SOCIOLOGY
CHAPTER 4-SOCIALIZATION
The process of learning to participate in a group
HARRY HARLOW—STUDY OF MONKEYS IN
ISOLATION
Key premise-take infant monkeys & separate
them from their moms
 Give them a choice of 1 of 2 moms:

1st—cloth covered
 2nd –wire only with food

Results: Monkeys choose cloth covered
 Closeness/comfort more important than food

Isolated monkeys—don’t become good parents
 no role model
 Hostile, apathetic

QUESTION—ARE PEOPLE LIKE THIS??
CASE STUDIES OF ANNA & ISABELLE
Abused kids
 No social skills
 Could they learn to be social beings??

3 MAJOR PERSPECTIVES

ON SOCIALIZATION
1-FUNCTIONALISM
GROUP WORKS TOGETHER TO CREATE STABLE
SOCIETY
 TEACH SAME VALUES


2-CONFLICT
PERPETUATE THE STATUS QUO
 KEEP IN POWER THOSE WHO HAVE POWER

3-SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
 HUMAN NATURE IS A PRODUCT OF
SOCIETY
 KEY RESEARCHERS-Cooley && Meade

KEY IDEAS OF SI

Self concept

Image of yourself as having an identify as separate
from other people
Looking Glass Self
 Use people as a “mirror”
 Image of yourself based upon what you believe
others think of you
 3 step process to Looking Glass Self

1-we imagine how we appear to others
 2-we imagine the reaction of others to us
 3-evaluate yourself according to how we think others
judge us

SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

People most important to your self concept
Role Taking—3 steps
 1-imitation



1 ½ -2 yrs old
2-play stage
Age 3-4
 What do you want to be when you grow up?


3-game stage



4+
Behavior/self concept depends on general ideas
(generalized other)
Anticipate actions of others based on social rule
MARGARET MEAD—DEFINITION OF SELF
the “I”
The “me”
Unpredictable
Self created
Unlearned
predictable
Spontaneous/survival
Conform to values
4 AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION—WHO HELPS YOU
FORM YOUR PERSONALITY/SELF CONCEPT?
Family
School
Peers
Media
PROCESS OF SOCIALIZATION

Anticipatory Socialization
Voluntary
 Ex-internship; job interview


Desocialization
Give up old norms and values
 Ex-cult; prison;


Resocialization
Get new norms & values
 Ex-single to married man


Total Institutions
People are separated and totally controlled
 Ex-prison, mental hospitals, cults
