CHAPTER 4: SOCIALIZATION
Kendall begins with an example of Drew Barrymore's first experience of
domestic violence. The point is that socialization begins at an early age,
and maltreatment has lasting impact.
Take a look at the quiz on page 109 (in my edition - it might be on a
different page in yours) to see how much you know
(note: Full-time child care costs as much as a college education over a year:
between $4,000-10,000, even more)
A key question: How much of our social world is biological and how
much is through learning or socialization? How important is
sociolization? What are some of the theories of socialization that
you find most convincing?
From Chapter 3, we learned that interaction is how we exchange meanings.
Interaction "refers to the ways in which people respond to to one another,
whether face to face or over the telephone or over the computer, or any place
else they can communicate
Socialization is the LIFE-LONG processof social interaction through
which we acquire a self-identity and thephysical, mental, and social skills
needed for survival in society. SOCIALIZATION IS SIMPLY THE PROCESS BY WE
LEARN THE ATTITUDES, VALUES, AND ACTIONS Appropriate as INDIVIDUALS of a
PARTICULAR CULTURE.
A few key themes from the chapter: NATURE OR NURTURE?
Sociology: Study of SOCIAL PROCESSES
Sociobiology: How biology affects social behavior
1. ISOLATION.
2. NATURE/NURTURE
SOCIAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
A. Freud
--Ego (rational, thinking "self")
--Super-ego (conscionce and ethical/moral aspects of personality)
--Id (basic biological drives and non-thinking self)
B. Erickson: Borrowed from Freud - identified eight basic stages
of development (know these); They correspond to ages
--trust v. mistrust (birth to 1)
--Autonomy v. shame/doubt (1 to 3)
--Initiative v. guilt (3 to 5)
--Industry v. inferiority (6-11)
--identity v role confusion (12-18)
--Intimacy v isolation (18-35)
--generativity v. self-absorption (35-55)
--Integrtiy v. despair (maturity and old age)
C. Piaget: See his four stages:
--sensormotor stage;
--Preoperational stage (2 to 7)
--Concrete operational stage (7 to 11)
--Formal operational stage (12 through adolescence)
D. Kohlberg & stages of moral development (it's reasoning, not always
behavior that matters)
E. Carol Gilligan: critiques kohlberg and others as patriarchical
THE SELF: WHAT IS IT?
A) DEVELOPING SELF
B) LOOKING-GLASS SELF (COOLEY) (IMPRESSIONS ABOUT HOW OTHERS SEE US)
C (MEAD: EMERGING SELF:
A) SYMBOLS: Gestures, objects, and language that form the basis
of communication.
B) GENERALIZED OTHER
C) I/ME
1) I = subjective/feelings/spontaneous
2) ME = socially shaped "testable" awareness of others
D) Stages of self development:
1) Prepartory stage (to age 3) - primative and imitative
2) Play stage (3 to 5) - language use, rules/norms
3) Game stage (early school) - awareness of others
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISTS AND SOCIALIZATION (return to Barrymore)
AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION:
--FAMILY
--SCHOOL
--PEERS
D. MEDIA
E. WORKPLACE
GENDER AND RACIAL-ETHNIC SOCIALIZATION: THis is the aspect of
socialization that contains specific messages and practices concerning the
nature of being a maleor female in a group or society.
ANTICIPATORY SOCIALIZATION: PROCESS OF SOCIALIZATION (How INDIVIDUALS
REHEARSE FOR FUTURE SOCIAL ROLES AND (COWBOYS, PLAYING HOUSE, ETC)
RESOCIALIZATION: DISCARDING FORMER BEHAVIORS AND APPROPRIATE NEW ONES
(GOING INTO ARMY AFTER SCHOOL; COLLEGE FROM HOME).
--voluntary
--involuntary (eg, in total institutions like prisons, the army)
Some events that contribute to socialization and resocialization:
--marriage
--school
--traumatic events/coping
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