Download Socialization and the Construction of Reality

How does someone become a racist? A
sexist? A homophobic person?
Socialization and the
Construction of Reality
Chapter 4
How much has
your religion,
your parents,
and the media
you consume
shaped your
identity?
Have you been properly socialized??
Who and
what
have
made
you who
you are
today?
????
• If a baby was born on an island and survived without any parents or
other humans, would it exhibit human traits? Would it act like a
person?
socialization process in sociology
• What makes us human?
Discussion Outline
• I. Defining Socialization
• II. Theories of Socialization
• III. Agents of Socialization
Socialization
• The process by which members internalize the values, beliefs, and
norms of a society and learn to function as it’s members
• Have you properly internalized the rules that govern most situations? Is this a
good thing for society and it’s members?
• Who and what have shaped who you are today?
• Socialization agents….
•
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brScJNP9-5A&list=UUYa28Hgxq_W6WgGcksVuu2w&index=20
What are the limits of Socialization?
• The complex interplay between…
How much of an individual’s personality and
behavior is learned through interaction and how
much is genetic or inherited?
Nature-Nurture Debate
• Biologists tend to focus on the role of heredity in human
development—emphasizing the role of nature.
• Social scientists focus on
the role of learning,
socialization, and culture,
emphasizing the role of
nurture.
Biological determinism vs. differential socialization
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCzE9_QvpE4
I.e.: Mead’s work on
Gender differences
Theories of Socialization
• The self: The individual identity of a person as perceived by that same
person
• How does the self develop?
Sociologists focus on Reflexive behavior: actions through which people observe,
interpret, evaluate, communicate with, and attempt to control themselves
• -How do individuals actively participate in their own socialization process?
• Fitting in in high school?
Symbolic Interactionist Theories
• Charles Horton Cooley
• Looking-glass self: process by which we imaginatively assume the stance of
other people and view ourselves as we believe they see us
• -1.Perceive; 2.interpret; 3.respond
• Self-image: Temporary view
• Self-conception: Long term/overriding view
Why do some individuals have low self esteem?
3-8
Symbolic Interactionist Theories
• George Herbert Mead: The Generalized Other
• -The attitude of the larger community-An internalized sense of the expectations of
others in given settings
• -Learned by children through playing games
• -Learn to take the perspective of the other and play roles in society
• -the “I” is impulsive; The “me” is aware of the generalized other
• -Why do most people not break the rules or act outside of the norm most of the time?
3-9
Symbolic Interactionist Theories
• Erving Goffman: Impression Management
• Impression management: process of presenting ourselves to others in ways that
will lead them to view us favorably-Saving face
• Dramaturgical approach: The view of social life as essentially a theatrical
performance
• -Throughout each day, we, as actors, play roles on a series of stages, adjusting our behavior to
meet societal expectations
• There are scripts, costumes, and sets
3-10
Socialization Agents
• Family, Schools, Peers, Media, religion, etc.
• Family, Social Class, and Socialization
• The work of Annette Lareau and Unequal Childhoods
•
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1ortYT4TWg
• Can Adults be socialized?
• Resocialization…
Social Structure
• Status: a position within a group or society
• Status set-All of the statuses that you occupy
• Ascribed status: assigned by group or society
• Achieved status: secured on basis of individual choice and competition
• Master status: core status that carries primary weight in person’s interactions and
relationships with others
• Examples: Parent; Lawyer; Sibling; Student; boyfriend/girlfriend
2-12
Social Structure
• Roles: sets of culturally defined rights and duties
• Role performance: actual behavior of the person who
occupies a status
• Role set: multiple roles attached to a single status
• What is the role set of a student? A professor? A citizen? A parent?
2-13