SOCIALIZATION
“The cultural process of learning
to participate in group life.”
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THE FOUR AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION
Family
School
Peer Groups
Media
Rank them in order of INFLUENCE ON
YOU!
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What does Socialization mean?
“The cultural process of learning to participate in group life.”
1. Socialization is a lifelong process.
2. Socialization creates your acquisition of:
– Self-Identity
– Physical, ________________ & social skills
needed for survival
3. Socialization is essential for the survival and stability
of the individual AND society.
4. _______________’s believe that socialization has
the greatest impacting on who we become.
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What happens if socialization
doesn’t occur?... “Genie”
• Write a minimum 5 line response on how you
felt about the video.
–
http://www.feralchildren.com/en/index.php
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AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION
• Write about how your family, school, peers,
OR the media has influenced who you are as
a person. CHOOSE ONE
• Include 2 examples to show its influence.
• Give at least one example of how your self
identify would be different without this
influence.
• Write a maximum one page typed response.
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TOP 2
• What are 2 most important social factors in
determining ‘success in America?’
• 1.
• 2.
• Hint: You can’t control EITHER ONE.
•
Source - *Freakonomics
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1.
FAMILY
From a functionalist perspective…
 Most important agent of socialization!
 Families give the earliest social & emotional
development to children.
 Family is where we acquire our social position in
society.
– Racial, ethnic, religious subculture groupings.
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FAMILY
• “Your siblings were each raised by
a different set of parents. “
– What does this quote mean?
– What experiences do you
have to support/refute this
quote?
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FAMILY AS A SOCIAL AGENT
• Write a 5 line “thank you” letter to a member
of your family for their ‘positive’ impact on
one aspect of your socialization.
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The Family –
Conflict Theorists
• What conflicts exist in families?
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2. SCHOOL AS A SOCIAL AGENT
__________ Perspective
Schools are responsible for…
Socialization (citizenship)
Transmission of culture
Social control/personal development
Future placement in society
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Conflict Perspective
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. School experiences are different based on social class,
racial-ethnic background, neighborhood, gender, etc.
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3. PEER GROUPS AS A SOCIAL AGENT
• “Adolescence is the first time in our life
when we feel we have something to
hide.” – John Irving
– What does this quote mean?
– Do you agree with it?
– Write a 5 line response
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PEER GROUPS –
_______________ Perspective
 Definition - People who are linked by common
interests, equal social position and similar age
The term, “teenager”, wasn’t incorporated
into mainstream culture until the 1950’s
Identify at least 2 other peer groups with
which you are a part
 Peer groups function as an agent of socialization
by giving us a sense of ____________________
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Belonging to a Peer Group
• Why do we conform to a group’s norms?
If we conform we are ____________
Not conform we are _____________
PEER PRESSURE
 Is evident from very early peer groups in preschools!
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Belonging to a
Peer Group
1. Circle the stage of
development that
identifies how you
determine right vs. wrong.
2. Check off the stage where
“belonging to a peer
group” mostly influences
your decision making.
3. Do you agree with
Kohlberg’s Theory?
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Peer Groups
-Write down at least 2 example of each
• A Positive Force
– 1.
– 2.
• A Negative Force
– 1.
– 2.
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4. MEDIA
• Definition - Any source or organization that
use print or electronic means to
communicate.
– _________, _________, ________
• The increase in use of electronic devices
among children is good/bad (you choose) as a
social agent because…
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Functions of Media
1. Inform us about _______________
2. Introduce us to a wide variety of people
3. Provide an array of viewpoints on current
issues
4. Make us aware of products and services
5. ______________ us by providing the
experience of doing something we wouldn’t
normally do
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Critics of Media – Conflict Theory
1. Too much violence
2. Not enough exercise
3. Too much marketing for things kids do not
need
4. Projection of negative images of minorities &
women
– i.e. promote women solely as sex symbols because of
the types of clothes they wear, etc.
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OTHER FACTORS IN SOCIALIZATION
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EFFECTS OF SOCIALIZATION
“Looking Glass Self”
Refers to the way in which a person’s sense of
self is derived from the perceptions of others.
• It is NOT who we really are.
• It is NOT what people actually
think of us.
• It IS what we think that people
think of us.
• If our “looking glass self”
becomes skewed, what self
concept issues/problems exist
in society today?
• We imagine how our
personality & appearance will
look to other people.
• We imagine how other people
judge the appearance &
personality that we think we
present.
• We develop a self-concept.
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Sociological Theories of
Human Development
• Self-Concept: the totality of our beliefs & feelings
about ourselves - Our perception of who we are
Some sociologists believe we do not know who we
are until we see ourselves as we think others see
us
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MEAD ‘I’ then ‘Me’
• Preparatory Stage (birth-3)
– Interactions lack meaning
– Imitation
• Play Stage (3-5)
– Language & symbols
– Role taking
• But they don’t see it as something they HAVE to do
• Game Stage
– Understand their social position as well as the positions of
others around them.
– Concerned about demands/expectations...
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Choose 3 and write at least 5 complete
sentences each!
1. Identify 2 ways in which you will behave or act differently for the
senior prom and explain which socialization term this describes.
2. Write about one way in which our society could de-socialize a
teen who has been involved in gangs? What would be the
biggest challenge?
3. What concept best reflects pressure a woman may feel to look
like women who are portrayed in ads, magazines, and television?
Write a perspective on this issue from either a functionalist
theory or conflict theory?
4. What do you think will be the most difficult transition from high
school to college/workforce? What concept are you applying to
this example?
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“The Fish Bowl”
“What is it like to be “you” in your family?”
• Consider the following:
– Your relationships with members of your
family (Mom, Dad, brother, sister, etc..)
– How do your family members perceive you?
– How do your experiences feel?
– Do any of these experiences have an affect
on your life? (School, sports, friends, job,
etc)
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“The Fish Bowl”
• Inside the “Fish Bowl”
–
–
–
–
Only describe your own experiences
Do not ask questions of others
Only speak to others inside the fishbowl
After – write down how you felt about being inside the fishbowl
• Outside the “Fish Bowl”
– Give full attention to those inside the fish bowl
– Do not engage in conversation w/ anyone inside or outside the fish
bowl
– If you wish to participate in the fish bowl, you must fill the vacant seat.
You can return to outside at any time
– After – Write down your observations about the
commonalities/similarities you heard among those inside the fish
bowl.
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