SOCIALIZATION
Unit 3
SOCIALIZATION
Process by which a society transmits its
cultural values to its members
 Through this, you develop a personality
 Both nature AND nurture furthers our
development
 Nature – what people inherit
 Nurture – what people are taught

SOCIALIZATION


The role of heredity (nature) in determining level
of intelligence is controversial – revolves around
what’s inherited
B/c we also hold the
capacity for aptitude –
ability to develop physical
or social skills (like athletics)
ID, EGO, & SUPEREGO

Video
Freud says kids’ personalities
consist of 3 parts:
 The id: part of personality
that is irrational; seek pleasure
 The
ego: part of personality that is rational,
logically & realistic
 The
superego: part of personality that is moral
– our conscience
SIGMUND FREUD

Freud is significant in 3 ways:
1. parents role in kid’s development
2.
childhood experiences have great
impact
3.
assumption that superego—influence
on personality—reflects society’s norms
& values
LEARNING HOW TO BE “MASCULINE”
OR “FEMININE”

Kids develop their
gender identities by
observing and
learning people’s
social expectations on
basis of their sex
Video 

Patriarchal society:
 Males dominant
over females
 Child care
assigned primarily
to mother
 By age 3, kids
start to see
themselves as
individuals
LOOKING-GLASS PROCESS


Cooley says core of personality is concept
of oneself, the self-image
Self-image is developed through a mirror
image, therefore we acquire a lookingglass self  we define ourselves based
on others’ perceptions
(We will watch a good film explaining this
idea…”Secrets of the Wild Child”)
ROLE-TAKING PROCESS


Like Cooley, George Mead said
development is made through
interactions
Says we “get under the skin” of others
by taking their role
GEORGE MEAD’S IDEAS

Mead says kids develop self-concept in 3 stages:
 1. preparatory stage – 1st two years; kids imitate
others
 2. significant others – about 3 yrs old; go through
“play stage” (tell baby dolls not to be “naughty”)
 3. generalized others –start playing “game stage”
(doctor, nurse, teacher, etc.)
 Start to participate in sports & learn
rules of society
Video 
PEER GROUPS

As kids grow older, learn from peers:
Independence from adults
Social skills & group loyalties
Values of friendship & companionship
Negative: can socialize members to be
isolationist from others
LEARNING NEW ROLES

As we learn roles, we undergo 3 types of
socialization:
 1.
anticipatory socialization = people learn to
assume a role in the future, but idealism dies out
 2. developmental socialization = people learn
to be competent in playing currently assumed
role; kids = son/daughters, adults =
workers/husband, wife/parents
LEARNING NEW ROLES
3.
resocialization = less common;
people forced to abandon old self &
create a new self (prisons, mental
institutions, etc)
These are total institutions – places
where people are cut off from society
& rigidly controlled
Prison Gangs Video 