Name:
Socialization Questions
1.
Makes a list of both what is considered “cool” and what is considered “uncool” below. What factors
did you use in making your list?
2. Consider the cases of Genie, Anna and Isabelle. What do these cases demonstrate about the role of
social contact in learning? How do the cases of Genie, Anna and Isabelle support or refute Harry
Harlow’s monkey study?
3. Define the term socialization in your own words.
4. Explain the looking-glass self in your own words.
5. What are the consequences of having a distorted looking-glass?
6. Describe an experience you have had with the looking-glass process. How did the experience touch or
change your self-concept?
7. At this point in time, who is/are your significant other(s)? Explain. (Look at the definition from class.
It’s a bit different from how the term is used by mainstream society.)
8. Do you think poverty affects the ability of the family to socialize the children? Explain.
9. What aspect of socialization does the child first encounter in school that he or she does not meet in the
family?
10. What is meant by the term “hidden curriculum”? Give some examples of the hidden curriculum in the
Altoona public school system.
11. Some psychologists believe that peer groups have more influence on later socialization than the family
group. Give reasons why you agree or disagree with this premise.
12. Why do you think many parents let their children watch television even though they may not like the
effects television has on them?
13. Which socializing agent (family, peers, school, media) do you feel is the most influential in the present
stage of your socialization? Explain.
14. Describe a few methods prisons use to desocialize prisoners. What purpose does this serve?
Do you think prisons are successful in resocializing prisoners? Explain.
15. What do you think of Norway’s prison system (the clip we saw in class)? Could (or should) something
like that work here?
16. Make a diagram of your life – the statuses you possess and the responsibilities or role expectations for
each. Examples of statuses include son/daughter, student, band member, etc.
17. What is the most important master status you have held? Has the master status helped or hurt you?
What master status would you like to achieve? Why?
18. Identify the following actions as desocialization (D), resocialization (R), or anticipatory socialization (A):
1. First-year students acquire a new identity during their freshman year at a military academy.
2. Prison personnel deliberately attempt to destroy the self-concepts of inmates.
3. High school students identify with college students.
19. Are you presently experiencing role conflict or role strain? If you are, analyze the source. If not,
explain why at this time you are free from role conflict and role strain, making clear the meaning of the
concepts.
20. Consider the following examples of role strain and answer the accompanying question:
Should a priest maintain the confidentiality of someone who just confessed to a crime?
Should a professional athlete who was busted for drug use still be a role model?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------As you’ve learned in this unit, children are socialized in many ways. Some books
that you read when you were a child probably had a lasting impact on you. Your
task it to analyze children’s books armed with your newfound sociological
knowledge. Read two children’s books or re-read two of your favorites. Use the
following questions to help you in writing an analysis (in paragraph form) on the
back of this page.
1.
What was the socializing message of the book? (In other words, what lesson did it teach?)
2. How are females portrayed in the book?
3. How are males portrayed?
4. Do males and females take on traditional sex roles? (Does mom stay home and dad work in an office?)
Or are more modern (less traditional) roles portrayed?
5. Are any values dealt with? Do you agree or disagree with those values?
6. What ethnic groups are portrayed in the book? How are they portrayed?
7. Is there any violence in the book? Would you consider hitting or kicking to be violent?
8. Are any other concepts from the unit presented in the book (resocialization, anticipatory socialization,
looking-glass self and so forth)?
Use the space below to write your analysis of the two children’s books you read. You should fill up the page.
Attach another piece of paper if necessary.