Chapter 3: Socialization from
Infancy to Old Age
Roderick Graham
What is socialization?
Socialization refers to the lifelong social experience by
which people develop their human potential and learn
culture.
What is the relationship between
socialization and personality?

It is through the constant socialization that we develop
our personality (consistent ways of acting, thinking, and
feeling)

For animals, their behavior is mainly set by biology
(nature). However most sociologists believe that we
learn to be truly human through socialization (nurture).
What are the four agents of socialization?

Family




The most important agent of socialization
Teaches skills, values and beliefs
Teaches gender roles
Gives social identity
What are the four agents of socialization?

School


Socialize people into gender roles
Richer schools are able to more effectively teach the
“hidden curriculum”
What are the four agents of socialization?

Peer group


Peer groups share common interests, social position, and
age.
We may want to move to another peer group, and change
our habits. This is called anticipatory socialization.
What are the four agents of socialization?

Mass media


Deliver impersonal communication to a large audience
Because of the large audiences, people are concerned about
the messages coming from television
How do we explain socialization?
Freud’s Elements of Personality
 Id – Basic human drives
 Ego – Conscious effort to balance basic human drives
with the demands of society
 Superego – The internalization of the demands of society
Culture and society (in the superego) represses demands.
A well adjusted adult can use his ego to balance his own
drives and those of society through other mechanisms
(sublimation).
How do we explain socialization?
How do we explain socialization?
George Herbert Mead’s Theory of the Social Self
The Self – part of an individuals personality composed of selfawareness and self-image
“I” and “me” – two parts of the self. The “I” is how we act and
see things, and the “me” is how we think others will interpret
our actions.
We have a fully developed self when we can take the role of
the other and know our “me”.
How do we explain socialization?
Many
others in
one
situation
Learning to take the role of the other
Generalized Other
One
other in
one
situation
Games
Cannot
take the
role of
the other
Play
Imitation
George Herbert Mead’s Theory of the Social Self
Many
others in
many
situations
How do we explain socialization?
George Herbert Mead’s Theory of the Social Self



Looking glass-self – self-image based upon how we think
others see us
Significant others – people who have special importance
for socialization
Generalized other – cultural norms and values we use as
a reference in evaluating ourselves
How are we socialized throughout life?
Childhood


The idea of childhood is grounded in culture and not biology
Childhood has been extended to give young people more
time to learn the skills to progress in modern society
How are we socialized throughout life?
Adolescence



A buffer (middle stage) between childhood and adulthood
Adolescence varies by social class. Working class children
move straight from high school to work. Middle class
children extend adolescence into twenties and thirties
The “rebelliousness” of adolescence is due to cultural
inconsistency
How are we socialized throughout life?

Adulthood



Our personalities are largely formed by the time of
adulthood
Most major accomplishments take place (family, career)
Major problems as well…growing older, empty nest,
realization of health problems
How are we socialized throughout life?

Old Age



Begins around mid-sixties
The value of old age varies by culture. In traditional and
eastern cultures the elderly are highly valued.
In western and modern societies the elderly are not as
valued.
Can we be resocialized? Total Institutions
Total institutions are settings in which people are isolated
from the rest of society and controlled by an
administrative staff.
People are resocialized in total institutions. Their
personality and selves are changed.
Can we be resocialized? Total Institutions
Steps to resocialization:
Break down one’s existing identity.
1.
a.
b.
c.
All interaction is rule bound, and set by the administrators
No privacy
People loose distinctiveness (no unique hair styles or
clothes, and serial numbers used)
Build a new self through rewards and punishments
2.
a.
The more the inmate conforms to the rules of the
institution, the quicker he can be released
Can we be resocialized? Total Institutions
Examples of Total Institutions (in different degrees):






Cults
Prisons
Boot camps
Convents
Orphanages
Boarding schools
Any more examples?
An Example of Socialization
END