Chapter 3
Socialization
Chapter Outline
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What is Socialization?
The Self and Self-concept
Learning to Be Human
Theories of Socialization
Socialization Through the Life Course
Resocialization
Agents of Socialization
What is Socialization?
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Begins with learning the norms and
roles of our family and subculture and
making these part of our self-concept.
As we grow older and join new groups
and assume new roles, we learn new
norms and redefine our self-concept.
The Self and Self-Concept
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The I is the spontaneous, creative part
of the self.
The me is the self as social object, the
part of the self that responds to others’
expectations.
The self that we are aware of is our selfconcept. It consists of our thoughts
about our personality and social roles.
Theories of Socialization
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Freudian theory
Piaget and cognitive development
Symbolic interaction theory
The structural school
Freudian Theory
Socialization is a contest between
 Biological drives (id)
 Notions of right and wrong (super ego)
 Internalized as what we would call
conscience.
Piaget and Cognitive
Development
4 stage model of cognitive development:
1. sensorimotor stage - birth to 2,
children are focused on the immediate
input of their senses.
2. preoperational stage - 2 to 7,
children learn use of language, but
without understanding of cause and
effect relationships.
Piaget and Cognitive
Development
3.
concrete operational stage - after 7,
children develop understanding of
cause and effect relationships.
4.
formal operational stage comprehend concrete and abstract
relationships like those of algebra.
Symbolic Interaction Theory
Three premises:
1. To understand human behavior, we
must learn what behaviors mean to
the individuals.
2. Meanings develop within social
relationships.
3. Individuals play active roles in
constructing their self-concepts.
The Looking Glass Self
Sociologist Charles Horton Cooley
 We imagine how we appear to others.
 We imagine how others judge our
appearance.
 We respond to these perceived
judgments by altering our self-concept.
Two Schools of Symbolic
Interaction
Interaction
School
The selfconcept is . . .
Negotiated
The individual
is . . .
has more
freedom to
choose self
Self-concept
is developed
through . . .
Role taking
Structural
School
Determined by
roles
Has less
freedom to
choose self
Performing
institutionalized
roles
Two Schools of Symbolic
Interaction
Interaction
School
Structural
School
Roles are . . .
Negotiated
Allocated
Major
concepts
Looking-glass
self, role
taking, and
self-esteem
Role identity
and identity
salience
hierarchy
Socialization through
the Life Course
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Childhood - primary socialization.
Adolescence - anticipatory
socialization.
Adulthood - professional socialization.
Age 65 and beyond - role exits
Agents of Socialization
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Family - the most significant setting for
the socialization most of us undergo.
Schools - training grounds for
accepting authority and preparing for
work roles.
Peers - source of norms, attitudes,
beliefs, and values that may conflict with
family’s.
Agents of Socialization
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Mass media - reinforces and supports
norms and beliefs we already adhere to.
Religion - religious affiliation may serve
mainly to instill and support moral
values.
Workplace - forging important social
identities and important attitudes and
values.