Ch. 5-Socialization and Interaction
Socialization is the lifelong process through which individuals
acquire culture, develop their sense of self and become
functioning members of society. Socialization occurs
throughout the life course. Individuals internalize the values,
beliefs and norms of a society and learn to function as a
member of that society. It becomes more complex as people
age.
I.
Nature vs. Nurture
Both important
Negative consequences of social isolation; feral children
II.
Socialization
Social learning theory: Rewards & punishments
Modeling
III.
The Self
The Self-the ability to view oneself as object; the ability to
imagine yourself taking the place of others and viewing
yourself as they do
Mead-the self develops through social interaction
Role taking & role playing
Cooley-Looking Glass Self: self image based on how we think
others see us; we can “reflect” on our behavior
Significant others
Generalized other: internalized sense of society’s expectations
IV.
Agents of Socialization:
Entities responsible for helping individuals learn society’s
norms and culture.
Socialization and Interaction
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
V.
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the family-primary socializing agent
education-“hidden curriculum”
peers-become more important as children get older
media-latent function
work-adult socialization
Total Institutions
Controls all aspects of everyday life such as prisons and mental
hospitals, attempts to destroy and rebuild sense of self
Goal: resocialization
VI.
Social Interaction
Social interaction is guided by social status, which is part of
social structure. Social structure is the concept that describes
the ordered and patterned expectations that guide social
interaction. Status determines with whom you will interact and
the form the interaction will take.
A. Status-socially defined position in society; rank
Ascribed status-characteristics you are born with-important
in closed stratification systems
Achieved status-what you make of yourself-important in
open class systems.
Master or dominant status
Status inconsistency-when a person occupies 2 or more
statuses that society deems contradictory.
B. Role-behaviors associated with each position (status). Set of
expectations, rights and duties attached to a particular status.
Role performance may vary.
Role strain-contradictory expectations and demands are
attached to a single role.
Role conflict-when a person cannot fulfill the roles of one
status without violating another
Socialization and Interaction
VII.
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Theoretical Perspectives
Social Interaction is an active, dynamic process in which participants may
choose from a range of appropriate behaviors. In doing so, people construct
social reality and modify existing cultural norms.
A. The Social Construction of Reality-shared social reality“Definition of the Situation”-Thomas Theorum-predictions about
behavior shape behavior. Related to sellf-fulfilling prophecy.
Critique-minimize impact of social structure-status, role, etc.
Social structure consists of expectations that guide interactionHerbert Blumer
B. Symbolic Interactionism: we interact with others using words and
behaviors that have symbolic meaning; cultural differences
C. Ethnomethodology-Garfinkle: study of “taken for granted” rules
that govern social interaction. Study of how people construct their
everyday world and give meaning to their experiences. By
deliberately breaking norms, can uncover “hidden rules of
interaction.”
D. Dramaturgy-Goffman: compares life to theater-the self is viewed
as a dramatic product of social interaction between an individual
and their audiences; impression-management- refers to those
techniques used to control the image of themselves that individuals
want to project during their social performances, even when they
encounter problems; includes “frontstage” refers to place or
situation where the performance tends to be idealized and designed
to define the situation for those who are observing it and
‘backstage” behavior refers to an area or situation where the
performer can express themselves in ways they cannot in front
stage, more freely, less scripted, more spontaneous. For every
front stage performance, there are one or more back stages where
“hidden” things occur. Face-esteem in which the individual is held
by others; tact and saving face.
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E. Social Exchange-profit motive guides relationships
Interaction is viewed as a rational process in which those involved
in the interaction seek to maximize rewards and minimize costs.
Often seen in courtship, but many interactions, if not all involve
social exchange.
VIII.
Social Groups
A social group consists of two or more people who interact with
each other in patterned ways, have a feeling of unity, and share
certain interests and expectations.
A. Types of Groups
Primary-small number of people who regularly interact on
a face-to-face basis, have close personal ties and are
emotionally committed to the relationship-ex. Family,
close friends (expressive)
Secondary-two or more people who interact on a formal and
impersonal basis to accomplish a specific objective.
(instrumental) goal oriented-ex. School, work
B. Conformity
Asch: experiment demonstrated power of group conformity
C. Networks
A social network is a set of relations held together by ties
between individuals. Ties are reinforced through indirect
paths within a social network.
The strength of weak ties is the fact that relatively weak ties
can turn out to be valuable because they yield new
information. These weak ties can be helpful in job searches.
Socialization and Interaction
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