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Lecture 4: Socialization Socialization The process by which people learn the characteristics of their group; the knowledge, values, attitudes, skills, and common patterns of behavior thought appropriate for them. “Nature vs. Nurture” (the classic debate) What is this? What does ‘Nature vs. Nurture’ mean? “Nature vs. Nurture” (the classic debate) Nature: the characteristics that people inherit genetically. Nurture: the characteristics that result from one’s interaction with others in the human, social environment. Nature vs. Nurture (cont’d) In order to approach the nature/nurture question, sociologists are interested in researching identical twins (that grew up in different social environments) as well as children that have had very little human contact. i.e. Feral Children, Isolated Children, Institutionalized Children. Feral Children Children assumed to have been raised by animals, in the wild, isolated from all human contact. (Think: Tarzan!) See: “The Wild Boy of Aveyron”-boy who walked on all fours and could not speak found in the forests of Aveyron France; would devour raw meat uncooked and showed no sensitivity to feeling the cold. Isolated Children Children that do not progress through the normal stages of development due to extreme limited contact with humans. See: “Isabelle”- until age 61/2, grew up in a dark attic with deaf-mute mother; developed no language. Institutionalized Children Children raised in orphanages or similar institutions who do not receive regular human contact. These children are considered “provided for” by the institution, but not necessarily nurtured on an individual level. Childhood: A critical period of socialization! The basic human traits of intelligence and the ability to establish close bonds with others depend on early interaction with other humans. There appears to be a period prior to the age of 13 where children must experience language and human bonding if they are to develop high intelligence and the ability to navigate social life. Society Makes us Human! If children are reared in isolation, they become little more than big animals. Without the concepts that language offers, people cannot learn to grasp relationships between people or become members of the human community. Therefore: it is language that is essential to socialization! Charles Cooley (symbolic interactionist) Cooley concluded that the self is socially created; it develops from interaction with others. Self: the unique human capacity of being able to see ourselves “from the outside”; the views we internalize of how others see us. Charles Cooley (symbolic interactionist) Coined the term “Looking Glass Self”; the idea that our sense of self (identity) develops through internalizing others’ reactions to us. Looking Glass Self (contains 3 dimensions) (Let’s look at each one…) Looking Glass Self -Charles Cooley (1902) 1. We imagine how we appear to those around us (we may think that others perceive us as funny, dull, outgoing, etc.) 2. We interpret others’ reactions (we come to conclusions about how others evaluate us; do they like me?) 3. We develop a self-concept (a favorable reflection-a positive self image; an unfavorable reflection-a negative self image) Looking Glass Self George Mead (symbolic interactionist) Play is crucial to the development of self! Through play, children learn to take the role of the other (to put themselves in someone else’s shoes) “The Generalized Other”: the idea that a person has the common expectations that others have about actions and thoughts in a particular society. Anytime a person tries to imagine what is expected of them, they are taking on the perspective of the generalized other. The Generalized Other -George Mead (1934) Mead used baseball as an example to illustrate the concept of the generalized other. Team sports require all players (despite what particular position they play) to be able to understand the multiple positions of the entire team. Agents of Socialization People or groups that affect our selfconcept, attitudes, patterns of behavior, world view, etc. Agents of socialization take various forms: The Family: Typically, the family is the first group to have a major impact on our socialization; a process that has life-long consequences on children. Sociologist Melvin Kohn found that working class families raise their children to mainly stay out of trouble/follow the rules; Middle class families focus more on developing their children’s self-expression, curiosity, and selfcontrol (more likely to reason with their children than resort to physical punishment). Why is this? Concerted Cultivation and Natural Growth Annette Lareau (2003) identifies the often invisible but equally powerful ways in which parents' social class influences children's life experiences and potential for upward social mobility. Lareau offers the terms “Concerted Cultivation”, and “Natural Growth” to conceptualize two different parenting styles. Concerted Cultivation and Natural Growth Concerted Cultivation: characterized by a parent's attempts to foster their child's talents through organized leisure activities; typical of middle-class/upper-middle class families in the U.S. These children will tend to express greater social prowess in contexts involving formality/structure which may be considered a result of their participation in organized clubs/sports as well as increased interaction with adults and other authority figures. Concerted Cultivation… Concerted Cultivation and Natural Growth Natural Growth: in the accomplishment of natural growth, children experience long stretches of leisure time, childinitiated play, clear boundaries between adults and children, and daily interactions with immediate kin. Natural Growth… Religion: Religion is a key component that influences people’s sense of right and wrong; values. Influence of religion extends to many areas of our lives. Extends into the non-religious aspects of society (providing basic ideas regarding morality for everyone; think: judicial system, politics, etc.). Is society more religious now or more secular? Education: A formal system of teaching knowledge, values, skills, etc...(SOCIALIZATION!) How might structural functionalists view the role that educations plays in society? What about conflict theorists? Symbolic interactionists? Peer Group: A group of individuals of roughly the same age who are linked by common interests and experiences. Typically, the cardinal rule is “conformity or rejection”. HIGHLY INFLUENTIAL! See: Asch experiment (famous study on conformity). Mass Media: Forms of communication, such as radio, newspapers, Internet, cell phones, that are directed to mass audiences. Influential at very early stages. T.V., advertising, marketing, etc. bombard us with images and messages that reinforce gender roles, ideal body types, etc. Average U.S. child watches approx. 25,000 commercials a year! Disney Movies?