Chapter 4 Socialization and the Construction of Reality Lecture PowerPoint © W. W. Norton & Company, 2008 Socialization: The Concept 2 Socialization is the process by which individuals internalize the values, beliefs, and norms of a given society and learn to function as a member of that society. You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. Primary socialization: becoming human Much takes place before age 5 Carried out by parents and family Includes: Language development Internalization of norms, values, etc. Establishing identity (“Who am I?”) Human development (Intellectual, Emotional, Social) Anticipatory Socialization Preparing for a role. Examples: Education Training or practicing a sport or activity Choosing a major or career Internship, training Engagement Pregnancy Resocialization Drastic form of adult socialization Changes entire environment, culture, and possibly self-concept Moving to foreign country Being institutionalized or incarcerated Joining military Total institution: controls all basics of everyday life, aimed at resocialization Theories of Socialization 6 Charles Horton Cooley: “Looking Glass Self” Self concept emerges from ability to assume the point of view of others and imagine how they see us. “I am not what I think I am. I am not what you think I am. I am what I think you think I am.” (Cooley) Criticisms: too much emphasis on others You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. Theories of Socialization 7 George Herbert Mead: The “Other” Infants know only the “I” By about one year, we can distinguish between self and others. (“My mom is not me”) By age 3 we can see ourselves from other’s point of view (“Mom doesn’t like it when I hit my brother.”) Late childhood: internalize concept of generalized other (“they”= parents, friends, teachers, significant people) Allows us to apply norms and behaviors learned in specific situations to new situations You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. Theories of Socialization Mead stressed the importance of imitation, play, and games in helping children recognize one another, distinguish between self and other, and grasp the idea that others can have multiple roles. 8 You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. Theories of Socialization Freud: components of personality Id: biological impulses, desires. Antisocial, unconscious. Instant gratification of needs Ego: Parents teach child that not every need can be gratified in any way. Child must learn control. Conscious self plans, thinks, decides. Superego: Generalized sense of right and wrong (conscience). Norms and values internalized. Theories of Socialization Freud: psychosexual development – battle with id is re-enacted at each stage Infancy: “Oral” stage (feeding) - basic trust develops when caregivers meet baby’s needs. Toddlers: “Anal” stage (toilet training) symbolizes self control. Preschool: “Phallic” stage (discovery of sexuality) – child becomes romantically attracted to opposite sex parent. Internalizes gender roles (powerful but distant father, mother as caregiver, nurturer) Theories of Socialization Freud: Stages of emotional development Childhood: “latent” stage (quiet time) Adolescence: “genital” stage (puberty) – early relationship with parents is resolved by healthy attraction to opposite sex. Ability to have strong emotional relationships depends on early experiences. Criticisms: sexist bias; difficulty of testing Theories of Socialization Eric Erikson: psychosocial development eight stages that span entire lifetime 12 Based on Freud Each stage involves a specific conflict Each must be resolved in order to move on You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. Erikson’s 8 Stages of Psychosocial Development Erikson’s 8 Stages of Psychosocial Development General criticisms of psychological and stage theories (Mead, Freud, Erikson) Too much emphasis on age/stage relationship and ordering Tend to be deterministic individuals not viewed as taking active role in own development Socialization viewed as one-way process, not reciprocal Ignore societal influences and cultural variation Alternative perspectives Interpretive reproduction (Corsaro) Children as active contributors to own development Takes place within peer culture (collective process) Children collectively: Appropriate knowledge and info from adult world Interpret it within peer culture Reproduce and extend adult world Alternative perspectives Interpretive reproduction: “Little Chairs” Appropriate knowledge and info from adult world Interpret it within peer culture Means of inclusion and exclusion Follow the leader, invent new patterns Rebel against adult rules (don’t stand on chairs) Reproduce and extend adult world Preschoolers arrange little chairs in circle and walk around on them. Becomes meaningful routine Defines social reality Awareness of adult rules (be careful, don’t stand on chairs) Children are actively constructing culture and participating in own socialization Alternative perspectives Goffman’s dramaturgical theory 18 social life as a theatrical performance roles, scripts, costumes, and sets “front stage:” role we project to world, public “back stage:” private roles “face:” esteem of others, social status Focuses on scripts, how we know them, what happens if we don’t follow them (“breaches”) You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. Interactionists and newer theories believe in: The Social Construction of Reality 19 People give meaning or value to ideas or objects through social interactions. Ongoing process that is embedded in our everyday interactions. unexpected change in reality can be upsetting, frustrating, or incomprehensible. consensus on shared meanings helps society function smoothly. You May Ask Yourself Copyright © 2008 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.