarchy and obedience, maintaining capitalism Class maintenance thru inheritance of private property

School
Treated more impersonally than by family Fosters conformity Hidden curriculum
Patriotism Obey authority Values of teachers Gender roles

School
children learn the skills of interpersonal interaction uniform indoctrination of youth in the culturally prescribed ways. enhances skills and abilities

PEER GROUP
same age and similar interests not marginalized as with parents teaches independence teaches social skills teaches value of friendship

Peer Group
different tasks with peers and family transmission of information with the decline of parental authority, peer group becomes the role model and source of values and attitudes for the young

MASS MEDIA
gives false expectations broadens experience portrayal of value system

Mass Media
Does watching violence lead to violent behavior?
Some evidence supports it in children Not much known about adults Exposure linked to change in attitudes Not necessarily behavior

Creates consumers

Adult Socialization

Adult Socialization
Socialization is a lifelong process. Adult socialization often includes learning new norms and values that are very different from those associated with the culture in which the person was raised.

Types of Socialization
Primary and Secondary Socialization Developmental Socialization Anticipatory Socialization Resocialization

Primary and Secondary Socialization

Primary socialization
Takes place early in life occurs when a child learns the attitudes, values, and actions appropriate to individuals as members of a particular culture

Primary and Secondary Socialization

Secondary Socialization
takes place throughout one's life, both as a child and as one encounters new groups that require additional socialization. refers to the process of learning what is appropriate behaviour as a member of a smaller group within the larger society involves smaller changes

Primary and Secondary Socialization

most social scientists tend to combine the two:
basic or core identity of the individual develops during primary socialization more specific changes occurring later secondary socialization - in response to the acquisition of new group memberships and roles and differently structured social situations.

Developmental Socialization
the process of learning behavior in a social institution or developing your social skills provided by new experiences and relationships learning to be more competent in playing their current role

Anticipatory Socialization
"rehearses" for future positions, occupations, and social relationships Adoption of attitudes and values of a group to which one does not belong
facilitating a move into that group easing the process of adjustment after becoming a member of it

Resocialization
a sociological concept dealing with the process of mentally and emotionally "re-training" a person so that he or she can operate in an environment other than that which he or she is accustomed to
Example: joining the military and its reverse process

Resocialization
Resocialization institutions or Total institutions
Goal: resocialization which radically alters residents' personalities through deliberate manipulation of their environment Mental institution as a total institution

Resocialization
Two-part process:
Eroding the individuals identity and independence systematic attempt to build a different personality or self
Rewards and punishments

Resocialization
Institutionalization
this negative outcome of total institution prevents an individual from ever functioning effectively in the outside world again.

Resocialization
Resocialization is also evident in individuals who have never been "socialized" in the first place, or who have not been required to behave socially for an extended period of time.
Feral children, inmates who have been in solitary confinement

Resocialization
Voluntary Resocialization
E.g. voluntarily joining the military