Chapter Preview
Section 1: The importance of Socialization
Section 2: Socialization and the Self
Section 3: Agents of Socialization
Section 4: Processes of Socialization
Chapter Preview · Section 1
The Importance of Socialization (pages 110–114)
Socialization is the cultural process of learning to
participate in group life. Studies have shown that
animals and human infants who are deprived of
intensive and prolonged social contact with others
are stunted in their emotional and social growth.
Chapter Preview · Section 2
Socialization and the Self (pages 115–120)
Symbolic interactionism offers the most fully
developed perspective for studying socialization. In
this approach, the self-concept is developed by using
other people as mirrors for learning about ourselves.
Chapter Preview · Section 3
Agents of Socialization (pages 121–127)
During childhood and adolescence, the major agents
of socialization are the family, school, peer group, and
mass media. The family’s role is critical in forming
basic values. Schools introduce children to life beyond
the family. In peer groups young people learn to relate
as equals. The mass media provide role models for full
integration into society.
Chapter Preview · Section 4
Processes of Socialization (pages 128–132)
Desocialization is the process of having to give up old
norms. Resocialization begins as people adopt new
norms and values. Anticipatory socialization and
reference groups are concerned with voluntary change
as when moving from one life stage to another.
Socialization is the cultural process of learning
to participate in group life. Without it, we would
not develop many of the characteristics we
associate with being human. Studies have
shown that animals and human infants who are
deprived of intensive and prolonged social
contact with others are stunted in their
emotional and social growth.
• socialization
How important to you is interacting
with others on a daily basis?
A. Very important
B. Somewhat important
C. Not very important
D. Not important at all
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Socialization and Personality
• Socialization is the cultural process of
learning to participate in group life through
cultural transmission.
• Harry Harlow experimented with monkeys
to show the importance of affection,
intimacy, and warmth.
Which of the following is a result of
socialization?
A. A man holding a door
open for a woman
B. Using chopsticks to eat
food
C. Sitting quietly in class
D. All of the above
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Case Studies on Isolated Children:
Anna and Isabelle
• Anna and Isabelle show that the personal
and social development associated with
being human is acquired through intensive
and prolonged social contact with others.
Do you agree or disagree with the
following statement: Social development
requires prolonged social contact with
others?
A. Agree
B. Disagree
C. Not sure
0%
A
A. A
B. B
C.0%C
B
0%
C
All three theoretical perspectives agree that
socialization is needed if cultural and societal
values are to be learned. Symbolic
interactionism offers the most fully developed
perspective for studying socialization. In this
approach, the self-concept is developed by
using other people as mirrors for learning about
ourselves.
• self-concept
• generalized other
• looking-glass self
• “me”
• significant others
• “I”
• role taking
• imitation stage
• play stage
• game stage
Which group would you consider as a
reflection of yourself?
A. Friends
B. Classmates
C. Siblings
0%
A
A. A
B. B
C.0%C
B
0%
C
The Functionalist and Conflict
Perspective on Socialization
• Functionalism stresses the ways in which
groups work together to create a stable
society.
• The conflict perspective views socialization
as a way of perpetuating the status quo.
A person accepts his family’s social
class, and thus preserves the class
system. What is this an example of?
A. Functionalism
B. Conflict perspective
C. Neither
0%
A
A. A
B. B
C.0%C
B
0%
C
Symbolic Interactionism and
Socialization
• Key concepts of symbolic interactionism:
– The self-concept—your image of
yourself as having an identity
separate from other people.
– The looking-glass self—we use
other people as mirrors to reflect back
what we imagine they think of us.
Symbolic Interactionism and
Socialization (cont.)
• The looking-glass self is a three-step
process:
– We imagine how we appear
to others.
– We imagine the reaction of
others to our appearance.
– We evaluate ourselves
according to how we imagine
others have judged us.
Symbolic Interactionism and
Socialization (cont.)
• Significant others are the people whose
judgments are most important to our self
concepts.
• Role taking allows us to see ourselves
through the eyes of someone else.
Symbolic Interactionism and
Socialization (cont.)
• This is a three stage process:
– Imitation stage
– Play stage
– Game stage
Symbolic Interactionism and
Socialization (cont.)
• The generalized other is an integrated
conception of norms, values, and beliefs of
one’s community or society.
• Self equals “I” (unlearned, spontaneous
acts) versus “Me” (predictability and
conformity learned through socialization).
Socialization and
Mass Media
Obsessing over the way certain
people at school may view the way
you dress is an example of which
concept?
A. The looking-glass self
B. Significant others
C. Role taking
D. The generalized other
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
During childhood and adolescence, the major
agents of socialization are family, school, peer
group, and mass media. The family’s role is
critical in forming basic values. Schools
introduce children to life beyond the family. In
peer groups, young people learn to relate as
equals. The mass media provide role models
for full integration into society.
• hidden curriculum
• peer group
• mass media
From the list below, what influences
your life the most?
A. Parent or parents
B. School
C. Peer groups
D. Mass media
0%
A
A.
B.
0%
C.
BD.
A
B
0%
C
C
D
0%
D
The Family and Socialization
• Within the family, the child learns to:
– Think and speak
– Internalize norms, beliefs, and values
– Form some basic attitudes
– Develop a capacity for intimate and
personal relationships
– Acquire a self-image
From the list below, who are the most
influential people in you life?
A. Parent or parents
B. Other relatives
C. Friends
D. Teachers
0%
A
A.
B.
0%
C.
BD.
A
B
0%
C
C
D
0%
D
Socialization in Schools
• The hidden curriculum teaches children:
– discipline
– order
– cooperation
– conformity
Socialization in Schools (cont.)
• These characteristics are required for
success in the adult world of work.
Which hidden curriculum influences
you the most?
A. Discipline
B. Order
C. Cooperation
D. Conformity
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Peer Group Socialization
• A peer group is composed of individuals
of roughly the same age and interests.
• In peer groups, children gain experience in:
– Conflict, competition, and cooperation
– Self direction
– Independence from adults
– Developing close ties with friends outside
the family
Do you think peers or family have
more influence on children?
A. Peers
B. Family
A. A
B. B
0%
A
0%
B
The Mass Media and Socialization
• Mass media are means of communication
designed to reach the general population,
such as television, newspapers and the radio.
The Mass Media and Socialization (cont.)
• Positive effects:
–
The display of role models
–
Exposure to ideas about the values in
their society
• Negative effects:
–
Exposure to violence
Availability of
Television
Which is an example of mass media?
A. Television
B. Newspaper
C. Internet
D. All of the above
0%
A
A.
B.
0%
C.
B
D.
A
B
0%
C
C
D
0%
D
Symbolic interactionism views socialization as
a lifelong process. Desocialization is the
process of having to give up old norms.
Resocialization begins as people adopt new
norms and values. Anticipatory socialization
and reference groups are concerned with
voluntary changes, such as moving from one
life stage to another.
• total institutions
• desocialization
• resocialization
• anticipatory socialization
• reference group
Which do you think is the greatest
change in a person’s life?
A. Working for a living
B. Getting married
C. Having children
0%
A
A. A
B. B
C.0% C
B
0%
C
Desocialization and Resocialization
• Total institutions—places where residents
are separated from the rest of society.
• The purpose of these places is to
desocialize and then resocialize people.
Rates of
Imprisonment
Desocialization and Resocialization (cont.)
• Desocialization—the process by which
people give up old norms, values,
attitudes, and behaviors.
• Resocialization—the process in which
people adopt new norms, values, attitudes
and behaviors.
Which is NOT an example of a total
institution?
A. Military
B. Prison
C. College
0%
A
A. A
B. B
C.0% C
B
0%
C
Anticipatory Socialization
• Anticipatory socialization is the process
of preparing (in advance) for new norms,
values, attitudes and behaviors.
• A group of people will use a reference group
to evaluate themselves and acquire attitudes,
values, beliefs, and norms.
How is anticipatory socialization different
from desocialization and resocialization?
A. It’s a voluntary process.
B. There is advance
preparation.
0%
C
A
0%
A. A
B. B
0%
C. C
B
C. All of the above
Rates of Imprisonment
This map shows the number of prisoners
with sentences of more than one year per
100,000 U.S. residents.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of
Justice Statistics, 2005.
Availability of Television
Source: The World Bank, 2005 World Development
Indicators.
socialization
the process of learning to participate in a
group
self-concept
an image of yourself as having an identity
separate from other people
looking-glass self
an image of yourself based on what you
believe others think of you
significant others
those people whose reactions are most
important to your self-concept
role taking
assuming the viewpoint of another person
and using that viewpoint to shape the selfconcept
imitation stage
Mead’s first stage in the development of
role taking; children begin to imitate
behaviors without understanding why
play stage
Mead’s second stage in the development
of role taking; children act in ways they
imagine other people would
game stage
Mead’s third stage in the development of
role taking; children anticipate the actions
of others based on social rules
generalized other
integrated conception of the norms, values,
and beliefs of one’s community or society
“me”
the part of the self formed through
socialization
“I”
the part of the self that accounts for
unlearned, spontaneous acts
hidden curriculum
the informal and unofficial aspects of
culture that children are taught in school
peer group
set of individuals of roughly the same age
and interests
mass media
means of communication designed to
reach the general population
total institutions
places in which people are separated from
the rest of society and controlled by officials
in charge
desocialization
the process of giving up old norms, values,
attitudes, and behaviors
resocialization
the process of adopting new norms,
values, attitudes, and behaviors
anticipatory socialization
the voluntary process of preparing to
accept new norms, values, attitudes, and
behaviors
reference group
group whose norms and values are used to
guide behavior; group with whom you identify
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